DD is 5 and this is her handwriting...

[SwingingCatsAround]

... It's shockingly bad.

She was 5 in December. Her reading is much higher level.

I'm not concerned about the mirror letter/spelling, but the construction if the letters.

We're trying to get her better, but she will resist writing at any opportunity, gets cross if we ask her to correct her grip.

She has strong fingers and good fine motor (sews with tapestry needles, can do buttons up etc) she plays with play doh, tongs, tweezers, loves squeezing anything and everything lolol

What else can we do? It won't magically get better will it?

I say relax. DS is Y3 and his writing is 2 years behind, partly because he’s ASC and dyspraxic. I made his life miserable, at the behest of successive teachers, trying to get him to practise letter formation for many years, now he associates written work with getting grief from his mother!

I hope you enjoyed Dog Man btw. (We’re going this weekend!)

Definitely no need to worry. DS had shocking handwriting up until about Year 3 and he's 19 and a high flyer now.

Pace yourself with the worrying. This is normal, especially halfway through reception where some of them can't even write their names yet!

She 5 years old 60 months old let her be she will get better in time but right now just let her be a child without worring.

Under no circumstances whatsoever give her any inkling you are concerned about her writing! She is doing really well. When there’s a genuine practical opportunity get her to write a card, list, funny note to surprise someone in the family whatever then praise her to the skies. No drill, no ‘practice’. Whoever said she is ‘behind’ is mistaken. Ideas, wanting to try and having fun are the important things!

She's only just turned five. It's fine.

What type of school is she at OP?
State? Private?

Forgot to add - the one thing that DID get DS to write without being cajoled or bribed was those chalk window markers. I basically let him write all over the conservatory windows. It’s a bastard to clean off but was v effective! (In the end I got some sticky blackboard paper for the walls instead).

Dd1 only got good handwriting in year 8 at secondary. Honestly, comprehension is more important and they all get there at different times.

I haven't read full thread so have no idea if this has been shared.
This photo says it all. Little hands have a a lot of growing, playing and manipulating to do before they are ready to pick up a pen.

This looks totally fine to me. She'll improve her writing over time but what won't help is a pushy parent making her feel like she's not good enough. Relax

Exactly this...Letter formation, A 's B's C's and the wonderful ''R'' and ''G'' 'K' and 'Y' it should be fun, not a chore.

I had to learn the Cyrillic alphabet as a teenager, and writing the lovely shapes was like learning to write all over again.

@SwingingCatsAround if she understands what a review is she's obviously clever. I'm glad you aren't worried now.

My goodness, she is five, nothing to worry about at her age! Keep getting her to do things that help with control and strength, make it fun, no pressure.

What was your writing like at age 5?
Spend a day in your child’s class and you will see the vast difference between the children’s writing.
Your child is 5 it’s fine.

It's normal. It'll gradually get better as she gets older.

OP if any encouragement DS's was much worse than this at the same age. Various reasons behind it but he was great at fine motor skills etc, his hand writing just looked like a trainer serial killer's, all giant capital letters all over the page.

His writing skills came on later and he had a particularly good year 2 teacher who really got under the skin of what he was finding challenging and came up with great strategies to help with letter formation and in particular letter size.

He's now in Y4 and his writing is great, the only complaint from his teachers is that it's too small... I pointed out they wouldn't have this problem if their predecessors hadn't berated him so much for it being too big and allowed him to develop at his pace.

I should get you a picture of my almost 17 year old DSs handwriting….you wouldn’t be worried then.

Cool Idea

😂

Completely normal writing for reception! You should be proud of her, instead of posting it online. Please praise her, and don't pressurise her (not that I'm saying you do, I don't know you). 5 is so young, she won't turn 15 and not be able to write. Give her time, and grace.

The only thing shockingly bad is your expectations

Exactly the same as my granddaughter hand writing and she is same age,same month…we are not even remotely concerned.

Good grief. How could you think it was 'shockingly bad'? Did the school use those words??

Yeah once they hit secondary nobody cares as long as it's roughly legible.

I wasn't even at school when I was her age (March birthday in Scotland)
It's hard when they first start school, especially if she's your oldest - there's nothing to judge by except for what the teacher says. If the teacher is wee bit off to side with their opinions, how would you know? I think your wee one is doing fab.