Did You Know That...
Writing helps children learn about the alphabet and what its purpose is?
When we give young children regular opportunities to express themselves on paper--even if they do not yet know the alphabet or how to write real words--we help them learn that writing has a real purpose. That it is a way to communicate with others. This practice helps them make connections between the letters they see in print and the ideas they wish to communicate. In other words, they learn that writing is not just handwriting practice but also an important way to communicate with others.
For more on this topic, see ERIC Digest #15: Writing Development and also Overview of Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children, an IRA and NAEYC Position Statement.