GT or not, I think most kids can write before they can read - if we qualify writing as copying or writing sight word. this we did, but if you mean write bunches of stuff they didn't ask me to write out first or copy from a book not here. Both started writing their names around 2.5 and writing copycat stuff closer to 3. our problem is we are paying a price for letting them teach themselves... I don't know if the 6yr will ever make letters according to rules. hopefully it won't impact learning cursive?