Practical Suggestions to Help With Dyspraxic DS's Handwriting Please!

[OtterInaSkoda]

Can anyone help with some practical suggestions to help DS (Y4) with his writing? His teachers and I think he is dyspraxic, but we?re awaiting a formal diagnosis. He?s getting extra support at school and I have no complaints in that regard.

What I could really do with though are some practical ideas to help him with his homework. He is allowed to use the computer but at the mo that isn?t ideal as he can?t type. He can dictate to me, kind of, but that ends up being so stilted. I bought a typing tutor a while back but he hated it.

So, any tried and tested practical tools to help? Pens? Writing slopes? Ways to help his train of thought flow a little more easily?

[mrz]

The poster has upped a number of zombie threads on the subject

[basildonbond]

Sorry I've not had time to read the whole thread but tbh the only thing which had helped dyspraxic ds2 is learning how to type. Once he got the hang of typing the amount of work he was able to produce increased exponentially

He's now in Y10 and his handwriting still looks like an inebriated spider has fallen into an ink pot (and it's still v slow and painful for him to write more than a few words at a time) but he can type at phenomenal speeds (>120 wpm).

The bbc dance mat programme is an ok start but to keep it going you need something a bit more in-depth - we used Mavis Beacon which was fine and he practised loads. Typing can transform your ds's work so it's really worth persevering

[mumeeee]

DD3 now 17 used a writng slope she had a proper one for a little while, But then used a file which sloped and eemd to be just as good. she also used a yoro pen which can be bought from smiths. Her writng was much better with this. Her primary school used to try and get her to hold her pens and pencils properly. But she found this very dificult so they just let her cary on with her unusual grip and she was able to relax and just get on with writng.

[trickerg]

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

That's the FREE touch typing program (dance mat typing) that I mentioned before on the BBC site. It's fab and we use it with Y2s.

Have a look - it's really fun!

[carocaro]

What a very intersting thread, DS1 aged 7 is I think dyspraxic, we have seen a consultant who has referred him for som OT but the wait list if 16 weeks. He also has mild dyslexia, many things ring true from all the posts, for example, recently he learnt to ride a bike, he found his balance and centre of gravity and his reading ability was boosted as a result!

I will look into the squeezy ball thing too.

As for the Nuro place in Chester pie mentions, there are no costs on the site, can you tell me how much for the consultation?

Also is 7 a good age to learn to touch type?

Would a large, coloured keyboard help?

Thanks

[OtterInaSkoda]

lissy thank you for asking your dp ? models are right up ds?s street. I just need reminding sometimes of the things he actually does like that don?t seem like work, iykwim. I?d not thought about finding a club, though. I?ll pop into the model shop next time I?m in town and see if they know of any. I?m glad you mentioned planning. I?ve tried this before, in just the same way as I would if I was trying to write an essay, so it sounds as if I?m not doing that bad a job afterall . The thing that always bothers me isn?t how untidy ds?s writing is but how slow and stilted it is. I want him to be able to get his ideas out and onto paper and writing is such a barrier to that right now.

[LissyGlitter]

oh, and I am dyspraxic and find it really useful to plan stuff out (in whatever is the PC term for what used to be called a brainstorm) before setting off on a piece of work. Especially in juniors I used to get myself so tied up in knots without a good plan!

[LissyGlitter]

How about some toys that improve hand-eye co-ordination? Lego, or maybe some airfix models (DP says try a model making club or going into a shop for advice because some of them are made for geeky fully grown men (like DP for example ) ) could be good.

Try and avoid anything that marks him out as different if possible, unless it really is unavoidable.

[OtterInaSkoda]

Niecie my ds has been taking riding lessons for a couple of years now and absolutely loves it. I think as far as he?s concerned (and I?m inclined to agree) loads of kids are good at football but hardly anyone else at his school can ride. Every term they all get a certificate and every now and then they get the chance to win rosettes, of which he is very proud. He?s had a couple of falls (nothing to do with dyspraxia) which have, perhaps counterintuitively, added to his confidence because ?it means you?re a real rider? and is also a pretty cool story to tell at school the next day. And of course as our dcs get older the boy:girl ratio is a real bonus. There?s a teenage lad at the stables we go to and he seems very popular
The 30-minute lessons are £10 each where we go, which isn?t cheap by any means but if you can afford it are worth every penny. 30 minutes is plenty of time, btw.

Chops I think I?m going to try and reinstate the 10 minutes a day thing ? I let it slip (after a very short time I?m ashamed to say) because it was all so painful (for both of us).

[ChopsTheDuck]

Ds is Y3, and has dyspraxia and Hympermobility syndrome. He uses ultra grips (That is the cheapest site I have foudn for them), and a writing slope. He has been taught to sit properly, and keep his left hand flat in front of him to keep his body stable. I think the ultra grips are a lot better than triangular grips because they ensure the fingers are in the right position. Check his grip, ds had developed an odd grip where his finger was too far back.

He has jsut finished his first block of OT. They recomended spending 10 mins a day practising handwriting. They also told us to go back to basics, and work again on getting block letters right before cursive and joined up writing.

He does hand strengthening exercises too, like the plasticine. We were also told to pracise big movements, flag waving, giant bubbles, that sort of thing. He also does work on an easel at face height, stuff like drawing giant rainbows. Again, he needs to stand properly, and have his left hand on the paper in front of him to increase stability.

despite all this ds's writing is illegible if he has to do more than a small amount as he does find it painful to write. But at least he has developed the skill to write small amounts neatly. He used a scribe for SATs and is likely to continue to do so.

