Written By: Kellie Costello, MOT, OTR/L
Mat Man is a concept designed by the Learning Without Tears® (LWT – formerly Handwriting Without Tears) program as a fun way to work on body awareness while preparing children for other important pre-writing skills.
Mat Man has a head, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, body, arms, hands, legs and feet just like all of us. Sung to the tune of “The Bear Went Over the Mountain,” Mat Man is created one part at a time with this catchy tune to help children learn about their body parts and what they are used for. For example: Mat Man has one head, one head, one head. Mat man has one head so that he can think! Think about it – Mat man starts from the top and goes to the bottom, just like with our letters. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec7J57YewxQ&list=RDec7J57YewxQ&start_radio=1)
Mat Man is built using a Big Line, Little Line, Big Curve and Little Curve. All of the same shapes and lines that can be used also to make 24/26 of the uppercase letters of the alphabet.
Mat Man offers a hands on way for your child to be a part of the process of building a person through a familiar and easy to learn song. This fun activity is easily transferred into the important developmental skill of drawing a complete and accurate person. Mat Man teaches children this skill step by step using sight, sound, and touch to help children learn and remember in the most effective way.
This is an example of a child’s drawing of a person before learning Mat Man, and then again after hearing the song and learning to build Mat Man himself. This was completed by a 4 year old child on the same day! How would your child do with this fun activity?
What a great way to help your child learn through music and hands-on play. This is an excellent way to help develop prewriting skills, too!
For more information, check out https://www.lwtears.com/welcome-mat-man-world. There is a whole world to discover “Who is that Man?” – He is more than just Mat Man!!
How Pediatric Therapy Center Can Help
Mat Man is one of many playful ways to build body awareness and pre-writing skills. If your child is having a hard time with drawing, handwriting or other fine motor tasks, pediatric occupational therapy can help. To reach our pediatric therapy clinic in Papillion, Nebraska, contact us or call 402-932-2782.
