Tuesday, June 16, 2009

10 Ways to Improve a Child's Handwriting

Many educators no longer consider handwriting a crucial skill because technology has changed our world. (When’s the last time you wrote a letter by hand? So, keep this skill in perspective.) Most of us, even kids, can communicate faster using a keyboard/keypad rather than with handwriting. (My cousin’s 12-year old scored 88 WPM on one of those just-for-fun typing quizzes on Facebook!)

Nonetheless, the skill of handwriting is still somewhat important. There’s evidence that children who write better and faster get better grades. However, remember that good handwriting is not an indicator of success. Look at your doctor’s handwriting!

Before trying to help a child who’s experiencing handwriting difficulties, determine if the issue’s physical or cognitive. If the child struggles with fine motor skills or forming letters, the problem is likely physical. If the child can’t remember how to form a letter of the alphabet or takes too long deciding what to write, there could be a cognitive issue.

Most handwriting problems are physical. Fine motor practice helps, but gross motor play is equally important. After all, many experts believe the increase in handwriting problems (1 in 3 kids struggle now) is tied to the decreased physical activity of today’s children. Handwriting involves body posture, and proper use of hands, arms, head, and eyes! If you suspect your child is having physical difficulties, try these activities:

1. Bilateral, outdoor play activities
Reduce time in front of the computer and video games in favor of outdoor play! Playing “human wheelbarrow”, crawling, and climbing help connect the motor-neural pathways needed for handwriting.

2. Game time & clap songs!
Engage kids in games that require hand-eye coordination such as Operation (tweezer games), Skeletons in the Closet, badminton, tennis, baseball, or go “old-school” with pick-up sticks, jacks, and marbles. Betcha your little ones know these fun clap songs too: Miss Mary Mack and Down, Down Baby (…down by the rollercoaster…)

3. Lil’ “Iron Chefs”
Cook with your kids. Let them knead dough, roll it out, cut it with cookie cutters, and pick up food with tongs. On days when you don’t want to deal with the mess, kids can use a pretend baking set.

4. Artsy fartsy
Creative activities that involve paper cutting, folding (origami), gluing, and drawing hardly feel like fine motor practice! Give them lots of opportunities to draw with various instruments—pencils, colored pencils, markers, gel pens, crayons, pastels, and calligraphy pens. Sculpting with play dough or clay is also good (kneading, pushing, pulling, and cutting).

5. Civilized diners
Make it a house rule to use silverware at every meal. Yes, the family will look very sophisticated on pizza or burger night. ;) Also try chopsticks some nights!

6. Dressing skills
Lacing, tying, buttoning and snapping are important life skills that can help strengthen some of the same muscles used for handwriting. Use clothes, shoes, or doll clothes for these activities, or entice kids with fun toys that teach the same skills.

7. Finger writing
Have kids practice writing with their fingers in, or on, different textures—shaving cream smeared on the table, play dough, clay, or sand. (For extra help, they can use letter molds as a starting point or trace their fingers over magnetic letters.)

8. The “write” environment
Make sure your child has a good chair and table at the right height for comfortable writing. Demonstrate how to sit with correct posture, rest your arms on the table, hold the writing instrument, and keep your torso in the right position.

9. “Uh, thank ya, thank ya very much.” (Elvis voice)
Get kids into a habit of writing handwritten thank you cards for gifts they receive.

10. Explicit handwriting practice
Help kids learn to write both legibly and quickly (handwriting fluency) with repeated practice using different kinds of pencils (different thicknesses and grips). Letter stamps and line-ruled paper, journals, or dry-erase boards can offer even more support.

If you try these techniques without success, consult a professional—your child’s teacher, school reading specialist, and/or an occupational therapist. Your child may need physical therapy or help overcoming a learning disability which is causing cognitive difficulties.

Just remember that not all cognitive issues indicate a learning disability. Sometimes kids simply have trouble remembering letter shapes, deciding what to write about, or taking too long to include too many details when they write. Your child’s teacher can give you some simple ways to tackle these cognitive issues.

