Is Your Child Struggling With HANDWRITING Skills?

Speech&Company Handwriting, Occupational Therapy

Do you have difficulty reading your child’s printing?

An Occupational therapist can help! Occupational therapists have the knowledge and training to assess all components of handwriting skills and provide appropriate recommendations to meet your child’s needs. There are many components that influence handwriting, such as, hand strength, pencil grasp, memory, orientation, letter sizing and spacing, and visual motor integration skills to name a few.

Here are some GREAT TIPS to encourage a child’s handwriting skills at home:

It is beneficial for children to warm up their small hand muscles before printing tasks.
- These activities include:
  1. Modelling with play dough, clay or theraputty
  2. Building games (i.e., lego, knew, math cubes)
  3. Beading and lacing
  4. Water droppers
  5. hang clothes with clothespins
  6. Nuts and bolts
  7. Picking up small objects with tweezers and transfer to a cup
  8. Drawing or painting at an easle
Children need to be properly seated to promote postural control and positioning to write.
- Ensure that the child’s feet are flat on the floor (use a footstool if needed).
- The height of the table your child is sitting at should be just above elbow height
- Both arms should be supported
Before beginning a handwriting program with an Occupational therapist, your child will likely benefit from activities that promote their visual motor integration skills, visual perceptual skills, and motor coordination skills. These activities provide a strong foundation for a child to be able to understand, visualize and form letters and numbers properly.
- Mazes
- Dot to dot
- Where’s Waldo books
- Hidden picture find books