Handwriting

"Handwriting is the integration of a series of complex fine motor movements, visual-perceptual skills and language comprehension needed to accurately control a pen or pencil to produce representative patterns that form letters and words as a means of communication."

Approximate Age Expectations

Vertical Line

Imitates 2-2.11 years
Copies 3 years

Square

Copies 4 years

Horizontal Line

Imitates 2.5-3 years
Copies 3 years

Right/left Diagonals

Copies 4.5 years

Circle

Imitates 2.5 years
Copies 3 years

X

Copies 5 years

Plus Sign

Imitates 3.5 years
Copies 4 years

Triangle

Copies 5 years

About Visual Processing

Visual Processing is a big job, and includes three main areas that impact our ability to accomplish tasks:

  • Visual Skills
    Including oculomotor skills and acuity.

  • Visual Perceptual Skills
    Using visual information to understand how objects around us are related to one another and to ourselves.

  • Visual Motor Skills
    The integration of visual information with actions in order to complete tasks.

How You Can Tell Your Kiddo is Struggling

  • Letter reversal

  • Poor line awareness in handwriting

  • Poor margin use in written work

  • Difficulty copying written work

  • Trouble recognizing patterns and completing hands-on math problems

  • Difficulty catching or kicking a ball

  • Trouble with movement games like hopscotch.

  • Clumsiness

  • Difficulty with sports

  • Difficulty drawing and copying pictures or shapes

  • Difficulty copying block forms

  • Difficulty with puzzles

  • Poor pencil control when writing

  • Difficulty keeping place when reading and writing

Why Occupational Therapy Works On This

Common activities that require the use of visual motor skills include coloring within the lines, copying words/shapes, writing within the lines on a piece of paper, and participating in gross motor activities that require well-time movements such as catching or hitting a ball.

Tweezers

Slant Board

Threading

Activities To Improve Handwriting

Helpful Links

Creative Writing Practice

I wanted to come up with a collection of unbeatable handwriting activities for kids who hate to write because let’s face it; Kids will complain and resist handwriting practice when they really just hate to practice written work! Try these activities that I’ve found makes kids see the fun over the challenge to practice handwriting:

Handwriting Grips

Handwriting has many components to it, including fine motor skills, and visual perceptual skills. In therapy, we work on the underlying causes of the problem in a task, so we wouldn’t necessarily be working on handwriting, we would be working on the problem that is causing the poor handwriting. Here are a list of handwriting grips and what they look like. The grips are, Static Tripod, dynamic tripod, adapted tripod, quadrupod, gross grasp, digital pronated, 5 finger, thumb tuck, thumb wrap, tripod with closed web space.

Activities to Improve Handwriting

Sloppy handwriting that interferes with learning is a big challenge for many kids! So is an awkward pencil grasp that makes writing difficult. Let’s dissect handwriting so you have the tools to address letter formation, line use, spatial awareness, letter size, letter reversals and all of the areas that impact handwriting. You’ll find tools for grasping a pencil, pencil control, and motor planning for printed and cursive written work. These resources are great for occupational therapy sessions, and at home and in the classroom.

Pencil Pressure When Writing

If you’ve worked with kids teaching handwriting or fixing handwriting issues, they you probably have come across a common handwriting problem area…Pencil pressure when writing. Handwriting pressure can play a huge role in legibility, whether pressing too hard when writing or writing too lightly. Here are tips for pressing too hard when writing…and tips for helping kids write darker. Scroll down for everything you need to know about writing with that “just write” pencil pressure…Typo intended.

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(916) 346-9352

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