Writing can be frustrating for children. For many, it doesn't come naturally, meaning that it takes work and patience to get it right. Since children are not patient in general, they can get upset easily and want to give up. Writing also requires fine motor skills to grasp writing utensils, and some children develop these skills slowly. Since good handwriting is a necessary skill, children have to overcome these obstacles in order to improve.
Step 1
Let the child choose a writing utensil. Don't worry about writing with a thin pen or pencil, as a marker with a larger barrel is fine. Some children have issues with a weak grasp and need the larger size.
Step 2
Watch the child write. Check to see where the child is holding the utensil. A grasp up too high makes the tip of the utensil impossible to control. Also, make sure the child isn't pressing too hard on the paper. When pressing hard, the tip doesn't glide across the page, causing bumpy breaks in the letters.
Step 3
Start with the basics. Before beginning to write letters, have the child draw lines and circles. These two basic shapes make up printed letters, so they are essentially the foundation of all writing. Lines should be drawn top to bottom, and circles should start at the two-o'clock point and go around clockwise. Getting these right will help the child form the letters correctly later.
Step 4
Go slowly. Go through each letter individually, having the child write each one. This allows you to correct any mistakes in single letters. When you see an error, you can go over the mistakes and help the child write it properly. Doing it one by one helps the child focus more on each letter.
Step 5
Use lined paper. Using a blank sheet of paper, have the child write a few letters. This will help you determine the letter size the child is comfortable with. Buy paper with two solid lines and a dotted line in the middle as guidelines using the child's freestyle letters to choose the line width. This helps teach the child letter-sizing consistency while not forcing them to change their letter size.
Step 6
Practice consistently. To improve a child's handwriting, practice is imperative. Avoid making the practice sessions too long, instead cutting practice into 15- to 30-minute mini-sessions. These shorter sessions ensure that the child gets the most out of the lesson instead of trying to rush through it. Tracing letters and copying them from another page help children learn handwriting skills.
Step 7
Have fun. Board games require grasping skills that are essential to writing. Drawing is another way to help children get used to the grasp without the pressure of doing real work.
Things You'll Need
- Writing utensil
- Blank paper
- Lined paper
- Board game