Whatever your child’s struggles with handwriting, help her to not be self-conscious about it. People tend to think of handwriting as reflections of themselves. Help your child realize that she will get better with practice (and probably with age), and that it’s okay that her writing isn’t a masterpiece now!

54 comments:

  1. Having children write with broken crayons and chalk is also a great way to strengthen the pincer grasp and encourage correct finger gripping.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A stupid suggestion! On the contrary to avoid writing problems ensure that children have proper pencils and crayons instead of broken ones or stubs. You are fostering developmental skills like fine motor skills!

      Delete
    2. Disagree! ^^ No suggestion is stupid!

      Delete
    3. Hey that's a great idea,i can see how grabbing a small piece of chalk can help in proper gripping.Great Idea

      Delete
  2. Thanks, Marlise! What a great way to make use of supplies that might otherwise be thrown out, too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Wendy for the great ideas:-) I will refer my incoming kinder parents to your page. I have also read some research (can't remember the exact name) that chalk is better than whiteboards because of the drag/feedback while writing and that kids benefit from writing on a vertical surface. In my classroom I tape construction paper to a cabinet and let the kids practice writing letters and words with chalk on the paper. They love it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awesome info on the chalk and vertical surface, Joan! Oh, and big thanks for referring parents my direction!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Have you heard of wirte dance - its a fab way to get children to move to music at the same time introducing drawing patterns on paper. You would need to look it up to get full idea but its great for helping children with writing difficulties

    ReplyDelete
  6. Please contact me at support/at/masterhandwriting[dot] com and check out my website for a joint-venture business opportunity

    ReplyDelete
  7. We've tried everything with my 9 year old son to get him to print better. It'll take him 30 minutes to copy a small paragraph onto his workbook. When he writes, he presses so hard with his pencil and goes over and over the letters at least 4 or 5 times until they are thick and dark. We tell him not to press too hard and tried different pencils (we even tried a new pen that writes in liquid graphite, it feels like a pen but it erases like a pencil) but nothing works. He forgets to leave spaces in between the words.

    I don't know why teachers don't reject work with writing that looks so bad, it looks like a 1st grader wrote it instead of 4th grader. I wish that teachers would do something about this. Even his spelling is not that great, the other day he asked me how to spell "present". What exactly are the teachers teaching kids these days?
    Why don't they just teach the basics first. What ever happened to the 3 "R's". When I was a kid teachers did a better job of teaching kids, and they didn't even have all the conveniences like they have now, like computers. Or perhaps that's the problem, they rely on technology too much. What would happen if the power went out and a student had to take notes in class? For that matter, not every parent out there can afford a computer, what about kids that live in poorer areas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! My son is going into third grade and his handwriting is not good at all. It was actually better in first grade. The second grade teacher, while very nice, was very "lax" about things such a handwriting. No matter how sloppy it looked, she always said, "Oh, don't worry about it. It's fine." I would try to get my son to be neater when doing his homework and his response was always the same, "Mom, my teacher doesn't care if it's sloppy. She says it's fine." What is that teaching them? That subpar work is acceptable? I realize that not every child has the neatest handwriting but I know my son's could be better (as I said, it WAS better in first grade). I try my best but when his teacher doesn't back me up, it makes it very difficult.

      Delete
    2. Teachers are too worried about passing the state exams in order to keep their jobs. Who has time to teach anymore. You should become a teacher and fix everything they can't, I'm assuming you're a miracle worker and all as you seem to have all the answers.

      Delete
    3. If your child is having problems writing neatly, spacing words, and spelling correctly you may wanna have him tested for dysgraphia, after all its your job as the parent to make sure your child is growing and developing properly, it's the teachers job to instruct, inspire, and encourage.

