To ask what age child you think wrote this?

[Odearr]

Worried about DS writing, just wondering what age this level of writing ability would be typical for? This is his neatest writing and definitely helped by the little squares on the page

Ok, try not to worry too much.

My DD’s writing was actually worse than that at a similar age. She did eventually get better with lots of support from me. She’s 25 now and has just graduated with a 1st in business and marketing.

I’m telling you this because I want you to know that even though he might be a little behind his peers he will get there.

From what you have said he needs help with fine motor skills (it’s likely some occasional gaming will help with that!). What does the school say?

Writing can take time to become legible, see of school can suggest any resources to help.

Looks like dyspraxia. My middle one's handwriting was like that at the end of Y6. The others all had handwriting like that at around the same age as your son.

He'll need an OT assessment but OTs are rare as hen's teeth so you'll probably be waiting a long while. However, school can put strategies in place now such as use of a scribe or trying to see if typing is easier. Recording his learning in other ways allows him to flourish and feel positive about school.

All the evidence is that dyspraxic kids need to develop the muscles in their limbs before any of the fine motor stuff improves. Martial arts are good - a couple of mine really improved after a year or so of karate. The whole colouring in the lines stuff will only develop once the gross motor skills are there. Too much fine motor practice can be incredibly demotivating when your motor system just can't do it yet.

And ignore anyone who tells you to cut down the Fortnite - especially if they're doing it with a cat's bum face. We can all pontificate from a distance. Playing with a games console is also a fine motor skill. Everything in moderation.

Sorry OP - no time to RTWFT (jumping on in a break) but wanted to say my DS was like this, not so much the handwriting (although he did struggle with pen holding for a good year or more) but the buttons/swimming etc. He's 11 now and still can't ride a bike or mirror movement in others etc.

He has ASD but it has been suggested we get him assessed for dyspraxia. Maybe this is something to think about for your boy? (If not already suggested).

None of this has hampered DS, by the way. He's off to grammar school in a few weeks, has found a sport he enjoys and is getting more confident physically as he gets older.

Really hope you manage to get some help and resolution on this.x.

** Literally skimmed message above and below mine as closed it and everyone is suggesting dyspraxia - sorry!

I would email to arrange a meeting with the SENDCO - sounds like dyspraxia perhaps or maybe just a slight delay in fine motor skills that they can focus on with him.

Is this 2 years old?

I was going to say the same. Actually if he needs to work on his fine motor skills some use of video controllers (supervised and limited, if he isn't the type to get addicted!) combined with using playdoh and drawing really could aid him here.

Also would wonder if he possible has Dyspraxia? How is his reading, and his balance/coordination in general?

How’s his reading? How’s his attainment in general? I’m a leading literacy teacher (primary) and this would potentially concern me but wouldn’t necessarily point to a SEND need (you couldn’t tell that from his writing in isolation anyway).

His reading is ok I think, he reads the diary of a wimpy kid type books really well.
General attainment is ok I think though he did receive 'working towards' for most categories on his end of year report so perhaps not exactly where he should be at and more recently he's been having some issues with school getting upset and crying and wanting to go somewhere quiet and wanting be left alone a lot at school.

balance/coordination- not great , falls over a lot of the time and walks into things and people etc whenever we walk anywhere, spills drinks a lot and drops things all the time

I struggled at school with handwriting and I still struggle with buttons and things! Have also never got the hang of left and right and cannot catch. I am a successful (career wise) happy old lady though! It's really just the early bit of school where there is this mega focus on neatness.

Wow - amazing that you can tell how 'well versed' he is in something just by looking at the OP's post

5?

My DS with learning disabilities could use a knife and fork. He got occupational therapy. They rolled a big piece of playdough into a long sausage shape and he had to poke his fork into it and try to cut it into sections with his knife. Over time he improved. He can use a knife and fork.now but finds it difficult and often prefers to use just his fork. I tell him at home that's fine but when we go out for a meal to try with the knife and fork because he can do it if he perseveres. He's 18 he still can't tie laces and struggles with buttons and zips. I'd use playdough to practice cutting with a knife and fork at home and if no joy after a month I'd ask for occupational therapy. As with all public services there will be a wait and you might only be offered group sessions and not 1-1 sessions. You can buy a big board with a shoe lace on to practice.

I'm a year 2 teacher and have taught many children who look a similar level to your ds.

The writing he did, is that representative of independent writing or is it copied off the board?

He sounds just like two young people I know were at that age. Both diagnosed with dyspraxia, both really lovely kids and have grown into capable adults, but their parents had to work hard to get them the additional help they needed.

I've seen your update, but my first though was age 7.

7

Poor little chap, horrible to think of him being upset at school because of something he very likely can't help at all. I'll echo others it sounds like possible dyspraxia. My brother was exactly like this but I know that by the time he was in his teens he was much better able to coordinate his hands. His writing is still terribly hard to read but in this day and age he barely needs to do that by hand. Can you ask for your son to be able to use a tablet at school? This was an option for my son who also struggled a lot.

My eldest at the grand age of 17 has just at the turn of the year been told by OT that he has dysgraphia. He gets extra time in exams because of it.

Obviously bloody not.

I’d have thought 6 or 7 years old with some type of learning need such as dyspraxia or just a child slightly slower on the uptake.

DS's dysgraphia should have been diagnosed when in primary school years ago - not his final year of high school!! No idea how it got missed, but there you go🤷‍♀️

I have to say my son's writing was no better than that going into Y3. It improved somewhat in Y3 but then he had an amazing teacher in Y4 and now is much improved. He doesn't care about his writing and it doesn't seem to impede his general learning.

My 17 yo has handwriting like that due to hypermobility of the fingers. OT gave him hand and finger strengthening exercises to do.

OP I know loads about this stuff due to my eldest. He has struggled so much. Please don't leave yours this length of time like I did assuming it wasn't so bad as it is. Hindsight makes us see this should have been addressed years ago.

Please seriously consider referring your DS to Occupational Therapy.

OP, please speak to your GP and to the school SENCO and his new class teacher (I'm assuming the school have flagged some concerns already with you?). I'd be questioning dyspraxia and dyslexia. Definitely worth asking for an OT referral but I'm afraid the private route will probably be best if you can afford that.

Again, I'd be asking the school for a referral to the LA Ed Psych and if the waiting list is very long I would try to prioritise that privately (should be under £1000 for a thorough assessment, possibly much less depending on where you are).

Please don't compare him to other children his age. He's going at his own rate but definitely needs some additional support and help.