Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle

Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle is an Early Writing Program created by Shonette Bason, who also created Dough Disco, which I have been sharing with yourselves through Tapestry.

Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle uses dance 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 whilst holding ‘flappers’ (small squares of fabric) whilst dancing along to the music following the teacher’s instructions. 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.

Why do we 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.

Shonette Bason-Wood is incredibly fun and motivating. She excites the children so that they actively want to engage with the program. It’s all about mark making and Shonette will show you how to develop children's writing in an exciting and extremely active way.

How can we Squiggle whilst you Wiggle at home?

If you would like to try at home then try watching 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' on Youtube or type in ‘Spread the Happiness’ you will be taken to Shonette’s Youtube channel full of fun and creative ways to help with early writing.

For Parents - Motor Skills - Squiggle whilst you Wiggle Part 1

Shonette and the Spread the Happiness Crew demonstrate the first three moves in the Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle teaching method for writing. This squiggle helps with the formation of the letters i, l and t.

Squiggle whilst you Wiggle - Circles.

A fantastic insight into Shonette Bason's seminar - Squiggle Whilst you Wiggle and how using circles can help with early years development.

Follow the videos 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 multi-sensory activities in class so this is a way you can Squiggle and enjoy multi-sensory fun.

For Parents - Squiggle While you Wiggle - The hump.

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!