      Delete
  8. As a kid, I loved to write big letters with my finger on my Mum's back, and she had to guess which letter it was. The best part of it all was when she had to give in, after a good few guesses. Sometimes I'd give her clues, for example, if the letter was b, I'd say 'it's next to c in the alphabet'. Then she'd have to guess either b or d. It helped me to remember which letters go where in the alphabet.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Wendy, it was lovely getting educated by your article. My 3 years old daughter is studying in Nursery. Here in India schools n parents are obsessed with the cursive writing at this stage. Is it advisable to start with cursive writing so early with pencil ? Need your guidance for how should i help my child with the early writing skills . ( in her last class already she has learnt how to write capital block letters in four line paper with pencil ) is all this too early for her ? N will this be harmful for her later ?

    Thanks n regards
    Sudipta Sen Srivastava

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Developing fine muscles is a more important thing to be done at this age. learning to write cursives in Nursery is not something that should be encouraged. it is too much for a child and gripping the pencil at this age harms the muscles too. the grip that the child develops at this age will remain with them for the rest of their life.

      Delete
  10. REALLY THANK U I AM REALLY GOING TO TRY

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's interesting how quickly parents are to blame the teachers. Is the entire responsibility that of the teacher. Please, parents, when will the you take part in the education of your children? We are all in this together. Remember, it takes a village.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Parents blame the teachers because quite frankly they are the teachers. The expectation is that when a child is sent to school that they will be taught the fundamentals. After all isn't that what school is for? It doesn't make sense to send your child to school for 6-8 hours and then have them come home for more schooling. Whats the point!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw... your ignorance is evident... seems your teachers didn't do a good job either. Handwriting has nothing to do with what your child's teacher teaches them or accepts at school, it has to do with their fine motor schools and the muscles in their hands.... which leads back to the question where are you failing as a parent that your child does not have these skills???.... where you to busy to play ball with them or help them make things out of play dough??? Seems your child is a product of another lazy parent who thought it was ok to use the television as a babysitter instead of actually paying them or their education any attention, and now you need a scapegoat so you blame it on their poor teacher who is overworked and under paid and has to give your child extra attention because you have failed as a parent and then you have the audacity to ask "what's the point" .... I guess I should expect nothing less from someone who doesn't even know that "whats," quoting the comment you made, is actually the contraction "what is" and needs an apostrophe to be correct. It's pathetic people as ignorant as you are even allowed to have children much less raise them. It is because of people like you that I fear for our future.

      Delete
  13. I don't agree with that, after all won't you help your child with homework if they have it? We all learn by practice, which is what I do with my son at home, we go over what he learns at school so that it would stick. At six he is doing fractions and spelling words like fetus for his spelling tests at school, but I think it's a bit different in the Caribbean than most places.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fastidious blog you’ve got here. I’ve ever been seeing you just about many blogs recently.
    rock my baby nanny agency

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello wendy , very hlpful article but i hve a prob wid my 4yr old daughter writin speed, she writes really slow n untidy jus dat more den slow she's very distracted ,tried lot of way but ol in vain.she's in ukg rght now wid huge syllabus n evry day i get d complaint frm her class techr dat she wont b able to cope up if keeps wtitin slow

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Wendy, I have similar issues with my 8 yr old son. He is slow in writing and very good at oral. Also gets distracted very easily. I see this change in him only this academic year. I have tried different ways to explain him but not successful.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Am still thinking the way out for my son. It getting worse everyday. Even though I studied education. I still find it very difficult to make him write fast. But I will try your suggestions. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  18. Interesting views on handwriting. A few tips that have worked with my children. Having them do activities from 0 to 6 years that will help develop their fine motor skills inluding pincer grip. Eg. threading beads, buttons, pasta using a shoe lace, transferring dried beans using tweezers or tongs for bigger objects, kneading activities (play dough or actual flour dough). Opening and closing small buttons on clothes. Cutting paper or soft card is also really good for a 4 year old (with supervision of course) etc. All these can be practised at home and need to be repeated so as to help children master these skills. Remember to provide activities that best suits your child's age. I hope this helps.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I wanted to thank you for this great read. Your blog is one of the finest blog . Thanks for posting this informative article.
    web content producer

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for taking the time to discuss that, I really feel strongly about it and love learning more on that topic. If achievable, as you gain competence, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is highly helpful for me.
    Document Automation

