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Below are some suggested tips you can use with your students. The downloadable PDF is a printable that can be shared with parents as well.
Below are some suggested tips you can use with your students. The downloadable PDF is a printable that can be shared with parents as well.
1. Writing tools.
1. Writing tools.
Make sure your child has a writing tool they find comfortable (e.g easy to grip, not too heavy). Have them try a few to see what works for them.
Make sure your child has a writing tool they find comfortable (e.g easy to grip, not too heavy). Have them try a few to see what works for them.
2. Plant your feet.
2. Plant your feet.
Make sure children's feet can touch the ground when they are writing and the height of the chair allows them to have their knees at a 90 degree angle. This is the recommended ideal position for children to write in when developing their handwriting skills.
Make sure children's feet can touch the ground when they are writing and the height of the chair allows them to have their knees at a 90 degree angle. This is the recommended ideal position for children to write in when developing their handwriting skills.
3. Hold your paper.
3. Hold your paper.
Children often hold their head with their non-writing hand while writing. Encourage them to use their non-writing hand to hold their paper. This will make it easier for them to write as they will not have to press down as hard with their writing hand in order to keep their paper from moving.
Children often hold their head with their non-writing hand while writing. Encourage them to use their non-writing hand to hold their paper. This will make it easier for them to write as they will not have to press down as hard with their writing hand in order to keep their paper from moving.
4. Traffic margins.
4. Traffic margins.
Draw a green margin along the left side of the paper and a red one along the right side to help your children see where they should start (green means go) and stop (red means stop) each writing line and help them with orienting their writing. You can also draw dots at the start and end of each writing line instead of solid margin lines to help them differentiate each writing line.
Draw a green margin along the left side of the paper and a red one along the right side to help your children see where they should start (green means go) and stop (red means stop) each writing line and help them with orienting their writing. You can also draw dots at the start and end of each writing line instead of solid margin lines to help them differentiate each writing line.
5. Pencil grips.
5. Pencil grips.
A pencil grip may help your child master a good pencil grip and make the writing process more comfortable. There are many different kinds available, spend some time with your child finding one that works for them. There are also triangular shaped writing tools that make gripping them easier.
A pencil grip may help your child master a good pencil grip and make the writing process more comfortable. There are many different kinds available, spend some time with your child finding one that works for them. There are also triangular shaped writing tools that make gripping them easier.
6. The ball/key ring trick.
6. The ball/key ring trick.
The tripod grip (using your thumb, index and middle finger) can be challenging to master for children. A strategy you may like to try is giving your child a ball of plasticine (or something similar) and have them hold it with their pinky and ring fingers. This will occupy those two fingers and encourage them to use the remaining three to hold their pencil. You can also use a key ring like in the picture above.
The tripod grip (using your thumb, index and middle finger) can be challenging to master for children. A strategy you may like to try is giving your child a ball of plasticine (or something similar) and have them hold it with their pinky and ring fingers. This will occupy those two fingers and encourage them to use the remaining three to hold their pencil. You can also use a key ring like in the picture above.
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