Handwriting Success

Handwriting Success — Episode 339

Handwriting success increases your child’s ability to write well. In this episode we learn the importance of the child exercising their hands by playing with clay, putting together blocks and lacing among other things. Today’s special guest is Jodie Oare. Listen to episode 338 on Handwriting Basics for more information on handwriting and preschoolers.

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Keys to Writing Sucess:

These are some of the keys to writing success for little ones.

The child’s grip is important. A tripod grip is ideal. Feet on the floor with good posture.

Hand Dominance

Fat crayons or pencils

Coloring: The use of large crayons and big strokes with big spaces (encourage a variety of colors because it forces a break in stroke, allows the hand to rest)

large crayons and smaller strokes with big spaces, a variety of color
large crayons with smaller strokes and smaller spaces, a variety of colors
small crayons big strokes, big spaces, a variety of colors
small crayons smaller strokes, smaller spaces, a variety of colors

Tracing: fat markers make a smooth and easy transition between coloring and writing. Tracing is done from top to bottom and left to right to establish proper habits that will be important for future school activities. All lines should go down, circles should start at the top. Lines and circles are the foundation of letter printing and should be practiced properly from the start. Habits are permanent.

Letter/Printing/Writing

Writing strokes should be efficient, therefore all lines are practiced with a downward motion and all circles start at the top to ease into proper letter formation)
Trace/Write Strokes (vertical, horizontal, diagonal lines and circles, spirals,
half-circles vertically and horizontally)
Tracing Letters with starting point indications
Capital letters are large, linear and increase successful attempts
Pencil size large/fat to start; grip enhancements to assist with proper grip
Name tracing and letter recognition
Tracing a word
Copying name
Copying a word
Transitioning to lower case letter formation in tracing, copying and writing