    ReplyDelete
  21. You made some good quality points there. I did a search on the topic and found many people will agree with your blog.
    Course Work Help

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you for the helpful post. I found your blog with Google and I will start following. Hope to see new blogs soon.
    Teaching job Interviews

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello, U write some extraordinarily attractive blogs. I always check back here frequently to see if you have updated
    coursework writing service

    ReplyDelete
  24. Subsequently, after spending many hours on the internet at last We\'ve uncovered an individual that definitely does know what they are discussing many thanks a great deal wonderful post.
    Dissertation Writing Service UK

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for taking the time to discuss that, I really feel strongly about it and love learning more on that topic. If achievable, as you gain competence, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is highly helpful for me.
    purpose of academic writing

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for sharing info. Keep up the good work...We hope you will visit our blog often as we discuss topics of interest to you
    Tutoring

    ReplyDelete
  27. I would be grateful if you continue with the quality of what we are doing now with your blog ... I really enjoyed it.
    le soutien scolaire

    ReplyDelete
  28. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  29. It is to notify you that I was subjected to throat Sick and currently feeling critical health problem. In this case, I’m going to meet a doctor out of location. On these grounds of being sick, I’m not able to join office for three days. Dissertation Writing Service I want you to kindly consider my request and grant me leave. I shall be completely obliged.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great blog and the information about write my paper is wondferful.
    Good job.


    write my paper

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have been asked several times on how to decide whether to book in advance or wait for a deal in the last minute. The answer mostly depends on how flexible you are, how often the particular cruise you want takes place, and how popular it is. Here are some tips on deciding when to go after a last minute deal.
    cpm algebra 2 homework answers

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am always searching online for articles that can help me. There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also. Keep working, great job!
    www hnbgu ac in result 2018

    ReplyDelete
  33. Магазин спортивного питания, официальный веб-сайт которого доступен по адресу: SportsNutrition-24.Com, реализует обширный ассортимент товаров, которые принесут пользу и заслуги как проф спортсменам, так и любителям. Интернет-магазин производит свою деятельность уже многие годы, предоставляя клиентам со всей России высококачественное спортивное питание, а кроме этого витамины и особые препараты - https://sportsnutrition-24.com/hondroprotektory/. Спортпит представляет собой категорию продуктов, которая призвана не только улучшить спортивные заслуги, да и благоприятно влияет на здоровье организма. Схожее питание вводится в ежедневный рацион с целью получения микро- и макроэлементов, витаминов, аминокислот и белков, а помимо этого многих других недостающих веществ. Не секрет, что организм спортсмена в процессе наращивания мышечной массы и адаптации к повышенным нагрузкам, остро нуждается в должном количестве полезных веществ. При всем этом, даже правильное питание и употребление растительной, а помимо