What's the rush?!

When you are ready, you are ready.
When you are ready, you are ready to enjoy your new skills, not be frustrated by the element of novelty.

I never asked my kids to write. I started teaching them to read starting at age 3. I wrote every single letter they recognized. For 3+ years they saw me writing and occasionally they heard me describe what I think the letter looks like or how it can be created from other letters (M is two Ls glued together; Zh is two Ks glued back to back; A is an L with a line in the middle, etc.)

I started the little lady learning piano tunes around 4.5, very slowly, very unsystematically, very unintentionally.

The results:
The young lady, picked up a tune, on her very own at 5 years and 2 months. I signed her up for lessons when I knew she was ready. Her memory was ready, her hands were ready.
The young lady picked up writing around 5. Entirely on her own. I started concentrating on writing-correctness as well as neatness-in first grade. Prior to that, I let her fly.

The young man is only now starting to pop at the piano and try things out. He would sit with me and try to imitate. He is not ready yet. But he is getting closer and closer and it is exciting to watch how
he grows.
Yesterday, out of the blue, he picked up a pen and wrote letters. I was stunned. So, I encouraged him to write more letters which he did. I described how one letter can be constructed from letters he already knows. He was fascinated by this game. He showed everyone what he has accomplished. I was very happy for him and I was very proud of him. I love watching him grow.


The conclusions:
Demonstrate. They will pick it up soon enough. Let them be ready. It will be easier for you, easier and more enjoyable for them. As hard as it is, do not compare your kids to one another and do not compare them to other kids. Let them be fascinated with the wonder of 'I can'.

There is no competition. They will learn to read. They will learn to write. They will learn to play an instrument. But when they do it at their own pace they will learn to enjoy it and it will be a more meaningful experience for them and for me. The skills are long-term skills and we want the kids to bond with them with good emotion.

I know a seven year old can read War and Peace but a seven year old is not wise and emotionally knowledgeable in order to understand the book. Let them grow and enjoy age appropriate accomplishments.