ABCs of Learning

It is not uncommon for parents to have questions and concerns about their child’s handwriting. The following are a few things to consider when trying to determine if there are underlying struggles that might warrant intervention:

• Pay attention to your child’s pencil grip. A tripod grip allows for controlled manipulation of the pencil using the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Fingertip or fisted grips often result in variable pressure and difficulty in the production of precise pencil strokes. Children should use their hand, rather than their whole arm, to move the pencil.
• Examine your child’s letter formation. Letters should be approached from top to bottom. They should also be written in the same way every time.
• While letter reversals can be common in young children, this struggle should have resolved itself by the end of second grade.
• The demands for handwriting begin to increase in the second and third grade. Your child will be required to sustain effort in order to copy from the board, write paragraphs, and take notes. Slouching in the chair and stopping to shake the arm or wrist can be indications of an underlying issue with postural support and hand strength.
• Stop, look, and listen. Monitor the length of time it takes your child to complete written homework. Also, notice whether your child cries or complains on a regular basis when writing.

If your child displays more than three of these issues, you might want to consider talking with an educator or occupational therapist at Child and Family Development. Handwriting plays such an important part in the school day, and problems can be addressed so that these written work produces smiles instead of tears.