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Handwriting is a major occupation of the school age child and is an essential part of school related activities. Just as we prepare in other academic areas, correct training and practice in hand use allows students to learn, refine and internalize basic writing readiness skills for school
Handwriting is a complex perceptual and intellectual skill. It requires many underlying skills; posture and balance to provide a basis for adequate arm and hand control, grasp strength finger control for appropriate grip on a writing tool, ocular-motor control along with visual perceptual and memory skills to learn formation and placement, and the ability to attend to a task and follow directions.
Handwriting Without Tears is a handwriting curriculum developed by an occupational therapist which is being used by many schools in our area. It is a developmentally based, sensory-motor approach to learning the skill of handwriting, The Handwriting Without Tears products, including a starter kit for parents and teachers, are available through the Abilities Center. Therapists at the Abilities Center are available to work individually with children using this unique approach as well as making presentations to educators.
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These ideas may benefit your child and assist to improve handwriting:
- Ensure your child has good posture while practicing writing tasks. Feet flat on the floor, back well supported, with the table at the proper height.
- Using a pencil gripper will greatly improve a pencil grasp. Promoting a proper pencil grasp is important to achieve optimal results.
- Remember to make handwriting fun. Do not always depend on pencils and paper to practice handwriting. Using different media such as sidewalk chalk, shaving cream, pipe cleaners or Wicky Stix, finger paint, and glitter and glue are great ways to practice making letters in a creative way.
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