Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Oakland, CA

My husband and I just came from a preschool teacher conference for our 21 month old. Yes, absorb that for a minute... we talked about behavior and development and it was all perfectly normal, but a small part of me felt like I was at the principal's office.

I better get over that feeling quickly since I have years of these meetings ahead of me and they won't all include how my son is ahead of the curve because he knows most of the teachers names... or how it's not such a big deal that he was a late developed walker. But I digress.

While I was conferring with Lois, she said that to help get your wrists ready for writing, it was good to play with chalk and paint. Specifically, if your child stands up and uses chalk at a board or paints in big motions on an easel (with friction here -- no dry erase boards), it helps develop the wrist strength and muscle memory for writing in kindergarten.

Also laying down when drawing is also good.

If you can imagine the postures that allow us to "cheat" when we use crayons and markers (i.e., sitting at a table), then these are the ones to avoid. If you can fist it and it still works... then you're missing the chance to build those writing muscles.

That said, art is fun for its own sake, so just keep mixing it up!