During the emergent stage, what activity do children engage in when they "pretend write"?

During the emergent stage of writing development, children engage in activities like "pretend writing" primarily by scribbling random letters. This stage is characterized by children experimenting with writing, often mimicking the act without yet having a full understanding of the mechanics of written language. Their scribbles may not form coherent words or sentences, but they represent an important developmental step where children begin to explore the idea that written symbols can represent sounds and convey meaning. This form of expression is critical for building their confidence and foundational skills in writing as they play and experiment with letters and shapes.

In contrast, writing full sentences, creating detailed stories, or formulating essays based on prompts are skills that much more advanced writers exhibit, typically found in later stages of writing development, where understanding of language structure, grammar, and content organization becomes more sophisticated. At the emergent stage, children are laying the groundwork for these future skills through their playful engagement with writing.