Your name is a powerful thing. It’s uniquely yours, a symbol of your identity. Sure, there may be others who share the same name, but it still holds deep personal meaning. One of the first “academic” skills that parents are eager for their children to learn is writing their own name. And for good reason – writing your name is important. It appears everywhere: on artwork, assignments, journals, letters, even signing checks or contracts. The list goes on.

In early childhood education, there’s a common perspective shared by many educators: don’t write on children’s work. Why, you might wonder? For me, it all comes down to respect. A child’s work is their own, just like their name. Altering their work in any way, especially without their consent, can feel like a sign of disrespect. When children are given the opportunity to make choices, it’s to foster independence, creativity, and self-worth. But when someone marks up their work, that sense of ownership and pride is diminished. Suddenly, the child is no longer creating for themselves – they’re creating to please someone else.

Instead of writing on a child’s work, there are respectful alternatives. One approach is to write the child’s name or dictate their words and attach it to the artwork. Another idea is to create a “label” for each child, using their picture and signature, then turning it into a small sticker or tag that can be attached to their work. Over time, as their handwriting and image evolve, you can update the labels accordingly.

I remember getting assignments back in school, marked up and corrected, and it didn’t do much for my learning or self-esteem. It wasn’t until later that I realized the impact that had on me.

Fast forward to today, and I’m proud to share that I recently published a children’s book. And while I’m still waiting for the opportunity to hold a book signing, the thought of signing my book for others to read and enjoy feels like a dream come true. I’m hopeful it will happen soon, and while I won’t count my chickens before they hatch, I’m pouring all my positive energy into manifesting that dream.

Sign on.