According to the material, writing development starts with which basic skills?

• A. Handwriting
• B. Spelling
• C. Both Handwriting and Spelling
• D. Punctuation and Capitalization

Answer: (C)

Writing development begins with both handwriting and spelling. When children start writing, they first work on forming letters and getting comfortable with the physical act of writing—the motor skill part of making recognizable letter shapes. At the same time, they begin to connect sounds to letters, experimenting with how to spell simple words on the page. Handwriting provides legibility and familiarity with letter forms, while early spelling gives a way to convey meaning through written language and to practice common sound-letter patterns. Together, these foundational skills allow a child to produce clearer, more meaningful writing. As writers gain fluency, they’ll add punctuation and capitalization, but those conventions build on the base established by handwriting and spelling.