Unlike algebra or Pythagoras theorem, handwriting is one essential skill that everyone will use, even after they finish school.
It is also one of the developmental milestones for children ages 5 and up.
Kids need to learn how to write quickly so that they don’t fall behind on lessons.
If your child is still having trouble putting down letters and words, then maybe they need a helping hand.
Teachers may not have the time to individually tend to each student.
So, as a parent, you may need to swoop in and save the day.
Here are 8 tips to help your child improve their handwriting.
How to Improve Your Child’s Handwriting
Correct Their Technique
If your child is struggling to follow the lines, then maybe you need to help them master the basics.
Some kids aren’t even able to hold their pencils in the proper way yet.
If this is the case, help them by guiding their hand over the paper.
Other things that you want to look at are the angle of the paper, their posture, and their finger placements.
Contrary to popular belief, mastering one’s handwriting involves many processes.
We as adults may not be aware of them because we tend to do it without thinking.
Diversify Their Writing Implements
Pencils are great for practical reasons, but hardly worth the attention of a child.
If your child is the type to get bored easily, maybe a different writing tool may revitalise their motivation.
Glitter pens, crayons, markers, highlighters—the sky’s the limit!
Children love variety, and diversifying their options may help curb the monotony of handwriting exercises.
You may want to buy those pens with erasable ink so that you don’t burn a hole through your wallet.
Enhance Their Fine Motor Skills
At first glance, these activities may have nothing to do with writing.
Nevertheless, handwriting itself is a fine motor skill.
The theory goes that these exercises help your child have better control over their hand and finger muscles.
This in turn improves any other ability that involves using one’s hands, such as holding and using a pencil.
There are many ways to improve your child’s fine motor skills.
Some examples include cutting and pasting shapes out of paper, playing with play dough, and colouring.
You can even buy a book of mazes for your child.
The ones where you have to manoeuvre the tip of a pencil through narrow lines from one end to the other.
Have An Eraser Handy
Having an endless pile of mistakes can seem daunting for you and your child.
So, keep an eraser nearby so that they won’t be afraid of messing up.
Of course, this only applies if you’re using pencils, which can seem boring to some children over time.
So, if you don’t want to buy them ink pens, then opt for pencils with fancy designs.
There are many in stationery stores that come bejewelled or multicoloured.
Another erasable option that can be a good alternative is coloured pencils, whiteboards and chalkboards.
Practice Makes Perfect
It can be hard to make handwriting enjoyable.
Especially if all you do is make them write letters on a paper all day.
They will get tired of this real quick.
So, learn to sneak handwriting exercises in their daily activities.
If they made you a drawing, ask them to write their name in the back.
If you’re making cookies, get your piping bag out, so they can write letters with the icing.
Make a game out of handwriting.
Some popular game that makes use of letters is hangman and word puzzles.
Playing these games with them on a regular basis may help grease the wheels.
Make It Fun
Lessons don’t have to be boring, so think outside the box.
This tip is a bit different from the previous one.
While it’s important to incorporate writing into their daily activities, it’s also important to make official lessons less boring.
Your writing activities don’t have to just be conducted on a table with paper and pencils.
You can have them write on cement with chalk, or make art with glue with glitter.
Print Out Exercises
It may be tempting to keep buying exercise books, but these can quickly add up.
So, invest in a cheap printer—you can just self-print the exercises at home.
This will save you a lot of money going forward.
If you have the patience, you can even write down the dotted guide-lines yourself for your child to follow.
Be Patient
As with all things parenting-related, you have to be patient.
Don’t yell, scold or sigh at them.
Children generally sense frustration and negativity better than most adults.
So if they make a mistake, gently correct them.
Moreover, don’t spend more than a few hours.
Children may get tired and bored pretty quickly.
So, remember to space out your lessons with snacks and playtime.
Crossing the T’s and Dotting the I’s
Handwriting is probably one of the easiest things to teach a child.
It doesn’t take much understanding to master, although it does require some time.
One thing to remember is progress not perfection.
Don’t obsess over how well they can fill in the dotted lines.
The end goal is to help them master writing each letter without any help.
However, if you find that your child is having exceptional difficulty learning to write, don’t hesitate to call a specialist.
Disorders like dysgraphia and dyslexia can make it hard for someone to form letters or words.
If this is the case, all is not lost.
We have made great strides in helping children and adults with writing disabilities.
There is no reason that your child can’t live a perfectly normal life, even if they’re diagnosed with one.
Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison both had dysgraphia, and they were the greatest visionaries of their generation.
You’ve got this, parents!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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