[Niecie]

I have a dyspraxic son too.(Yr 5) He only sees the OT once a year due to them being short of so the school does the programme with him.

My DS hated the writing slope. He never got to grips with it, plus it made him stand out from the other children in class and got in their way so that he couldn't sit at the tables with them so I wouldn't rush out and buy one. I would ask at school if they have one for him to try.

We have tried many pens but he never holds them properly. We are now trying elastic bands wrapped round as they don't move around like a lot of the supports you can buy.

There is a writing course that you can buy called Write from the Start which has been mentioned on MN many times and which was recommended by our OT.

DS is also learning to touchtype and using the free course they use at school from the BBC here. DS doesn't mind doing it once he gets going. It seems to be working too. And it is free which is great as if it doesn't work it doesn't matter. If he has sufficient mastery (ie he can type as fast as he can write) he will be allowed to use a laptop for literacy lessons.

Squeezey balls are good for hand strengthening but I remember DS using pegs as well for the same reason.

Finally, because this is getting a bit long , I would add horse riding to DMspecial's list as a useful exercise for dyspraxic children. DS doesn't do it yet but it was recommended by the OT when we last saw her in July and she suggested it might be possible to get lessons under the Riding for the Disabled scheme which might help with the cost.

[Doodlez]

Otter - my DS and DD like them too and I'm well impressed! They were recommended by DS's new teacher. In fact, I was so impressed, I even started a thread on here about them a couple of days ago!

and I've just noticed, you're on it

[DMspecial]

Nothing to add about handwriting, I wish I had known as much about it.

However when it comes to building self-esteem can I suggest martial arts or trampolining or one of the individual sports like fencing, archery or swimming. All of these will help build muscle tone but will not feel like special exercises. Although it will seem strange some people also recommend piano lessons, provided you can find a sensitive teacher.

[OtterInaSkoda]

lazymumofteenagesons I am going to talk to ds's teacher this afternoon as I think typing lessons in school (as opposed to at home) are the way forward.
trickerg I'll take a look at your suggestions, too.

[OtterInaSkoda]

Clarice Bean Mavis Beacon taught me to touchtype, too hassled. I have a feeling that we might also end up throwing in the towel when it comes to handwriting before long, especially seeing as my ds's attitude is about as useful as Pielight's ds's.
I bought a typing tutor thingy by someone else and he absolutely hated it, even though it had games. TBH I think I may have built the games up too much and in this world of Wii they didn't really make the grade. The lesson being don't big up educational games if your dc is used to Pro Street Racer and Lego Star Wars
Thing is I do not and have not given up on things that ds simply doesn't particularly want to do as a rule (otherwise he'd never clean his teeth, read to us or do any homework, ever) but the writing thing is in a league of its own because he finds it so damn hard. It's awful trying to get your dc to do something they're crap at, that they know they're crap at and that they seem to find impossible.
doodlez I bought one of those pens the other day ? he seems to like it but then he likes most new things. They?re £2.99 at the moment in Morrisons, should anyone want to stock up

[Doodlez]

left-handed and right-handed versions of this specially designed pen might help.

[Hassled]

Not Clarice Bean! She's someone else entirely. I mean Mavis Beacon. I am INSANE.

[Hassled]

I realy recommend the Clarice Bean touch typing software. Amazon sell it. It has little games, so the more accurately you type the faster the car goes etc - worked a treat for (Dyspraxic) DS2. We basically threw in the towel re handwriting around Yr 4 (he's Yr7 now) - he finds it so difficult, and the lack of progress was really upsetting him. Now he has a (LA) laptop and types all written work, and is a much happier boy.

[trickerg]

'Dance Mat Typing' is great for touch typing on the BBC wesite.
Also 'Write Dance', available on Amazon, which has exercises to accompany h/w practice.

[Pielight]

Oh god, is such a toss up between self-esteem and doing the stuff I think.

My ds is probably mildly dyspraxic. I've left it all for a while actually - like yours he is a great reader, smart kid etc, it felt like ALL we did was dwell on what he was crap at. Which was no good. The NDT stuff did for him.

Though am meant to be going to see Senco this term, who said to me on the phone 'there really is not point in doing things if his attitude is still going to be - get me outta here you mad lady.' So, not sure what to do really.

[lazymumofteenagesons]

Also, his touch typing classes were in school so I didn't play a part in it!

[lazymumofteenagesons]

touch typing lessons are really important.My son (dyspraxic and dyslexic)is now 14 and although eventually his handwriting became legible and sort of on the line it remained very slow and his writing stamina was not good. So all those great thoughts (not) were remaining in his head and not on paper. He was assessed for use of lap top in public exams and it showed he needed to. He had been taught to touch type when he had extra help in years 3-5 and this has been a godsend. The school actually states that if they can't touch type use of laptop in exams is not going to help.

I think the moral of this long convoluted story is as well as using different techniques for writing try and push him with touchtype learning.

[OtterInaSkoda]

lol Pielight - I'm going to check out your barmy Internet ideas

I can't tell you what a relief it is to hear that I'm not the only one who finds it hard to get their dc to do this stuff. Even extreme bribery has failed.

Thank you

[Pielight]

oh - and because I don't want you to think I'm a nutter with odd barmy internet ideas [the very thought] - ds's NHS OT said 'ooh you've got rid of his ATNR reflex! That's fantastic, have you been doing neuro developmental therapy?' 'YES' I cried.