You may have heard your child talking about something called 'Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle' so I thought I would share some information with you about it. 

Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle is an early writing program created by a Shonette Bason-Wood, who also created the program Playdough Disco. Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle incorporates dance, music and large movements to help children develop the fine muscle control they need for writing.  They will learn a new gross motor movement to a piece of music while holding 'flappers' (bits of fabric) while dancing along to the music. The children then transfer these movements to floor level and swap their flappers for writing tools (crayons/pens etc) to make marks, this could be in foam, on paper, in sand etc.  They will then use this action to think of letters they can form that use this shape.  These sessions are great fun but most importantly help your child to be confident mark makers.

Shonette Bason-Wood is incredibly fun, motivating and excites the children to engage in this program. Its all about mark making and Shonette will show you how to develop children's writing in a fun and exciting and extremely active way.  

How to Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle at home? 

The staff in STF1 have engaged in training for the program but if you would like to try it at home watch the videos below, grab some flappers (could be tissues or bits of material), find some mark making tools and turn the music up!  Once you have completed the movements and the mark making see which letters you can see on your paper. If you search 'Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle Music' on Youtube you will find a range of songs to enjoy while you are Squiggling. 

Forming circles 

Follow the video below to learn the movements for forming circles. In preparation for writing numbers - 0, 6 and 9 and letters - c, o, a, d, g and p. Please see the second video for 'Fun with Foam!' We love multisensory activities in class so this is a way you can Squiggle and enjoy multisensory fun. 

Hump Letters

Please see the video below for movements to help writing hump letters - m, n, h and r this actually links to the number 3 as well! 

Why use two flipper flappers and two writing tools? 

In the video below Shonette explains why we use two flipper flappers and two writing tools in each hand while engaging in the program. She also explains how we perform movements which will help with line letters - i, l, j and line numbers 1, 4 and 7.