Handwriting
Customizable handwriting practice sheets: https://handwritingpractice.net/
Please let me know if you would like me to make one for your child and I would be happy to!
The Handwriting Clinic "how to hold a pencil" activities
Learning Without Tears (previously Handwriting Without Tears)
Letter formation charts - great visual for the sequence of proper letter formation and the verbal cues that I use to teach your child during OT sessions (also available in Spanish):
90 day free trial of Pre-K Interactive Teaching tool and/or Handwriting Interactive teaching tool
Offering 40% off workbooks and free shipping on products
Kids Master Skills take home packets (https://www.kidsmasterskills.com/)
Pencil control: https://media.wix.com/ugd/806a25_35c96644514f4224aafb58c12cd7d7c3.pdf
Handwriting help: https://media.wix.com/ugd/806a25_d6be6e1867e64b0483caa0c252621232.pdf
Writing practice: https://media.wix.com/ugd/806a25_ac29d14031464c6bb2057a16358c29bf.pdf
Pencil Grasp
Ideas for encouraging a mature pencil grasp
Broken crayons naturally encourage a tripod grasp
Small writing instruments are great if your child is still using a fisted grasp
If your child using a fisted grasp have them hold a small object (i.e., eraser, button, cotton ball, marble) in their palm with their ring finger and pinky
If you notice your child is holding the pencil vertical, this trick will help them achieve the proper pencil angle to improve ease of writing
Slant Boards
If your child colors with their whole arm in the air (rather than stabilizing their arm on the table) or writes with their wrist flexed, a slantboard can help them achieve a more ideal position of slight wrist extension. It can also help with visual tracking, improve posture, and promote better upper body positioning. You can make a homemade slantboard with a single empty 3" binder. If you do not have one that is large enough you can stack binders and tape them together. If your child has difficulty stabilizing the paper, you can attach a clipboard or tape paperclips to the top of the binder.
Adaptive Paper
Highlighter Paper
Highlighter paper is a great way to help kids with proper sizing of lowercase letters. You can purchase it through Therapro or you can also use a highlighter or yellow marker on the bottom half of 3-lined paper. If they have difficulty with letter placement you can add a bold pink line on the writing line. I also like to draw waves under the writing line to help with placement of "diver letters" (g, j, p, q, and y). More pictures to come soon!
Special App with Adapted Paper for a small cost: Writing Practice Ruled Paper : $3.99 on the App store
Letter Formation Apps
These apps are not all free but they are my favorite because they encourage kids to form letters properly.
Letter School - FREE trial and in-app purchases for different alphabets
Touch And Write - $2.99
Write My Name - $3.99
Wet Dry Try - $4.99
Proper Posture
Always make sure to have proper seated posture with hips and knees bent at a 90 degree angle and feet flat on the floor.
Multisensory Letter Formation
It is important to learn the motor movements for making a letter through visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile feedback. Including gross motor movements makes learning letters more fun than only practicing with a paper and pencil. Here are some activities to try!
Flashlight letter formation
Form letters with shaving foam in the bath tub
Draw letters in a try of clay using a golf tee
Fill a Ziploc bag with hair gel (making sure it's closed tight) and draw letters on the bag
Trace letters made out of glue and colored salt
Draw letters on a cookie sheet filled with rice, salt, or sand
Sky writing with your index finger in the air - to make it harder have them close their eyes
Draw letters on a wall with a large pool noodle or sword
Write letters with a dry erase marker on a sliding glass door