этого животной пищи - не гарантирует того, что организм получил нужные аминокислоты или белки. Чего нельзя сказать о качественном спортивном питании. Об ассортименте товаров Интернет-магазин "SportsNutrition-24.Com" реализует качественную продукцию, которая прошла ряд проверок и получила сертификаты качества. Посетив магазин, заказчики могут найти себе товары из следующих категорий: - L-карнитинг (Л-карнитин) представляет собой вещество, схожее витамину B, синтез которого осуществляется в организме; - гейнеры, представляющие собой, белково-углеводные консистенции; - BCAA - средства, содержащие в своем составе три важные аминокислоты, стимулирующие рост мышечной массы; - протеин - чистый белок, употреблять который можно в виде коктейлей; - разнообразные аминокислоты; - а кроме этого ряд многих других товаров (нитробустеры, жиросжигатели, особые препараты, хондропротекторы, бустеры гормона роста, тестобустеры и многое другое). Об оплате и доставке Интернет-магазин "SportsNutrition-24.Com" предлагает огромное разнообразие товаров, которое полностью способно удовлетворить проф и начинающих атлетов, включая любителей. Большой опыт дозволил фирмы наладить связь с наикрупнейшими поставщиками и производителями питания для спорта, что позволило сделать политику цен гибкой, а цены - демократичными! К примеру, аминокислоты или гейнер приобрести вы можете по стоимости, которая на 10-20% ниже, чем у конкурентов. Оплата возможна как наличным, так и безналичным расчетом. Магазин предлагает широкий выбор способов оплаты, включая оплату разными электронными платежными системами, а кроме этого дебетовыми и кредитными картами. Главный офис компании расположен в Санкт-Петербурге, но доставка товаров осуществляется во все населенные пункты РФ. Кроме самовывоза, получить товар можно при помощи любой транспортной организации, подобрать которую каждый клиент может в индивидуальном порядке.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Сайт казино Супер Слотс представляет собой отличное сочетание удобства и функционала. Каждый из разделов оснащен опциями, которые будут понятны и полезны любому гостю - https://superslotsblog.net. Интернет-сайт предлагает пройти несложную и быструю регистрацию. Это можно сделать 3-мя вариантами: с помощью аккаунта в соцсетях, номера телефона или электронной почты. После регистрации открывается кошелек для пополнения средств и весь ассортимент слотов. Говоря о доступных слотах, необходимо отметить богатую коллекцию онлайн-сайта. Она часто обновляется и содержит как классические слоты, так и новинки игровой индустрии с необычными правилами. Количество слотов на сайте превышает 200 штук. На интернет-сайте предложен сегмент с широкой линейкой бонусов. К ним относятся депозитные и бездепозитные призы. Депозитные отличаются разнообразными предложениям в форматах приветствия, кэшбека, турниров и розыгрышей. Бездепозитные бонусы находятся фриспинами, которые игроки получают благодаря промокодам. Промокоды, в свою очередь, это бесплатное вознаграждение от интернет-сайта. Они даются бесплатно как новым, так и старым игрокам. Их раздача связана с особенными датами, открытием новейших слотов либо большими турнирами. С помощью промокодов пользователи получают все виды бонусов, представленные на веб-сайте. Более того, сайт предлагает установить официальное приложение. В соответствующем разделе можно изучить мобильную версию, не уступающую в функционале компьютерной. Стоит упомянуть, что для обеих версий идиентично качественно работает служба поддержки. Сайт казино информативен и грамотно спроектирован. Он предлагает большое количество функций и услуг, которые можно без труда подобрать в несколько кликов. Тут каждый игрок становится счастливым пользователем.

