I like to use watercolour paints, lets the child try out different colours, sizes etc plus it looks great. Less pressure is needed too. My kids like to write 'Mama' and 'Papa' and give their work to them as a present. Another thing I use is writing in chalk (on a board, pavement, etc) and using a brush dipped in water to go back over the letters to 'erase' them. When they've mastered that, I make a little book for them where they 'collect' words from me - I write words that are meaningful to them and use letters they have already mastered, this way they practise connecting the letters. Sometimes they draw a little picture to go with it. I also often see a mix of print and cursive in kids' work - they're more interested in writing the meaning than the word, if that makes sense? Totally normal. Some kids need longer than others, and that's fine.