Hand writing

[frances5]

My son is under the local child development centre because he had orthopedic problems that made him late walking. He had 18 months of physio and now runs about happily. He is now four years and 10 months and you would never know he ever had a problem. The child development centre want to keep an eye on him until he finishes his first term of school.

Andrew is doing really well at reading and his maths is developing nicely. However hand writing is a real nightmare. His teacher is concerned and thinks that the may need an IEP so that he can get extra help with hand writing. I have no objections to him having an IEP, but surely it is not unusual for a reception child to have very poor pen control.

Do you think I should mention it to our paediatrian? Is it unusual for a four year old not be able to form letters.

Frances

I think you should definitly mention it to the paediatrician, he / she may have some sensible advice.

I think it is relatively normal for a four year old, particularly a boy, not to want to write and have limited pen control.

Some of the children in dd's Year 1 sometimes need help to form letters - they still copy over the highlighted letters written by the teacher.

my dd has cerebral palsy and has poor hand control

definitely an IEP would be helpful - but first I would ask your child development centre for a referral to an occupational therapist who might be able to help - eg dd has a special pencil gripper which helps her, also she gets some extra help in lessons due to her IEP

it's worth asking, it can't harm and it can only help him. Best to do it now while he is still under the CDC as otherwise you'll only have the education sector to talk to and that makes it much harder

I would get an opinion from your doc, as well as help from the school if it's offered.

DS2 (now 5 and in Y1) could barely hold a pencil when he started in Reception, but his writing is certainly within norms now - it's not great, but it's becoming more legible daily.

My 7 yo isn't very co-ordinated, has dreadful handwriting, and gets letters back to front. has had physio, and they keep an eye at school. Supposed to be given practice in a very small group, but doesn't!
He is good at his spellings though- just that they are hard to read!