    ReplyDelete
  35. В последние годы известность зарубежных сериалов и полнометражных кинофильмов бьет все рейтинги. Но где их можно посмотреть? В интернете множество онлайн-кинотеатров, которые предлагают просмотр увлекательных киноработ от иностранных кинокомпаний - турецкие сериалы на русском языке. Большой выбор на любой вкус Но в особенности комфортно смотреть зарубежные сериалы и фильмы на интернет-сайте Turksezon.net. На этой платформе представлена огромная подборка самых популярных сегодня фильмов. На площадке можно бесплатно смотреть разные проекты: - турецкие; - колумбийские; - индийские; - бразильские. Все зарубежные проекты на площадке идут на российском языке. Привлекательно не только лишь отличное качество перевода, но и высокое разрешение. Многие сериалы и полнометражное кино на сайте идут в формате 720 HD. Широкое разнообразие зарубежных кинофильмов - одна из особенностей онлайн-кинотеатра. На портале находятся киносериалы и полнометражное кино в самых различных жанрах. Здесь обязательно найдутся интересные проекты для ценителей драм, фэнтези, боевиков, комедий. Есть огромное количество криминальных, исторических, семейных и военных киноработ. В соответствующих рубриках расположены актуальные детективы, триллеры, мелодрамы. Фантастическое кино, в том числе киносериалы, вы можете подобрать в отдельном блоке. Такое ранжирование по жанрам очень удобно для выбора подходящего кинофильма. Удобство поиска интересных фильмов Еще одна особенность онлайн-кинотеатра заключается в удобстве поиска интересного кинофильма. Каждый пользователь может подобрать кино, которое выпущено в определенный период. На интернет-сайте в отдельных блоках находятся проекты, выпущенные с 2016 до 2022 годы соответственно. К каждому кинофильму на площадке идет небольшое, но емкое описание. Благодаря ему каждый гость сможет подобрать именно тот проект, что ему наиболее увлекателен.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Retivabet - наиболее перспективный и простой букмекерский сайт - https://retivabet.net. На сайте вы можете найти разнообразные виды развлечений на любой вкус: казино, букмекерские ставки, игры. В случае если вы любитель казино, тут для вас предусмотрено все необходимое. Легкий доступ к игровым слотам, карточным играм и рулетке, а помимо этого возможность поучаствовать в турнире. Главная задача турнира - вырваться на лидирующие позиции в турнирной таблице, потому что крупный призовой фонд будет разделен между первыми тридцатью победителями. И чем выше ваша позиция в таблице, тем больший кусок пирога вам достанется. Для ценителей спорта Retivabet предлагает обширный спектр ставок. Здесь представлены не только всемирно известные чемпионаты и команды, но и новички из разных лиг и стран, что делает результат еще более волнительным и интересным. Футбол, баскетбол, хоккей, теннис, снукер, дартс, скачки, гонки и многое другое, на чем можно заработать хорошие деньги. Выбор за вами. Киберспорт помимо этого стал неотъемлемой частью букмекерской компании. Теперь клиент может делать ставки не только на Пре-Матчи, но и на игры в режиме онлайн, в любое время дня и ночи. Для того, чтобы стать клиентом огромной семьи Revitabet, необходимо пройти регистрацию на веб-сайте Retivabet.net. Это не займет более десяти минут, после чего новый клиент получает бонусы от организации, которыми в последствие, может пользоваться на свое усмотрение. Виды бонусов: - Приветственные; - Кешбэк с сумы ставок; - Бонус за серию проигрышей; - Экспресс бонус. Пополнение счета возможно разными вариантами, что делает это максимально удобным для клиентов. Можно использовать для пополнения и вывода средств банковские карты, мобильные платежи, интернет банкинг. Никаких комиссий со стороны букмекерской компании, и даже приятные бонусы за пополнения. Никаких подводных камней, только прозрачно чистое и выгодное развлечение!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Because there are more rules about safety at sea, the number of maritime accidents has gone down over the past few decades. Most of the rules have worked well to stop accidents and other problems. Still, accidents and problems happen at sea, and the way things are regulated now can be criticized in a number of ways. The process of international regulation is not easy. It usually takes a long time, and the end result can be a criminal justice essay writer USA compromise of compromises. Most regulation is done after the fact instead of before. The work of the IMO depends on the participation of nation states and the way flag states carry out regulations. Nation states mostly use the IMO to look out for their own interests, and not all flag states have the same standards for how things are done. Because IMO hasn't been able to respond quickly and take local conditions into account when making rules, the European Union, for example, is in charge of maritime safety, and there are things like Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas

    ReplyDelete
  38. Бонусы и поощрений в БК 1хбет значительно увеличивает привлекательность компании в глазах игроков. Выгодные предложения доступны как новеньким, и игрокам, уже имеющим опыт работы на платформе. Среди впечатляющего ассортимента бонусной программы очень легко потеряться. Каждый промокод 1хбет обеспечит право на определенные преференции - промокод 1xbet.

    ReplyDelete
  39. БК MelBet пользуется большой известностью на отечественном рынке: -Деятельность компании лицензирована; - Пользователям предоставлен впечатляющий список ставок - в формате live и предматчевых; - Здесь нет задержек с выплатами. Линия ставок невероятно презентабельна. Для того, чтобы получить прибыльный бонус на совершение ставок, нужно всего лишь использовать промокод MelBet RS777. Получить промокод вы можете на ставку или на депозит. Каждое предложение имеет свои особенности отыгрыша - промокод MelBet.

    ReplyDelete
  40. В 2023 году промокод 1хбет предоставляющий максимальный бонус - 1XFREE777. Бонусные деньги начисляются автоматически на отдельный счет и их сразу вы можете использовать для игры - промокод на 1хбет.

    ReplyDelete