Handwriting Help

In this issue: Handwriting

Did you know: Occupational therapists are experts at teaching children of all ages how to write legibly with speed and confidence?

Handwriting Difficulties:  Children with handwriting difficulties can experience great frustration when completing written school work and homework. They may complete work slower and less neatly than other children and despite knowing the answers, may limit their responses to avoid handwriting. Younger children who are demonstrating signs of poor fine motor skill development are at a higher risk of having difficulty with handwriting as they get older. Early intervention is important.   

Signs of Handwriting Difficulties: Resists coloring, drawing and/or writing activities, atypical pencil grasp, presses pencil too hard on the paper, hand fatigue and cramping, slouching or propping head when writing,  large or very small letter size, difficulty writing on the lines, doesn’t adequately space between words or letters, writing is difficult to read.

Practice (Doesn’t) Make Perfect: Contrary to the popular saying, when children experience difficulty with handwriting, practicing handwriting does NOT make perfect. In fact, practicing the wrong way can lead to further frustration and can reinforce bad habits. 

Handwriting Help: Handwriting requires a tremendous amount of skill including: fine motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, visual motor skills, hand strength and dexterity, core and shoulder strength, postural control, visual memory, attention, and executive functioning skills. Occupational therapists can evaluate and strengthen the underlying skills that are impacting your child’s handwriting. Occupational therapists can also provide direct handwriting instruction in a manner that allows your child to be and feel successful. 

Teletherapy: With current school demands most likely decreased, now is the perfect time to address handwriting concerns. Evaluations and therapy sessions for handwriting can be done via teletherapy. Use this time to help your child develop the handwriting skills he or she needs to complete written tasks legibly and with confidence. 

If  your child would benefit from improved handwriting skills, you can call the Pediatric Development Center to set up a teletherapy evaluation:  301-869-7505.