Introducing the
Coco Early Writing Skills Box
Created by Sproutbox x Ameza Academy
Play today. Write with confidence tomorrow.
Long before they can form letters or write their name, children are building the strength, coordination and confidence their hands need for handwriting. Every squeeze, thread, trace and pinch helps lay the foundations for future writing success.
The Coco Early Writing Skills Box from SproutBox x Ameza Academy turns those important foundations into playful, hands-on adventures - helping little hands squeeze, thread, trace, sort, create and explore their way towards confident writing.
Handwriting readiness is about much more than holding a pencil.
In this short introduction, Asima Chowdhury from Ameza Academy explains the skills children develop before formal writing begins, why those foundations matter, and how playful experiences can help children become confident and capable writers.
A short introduction from Asima Chowdhury, Ameza Academy Founder.
Meet Coco
Coco is here to help little hands get ready for big writing adventures.
There’s something special about Coco’s name too. C and O belong to the Round Letter Family — some of the first letter shapes children encounter when beginning their handwriting journey.
As children explore circles, curves, lines and patterns through play, they’re practising many of the same movements they’ll later use to form letters.
Before Writing Comes...
Fine Motor Strength
Building strength and control through squeezing, gripping, tearing and manipulating.
Pencil Control
Learning to guide tools with growing accuracy and confidence.
Bilateral Coordination
Using both sides of the body together - one hand working while the other supports.
Hand-Eye Coordination
Helping the eyes guide the hands accurately across a page or activity.
Crossing the Midline
Building comfortable movement across the body from one side to the other.
Visual Perception
Learning to notice differences in shapes, letters, direction and position.
The goal isn’t perfect writing. It’s helping children become ready for it.
Meet SproutBox & Ameza Academy
Every product combines educational purpose with simple, engaging activities designed to make purposeful learning easier for families.
Explore SproutBox
Ameza Academy specialises in handwriting development and teacher education, helping parents, educators and schools build strong foundations for confident, fluent writing.
Their practical, research-informed approach focuses on developing the skills children need before formal handwriting begins.
Your Coco Adventure
Coco’s Name
Find the letters in Coco’s name, trace their shapes and build C-O-C-O.
Coco’s Hairdo
Roll the pattern dice and give Coco a new hairstyle using waves, zigzags, spirals and dots.
Coco’s Arms
Hold, thread and lace using both hands together.
Coco’s Ocean Maze
Follow Coco through twisting paths while guiding the hand accurately across the page.
Coco’s Sea Friends
Use tweezers to pick up, move and sort Coco’s underwater friends.
Coco’s Letter Hunt
Search for Coco’s favourite letters - C and O - hidden inside words and sentences.
Coco’s Postcard
Draw, write or make marks with a real purpose: sending someone a message.
Coco’s Ocean World
Tear, layer and stick tissue paper to create Coco’s colourful underwater world.
Keep Playing With Coco
Coco’s Story Book
Every child can be an author.
Children don’t need to write conventional letters or words to begin telling stories.
Use Coco’s mini story book to draw pictures, make marks, invent characters and tell an adventure together.
Coco’s Seaweed Snipping
Coco’s Whiteboard Play
Explore some of Coco’s favourite ocean-themed reads. Why not choose one after a Coco activity and make it part of your play routine? These books are available on Amazon.sa.
Octopants by Suzi Senior
Funny, playful and perfect for preschool story time.
Tickly Octopus by Ruth Galloway
Goodnight Octopus by Adam Gamble & Mark Jasper
A gentle, rhyming story for winding down.
An Octopus Is Amazing by Patricia Lauber
A child-friendly introduction to the incredible world of octopuses.
Inky’s Amazing Escape by Sy Montgomery
A beautifully illustrated story celebrating curiosity, discovery and individual talents.
Need Help?
Tap a question below whenever you need a little guidance.
Start with whichever activity catches your child’s attention. The activities do not need to be completed in a particular order.
No. Follow their interests. Short, positive experiences are far more valuable than pushing through an activity they’re no longer enjoying.
That’s absolutely fine. Most of the box intentionally develops the skills that come before writing. Threading, tearing, sorting and drawing patterns are all part of the journey.
Yes - please do! Repetition helps movements become more confident and controlled. Several activities have been designed specifically to be wiped clean and replayed.
There’s no set time. Ten engaged minutes can be more valuable than thirty reluctant ones.
Keep the experience playful and encouraging. Model movements when useful, but allow your child plenty of freedom to experiment. The purpose of this box is not to rush formal handwriting, but to provide playful experiences that build the foundations children will eventually draw upon when they are ready.
No, all materials are provided. If you choose to include any additional household items that is totally up to you.
Children develop at different rates. The purpose of this box is not to rush formal handwriting, but to provide playful experiences that build the foundations children will eventually draw upon when they are ready.
Make it easier, model it together or come back another day. Confidence grows through success.
The box has been designed primarily for ages 3–5, but individual children may enjoy or benefit from particular activities at different stages.
Absolutely. The Coco Early Writing Skills Box can also be used by nurseries, schools and early years settings to support the development of the foundational skills children need for handwriting.
Ameza Academy also offers professional training for schools and nurseries, helping educators understand how to use the activities effectively and how to support handwriting readiness and early writing development within their setting.
If you’re interested in using the Coco Early Writing Skills Box with your children or would like to explore staff training and professional development, get in touch with Ameza Academy to discuss support for your setting.
amezaacademy@outlook.com
Explore Ameza Academy’s resources and training for further guidance on early handwriting and writing development.
We’d love to see where Coco’s adventures take you.
Share your play, creations and early writing moments with:
@sprout.boxes @amezaacademy
Tag both accounts so we can celebrate your little writer with you.
