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How old is this child - a handwriting spelling one

110 replies

13456few · 03/09/2025 15:34

DC has just gone back to school and I asked her to practice her writing while I dictate it to her. How old do you think this child is and whst school year do you think she has just started? My concern is she is behind.

How old is this child - a handwriting spelling one
OP posts:
13456few · 03/09/2025 17:45

She has very recently got back into lego and I have been encouraging that as much as possible. She lost interest when she wasn't as good as building the models for 7 and 8 year olds.

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ItsNotMeEither · 03/09/2025 17:44

13456few · 03/09/2025 17:27

I certainly don't try and add any pressure on her. In fact, she ended up not doing any writing all summer because whenever I mentioned it she got upset. She herself feels like she's not good enough and compares herself to the other kids in her class.

There is a huge gap between her verbal ability to tell a story and her ability to do so on paper. She usually freezes, gets upset, complains that she's stupid, doesn't know what to write and can't write it anyway because her handwriting is so poor.

Edited

This also jumped out at me. For getting the ideas flowing and getting her to believe in her own abilities as a writer, why not find a good speech to text app? It won't help for assessment, but she may start to see that she is a capable little author, she just needs help with the mechanics.

Chat to her teacher, I'm sure the teacher would be happy to look over some of her speech to text stories and give her some encouragement.

Namechange2700000 · 03/09/2025 17:44

The handwriting is better than my DS - Who started A Levels today! 😀

polarsystem · 03/09/2025 17:44

Year 4, 5 or 6. It’s not the worst I’ve seen.

13456few · 03/09/2025 17:44

@ItsNotMeEither we have really tried to get her to do more crafts and monkey bars but she really struggles and gives up. Haven't thought of using chatgpt to come up with a few more ideas. Not sure that she's got full blown dispraxia, but her fine motor skills are still very poor, for example, she can't wear joggers as she can't undo and redo ties or bows. Really struggles with buttons etc.

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Bitzee · 03/09/2025 17:42

That handwriting is fine for a 7YO that has just started Y3. You’ll probably find it comes along a lot this year without you needing to do very much and honestly I’d be wary of pushing too hard and putting her off even more. Does she like lego? It’s great for fine motor skills and she’ll have no idea she’s using her writing muscles.

user2848502016 · 03/09/2025 17:36

About 8? Year 4 or just starting year 5 maybe

ItsNotMeEither · 03/09/2025 17:36

Hand writing can also be helped by things other than writing. Often low muscle tone can be an issue. Things like swinging on monkey bars can help to develop upper body strength. Also, a firm ball that can be squeezed can help to develop muscles in the hands and fingers. Kids who find writing tiring may need work on their hand and arm muscles.

Then, to help with the writing tidiness, it's fine motor skills you need. Lots of craft activities can help to develop fine motor skills.

I'd use Chat GPT or Google for a list of fun ways to develop fine motor skills in children.

Having strong abdominal helps too. Children, when tired, will slouch, lean on their arms and again, feel fatigue when writing. Having stronger abs/torso can help with sitting up, not leaning on her arms and developing writing stamina.

This way, you can get her to work on her writing skills, without writing at all. In fact, don't tell her why you're doing these things at all, let it just be fun. Get creative, the ball squeezing can be done in the ad breaks while watching TV.

If you work on these things consistently, it will help with the writing mechanics. She may of course, still need help with correct letter formation when writing, let alone the skills to order her thoughts on paper, but don't dismiss or overlook the strength needed for the writing process.

ThatCalmCat · 03/09/2025 17:36

I was a TA for year 6 for a few years and my initial thought was year 4. I've seen similar handwriting for year 6 students too!
She's doing fine.
I'd be tempted to tell her that most people thought she was writing at y4 or 5 to boost her confidence!
My son has just smashed his GCSEs and started an apprenticeship today. He's a clever kid, but his handwriting is terrible, your daughter's is actually neater!
She's on the right track, don't worry. Noticed she managed to spell some tricky words, so for a y2 to y3 she's going good.

13456few · 03/09/2025 17:27

I certainly don't try and add any pressure on her. In fact, she ended up not doing any writing all summer because whenever I mentioned it she got upset. She herself feels like she's not good enough and compares herself to the other kids in her class.

There is a huge gap between her verbal ability to tell a story and her ability to do so on paper. She usually freezes, gets upset, complains that she's stupid, doesn't know what to write and can't write it anyway because her handwriting is so poor.

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Lolalovesroses · 03/09/2025 17:23

8 or 9

softlyfallsthesnow · 03/09/2025 17:19

I've taught much worse 14 year olds. Are you worried about her creative writing skills? Plenty of 7/8 year olds can't think of what to write and need some help with that.
You or school may be unintentionally causing her anxiety when she probably needs constructive advice and encouragement.
The physical writing part looks ok.

JSMill · 03/09/2025 17:19

13456few · 03/09/2025 16:29

Sorry forgot to add she has just gone in y3

That’s what I thought. I wouldn’t say she is behind. Her handwriting is poor compared to the pupils in my school but I wonder how they are teaching it in her school.

GleisZwei · 03/09/2025 17:19

My DC didn't have particularly neat handwriting at primary, though spelling was very good. Fast forward to secondary and pretty much every teacher commented on the 'beautiful' handwriting, at some point. If you're worried, speak to the teacher.

tinytemper66 · 03/09/2025 17:17

Anything from 6-13

WorkCleanRepeat · 03/09/2025 17:16

Looks very similar to my daughter's. She has just started year 4.

Joystir59 · 03/09/2025 17:13

7 years in age

13456few · 03/09/2025 17:11

I also struggle reading her joined up writing and she struggles to write for long. She is also convinced that she's at least a year behind.

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13456few · 03/09/2025 17:10

Thank you for that. She asked whether she should write joined up or whatever is easier for her so this was her preference. Writing is such a sore point for her.

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DustlandFairytaleBeginning · 03/09/2025 17:06

I think they are beginning year 3? They have neat letter formations but no joining up. Year 3 was really when my son started joining his letters properly and they are joined all the time now (going into Year 4).

Edited to add- sorry OP just saw your update to see they are starting year 3- in this case I think they are very normal in where they are from my experience, just really push the joined up practice!

13456few · 03/09/2025 17:04

The dictation takes away the worry about having to come up with something. She has real anxiety when she has to do that and usually ends up in tears about how she cant think of anything and what should she come up with. I was hoping to take away that stress and focus only on the physical writing part.

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Calliopespa · 03/09/2025 17:04

It's not too bad op. Just enjoy your little girl.

Threesacrow · 03/09/2025 16:59

Year 3 or 4. Taking dictation is tough, there's not many mistakes considering. Why does she need to practice dictation? That would make many children feel anxious, also the knowledge that her spelling and handwriting are being judged. Her spelling looks fine to me, and it will improve naturally as she gets more experience. Maybe writing short stories would be more enjoyable and less stressful.

13456few · 03/09/2025 16:44

on top of that, she herself feels very insecure about it, which means she doesn't want to practice and keeps saying how bad she is. Obviously I try to reassure her that it's ok, but I also want to make sure she doesn't fall behind.

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13456few · 03/09/2025 16:42

We got told that her writing was weak at the end of last school year. She point blank refused to practice all summer,, the joys of ND and I feel a bit panicky that now she will be anymore behind.

I know that there is much more to writing than just spelling and handwriting. It's just that she really struggles with both.

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