makes marks  

Writing tools and paper

Washing up brush and bucket of water

Sand tray

Play dough

(1) Start by making big vertical strokes with a washing up brush and a pail of water outside on a fine day. Say "Down ... down"

(2) Give the brush to the child

(3) Reward any attempts to make a downward stroke for example with clapping, praise etc.

(4) Follow this procedure in the sand or in a rolled out piece of play dough etc.

(5) Use a chunky crayon (not too long) and a piece of paper. Say 'Down ......down.'

(6) Give the crayon to the child

(7) Reward success with praise or reward toys.

(8) Use a ruler to make two vertical tramlines on the page and then help the child draw between the lines in a downward motion.

(9) Draw two or three tramlines on a page well spaced - and see if the child can start at the top and draw down.

(10) Draw big dots in a downward line and make the starting off dot big and red. Model for the child drawing a downward line roughly along this line of dots. You may need to start the child off and stop half way down the line for the child to complete.

(11) Use different colours and writing tools to make the task more interesting. Reward attending to the task with social praise or a reward toy.