6yo handwriting - any ideas how to help?

[KMR281]

my wee boy is just in primary 2 (we're in Scotland). He is doing fine at school, but at parents' night, it was flagged up that his handwriting was an area of 'weakness' (I had noticed this too). He often forms his letters in non-standard ways, doesn't put spaces between words and finds it generally hard, I would say, to write neatly.
I know he's only been at school 1.5y, and is just still wee, but I don't want him to have to use a keyboard cos his writing is so rubbish the teachers can't decipher it (this has been suggested for further down the line if it's still a problem).

any ideas on how to encourage (a) spacing (b) neatness and (c) making letters correctly?

Can only think of bribery (eg sweetie for each space between words!!).

thank you in advance.

[cyb]

Make him a little finger spacer out of cardboard, (like a finger, you can draw round his) and have it to hand when he is writing. He can physically move it to the right place as he writes, and with time remember

make sure he is sitting in correct position too- a sloping board on desk might help

Its usually just practice though- I have two terrible handwriters here, 7 and 9

[IndigoBell]

If you're concerned enough to do daily practice with him, then the 3 best handwriting programs are:

Handwriting Without Tears

Speed Up

and Write From the Start


All are available from Amazon.

Really depends why you think his handwriting is bad.

Is it a visual perception problem? (Then probably go with Write from the Start)

Or are his hands weak? (then go with Speed Up)

Or is it just lack of practice? (Then go with Handwriting without tears)

Sorry, I'm not a SENCO or anything. This is just my opinion.

[beautifulgirls]

Have you looked at different writing grips to try on his pencil? My DD has to use one to help with her writing due to hyperflexible fingers. The special grip helps reduce the difficulty she has gripping the pencil properly. The OT we saw tried a few different ones with her until we found the one that worked the best.

[bonkersamy]

I would highly recommend www.morrellshandwriting.co.uk
My little brother really struggled and these books were very beneficial for him to the point that his handwriting is no longer seen as a problem at all at school.
Hope this helps

[FreudianSlimmery]

Does he have difficulty with fine motor skills? There are lists floating around MN, you could search for ideas to improve them.

[Chrysanthemum5]

Hi
My DS is in Primary 2 as well and has the same problems with handwriting. Also colouring in. We had parents evening this week and his teacher said to get him to do things to strenthen his fingers rather than making him practice writing. So playing with lego, clay etc. Also going to the play park and having a go on the climbing wall. My sister is a teacher and she says the same.

His teacher also said to get pictures of things he is interested in e.g. space and encourage him to colour those in to give him practice at holding a pencil.

[KMR281]

thanks guys, will check out the resources mentioned. to be honest, now l'm a bit calmer, I think the problem is that he's not been very interested in colouring in etc previously, so hasn't developed those muscles/that strength as much as some of his contempories. Got some glitter gel pens from Asda, and he's colouring away now, and seems to hold the pen better when colouring that when writing (he likes to do it 'his way') so will keep encouraging him to colour and do lego (good tip!) rather than force him to write all the time.
fingers crossed it all gets better, and he feels more postive too (he gets told his writing is too messy to mark - )
Thanks again.

[KMR281]

@ bonkersamy - just looked at the morell's handwriting - looks totally excellent, so think will get the first ones from that.