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Create a salt tray for fun handwriting practice
Handwriting is a skill that takes time to learn. It may feel like it is a very basic skill that kids can learn and achieve rather quickly, but the truth is, it takes time and patience. Research shows that handwriting activates a part of your brain that deals with memory and attention. How cool is that?
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Handwriting practice is a really big deal
It is an important skill that helps in better writing in the future and is linked to literacy. These are fundamental skills that took years to develop. It goes much deeper that handwriting while pinning other skills. Think of tying shoelaces, and playing baseball as examples that deal with learning to control forces one applies to certain objects while holding them with your hands.
Handwriting for the win!
It most definitely needs patience, and a helping hand. Afterall, handwriting is an important skill that trains the brain which in turn takes time.
A salt tray is a brilliant way to support handwriting development and a fun one at that!
Salt Trays are fun and effective for handwriting skills
Handwriting practice doesn’t have to be with a pen and pencil, you know? Practicing with the finger is a natural skill a child can take and it cancels out the added pressure of a pen/pencil grip.
Salt Trays used for writing is a fun and effective way to learn about handwriting
Related: Looking for more information about handwriting skills? It’s all here.Â
How I put together my Rainbow Salt Tray:
You can try adding salt just the way it is to a tray. I decided to dye it blue. We use dollar store basic shapes/numbers/letters flash cards but you can most certainly use homemade flash cards. Draw shapes/letters/number/symbols on the index cards which will be used for copying on the salt tray.
I added a fun rainbow effect under it by adding construction paper taped down to the tray. It was fun for them which is two thumbs up for me.
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Materials:
Salt
Tray
Food Grade Dye/Gel
Ziplock Bag
Tools such as paint brush (optional)
Painters Tape and Construction Paper (optional)
Index Cards or Basic Learning Flashcards
Let the learning begin through patience and support
My 3 year old is currently not working on any letter/number formations. She is learning the basic circle and heart shapes. She is also learning swirls and swivels. I would add an index card and she would copy the design. These activities are amazing for the long run as she will be able to transition over to writing on paper in the future.
Miss 6 practices her addition/subtraction, sight words, as well as perfecting her lines while having fun. You can use a clean paintbrush for added calming, learning and effective fun.
This tray is fun but it is also more than just, well, fun.
This activity is so much fun, even for mom. But it definitely is more than that. It helps build muscle memory, nerve memory, and hand strength. However, pencil grip comes way later. This activity is not to learn letter/number formation for my 3 year old. Rather, the strokes and swirls which are going to prepare your child for handwriting skills in the long run. However, Miss 6 uses it for handwriting practice now having applied this same activity prior.
Will you try this rainbow salt writing tray out?
I love this idea! I really like how you jazzed up a traditional salt tray with brightly color salt, the rainbow pattern, and the index cards to copy. I’ve tried this activity before with just plain salt in a baking dish and it didn’t last long. But I think my kiddos will LOVE this one! Thanks for the ideas and lovely photos!
This is a fun way to teach kids and they don’t even know that they are learning. They just think it’s fun. When mine were in preK, they had a big box full of sand to learn letters. Then they always wanted to practice in the sand at the beach. And they still do!
Oh my gosh, I love this idea! What did you use for your tray? I think I need to make three of these haha. This is such a great way to make learning fun!
Thank you! So happy you enjoyed it! I actually used a “Montessori Wooden Letters” Activity box cover that I purchased recently online as the tray. But if you type in wooden trays there are so many that are similar and to choose from. I really hope that helps 🙂
Hello. I was wondering how you got your salt trays. Did you make them or purchase them and if you purchased them where can I go to purchase the trays.
Thanks,
Deb Anderson
Hi thank you for your comment. I actually used a wooden piece that is part of a “montessori wooden letters” activity I purchased on Amazon. This is why I haven’t listed it within the post. But I just did a quick search and typed in wooden trays and there are many to choose from which are wonderful. I hope that helps 🙂
Thank you for this fun idea and tutorial! My daughter is going to be surprised when she wakes up in the morning. This will be a fun way to learn her sight words!
I used 2 sheets of craft paper that already had a design (so I only had to add a couple of trims along two edges) and a roll out removable tape that applies the sand as white-out tape. I may try Epsom salts as I think it’s finer than the salt my husband bought and less irritation to the skin!
How did you dye the salt? Just use food dye? Does it dry afterwards?
I used food coloring 🙂 Yes!