Handwriting can be such a struggle for so many homeschooling families. I see so many moms on social media asking how to teach their children to write. Today, I am so happy that Alesia from Primary Learning is here to give you some great tips on helping your child learn to write their letters.
Take it away Alesia!
For some children, learning to print letters or write them in cursive is a relatively simple process.
For other children, learning to write is a challenging process that can cause struggles, even with continued practice.
Writing is a complex process, drawing on multiple skills. Consequently, it is important to examine a number of areas that can impede a child’s success with writing.
Build a Good Writing Foundation
One of the first things to consider when children struggle with writing is whether they have an effective pencil grip.
One of the preferred pencil grips is known as the “tripod grip.” The thumb, index finger, and middle finger hold the pencil securely. Although young children may initially hold writing tools such as pencils, crayons, and markers using a different grasp, as they develop, it’s important that they learn a functional pencil grip.
While using the tripod grip, children may also need guidance around holding their pencil securely. Using a loose grip will hinder their ability to write letters correctly. Children may also need guidance around where to place their arm when they write and how much pressure to apply to their pencil. It is not uncommon to see children pressing too hard or too lightly when writing.
When children struggle with their pencil grip, parents and educators may need to explore options to support them. This may include trialing commercial brand pencil grips that help train the fingers and thumb to be in the correct position. It may also be helpful to experiment with shorter pencils or pencils that are thicker in diameter.
Strength and Coordination for Writing
In addition to having a functional pencil grip, children need to have strength and coordination in their hands so they can apply pressure to their pencil. To build their strength and coordination, children can participate in activities like cutting with scissors, using playdough, using a spray bottle, or squeezing sponges.
When challenges with writing occur, it may be necessary to consider the writing surface children are using. Ideally, beginning writers can sit comfortably while writing, with their feet touching the floor. Their writing surface needs to be at a height that doesn’t require them to reach too far up
or down. If this condition is not met, adjusting the chair, table, or desk may be helpful.
It’s also important to consider the angle of the writing surface. Some children may find it easier to write on a slant board or writing wedge instead of a traditional horizontal surface like a table or desk.
Letter Formation Matters
When children experience difficulty forming letters, it may be due to using incorrect pathways. In both printing and cursive writing, there are efficient pathways that require rehearsal for children to learn.
For example, when printing a lowercase “a,” children need to start at the top of the ball and move left to make a circle. They then lift their pencil and make a straight line that touches the circle, writing from top to bottom. Without learning these pathways, children may “draw” letters using a different method each time. This can result in incorrect formations and difficulty remembering how to make each letter.
To build their strength and coordination, children can participate in activities like cutting with scissors, using playdough, using a spray bottle, or squeezing sponges.
Alesia, primarylearning.org
Writing Resources
These worksheets give step-by-step instructions to print letters correctly. Further practice with printing can be found here.
For children who are learning cursive writing, these worksheets group letters with common pathways.
The worksheets above provide children with a visual model of each letter. Additionally, they provide students with instructions on how to use the correct pathways in order to trace each letter.
Tracing activities can be ineffective if a child is not using the proper pathway. To become an efficient writer, children need to trace the letter using the same pathway each time, which helps establish the motor pattern to print the letter from memory.
Give Them (the Right) Space
When children are learning to write, they have many considerations regarding size and spacing. It is not uncommon for early writers to form very large letters. They may also struggle with organizing their letters and words on the page, with their writing sloping upwards or downwards.
When forming individual letters, children must remember which ones are tall, which ones are short, and which ones have a “tail” that dips below the other letters, like a “q” or “j.”
Using pages with lines, like the worksheets above, can help students organize their letters and words so they are more legible. Learning how to form all the letters of the alphabet takes time, practice, and patience.
When a child continues to experience difficulty learning to write, consulting a professional for advice can be helpful. A special education teacher or occupational therapist may be able to provide further recommendations to support a child’s writing. Ideally, forming letters should become a nearly effortless process, freeing up the child’s energy to focus on other aspects of their writing, such as spelling words, using punctuation, and getting all their great ideas on paper.
Alesia is a founder of PrimaryLearning.org, an educational website that helps elementary school teachers and homeschool parents with hands-on worksheets, activities and thoughtful articles.