How to help 11yo DS improve his handwriting

[Rollinghill]

Hi, as per title, has anyone any good tips / tricks for this? I can't imagine he'll sit down for long with one of those exercise books for pre-schoolers.
Thanks in advance

Is he dyspraxic? This was one of the major signs for ds. If it's still poor at 11 then I think the moment has probably passed for improving it and it would be better to get him to start learning to type well. DS types in exams due to his handwriting and uses a laptop in lessons. I can't remember what ds used to learn to type but it was this sort of thing,
https://www.todaysparent.com/family/fun-typing-games-for-kids/

Thank you for your reply - eek. Surely it can still be improved?! Although he uses laptop in classes, he will have to write in exams apparently.

Oh I don't think he's dyspraxic, he's got incredible hand-eye co-ordination for sports. Thank you for the links though we will use them!

DS is nearly 50 and a teacher. His 11 year old has better handwriting. Your DS will only improve his handwriting if he really wants to.

Lois Addy's 'Speed up' A kinaesthetic writing programme might help - it's designed for older children to improve their handwriting and uses various different methods to strengthen hands, wrists arms as well as building the various patterns needed for quick writing.

It helped us although you do need to be consistent at doing the exercises.

I think the author is an occupational therapist.

I agree, it's too late for handwriting practice. I have a 10 year old with hypermobility and we've just agreed with school to go to print writing so it is at least legible. Although Mr Gove will apparently cap his SATs results because of this.

Pen choice is important too - we use Yoropen, others might suit your DS better.

School are doing bubble writing with him - you can buy this package if you want to try it. He needs to be properly motivated to do it outside school time though.

www.tes.com/teaching-resource/bubble-writing-handwriting-scaffold-lks2-12677196

It will only improve with practice and motivation. Important to try and do it before he gets any older, it will only get harder. A short period of frequent practice could help? Start with five/ten minutes every day? Could he copy out words of songs he likes or a favourite book ir magazine article and focus on writing clearly?

Does he have to do joined up writing for school?
Dds writing wasn't brilliant at primary school, but the second I said to her 'you don't have to do joined up writing a more' the difference was amazing. She has lovely writing now.

If his usual writing at exam type speed is illegible he will be able to use a keyboard, similarly if he has to write so slowly to be legible that he can't get everything down he should be able to. His secondary should be able to test this, or refer to someone who can. (My dc used a laptop in exams for exactly this reason.)

This isn’t correct. He should use his usual method in exams.

He could have dysgraphia, in which case he'll need to do future exams on a laptop. His secondary school will have to apply for his exams to be taken this way and show that using a laptop is his normal way of working so the sooner you ask for the school to investigate/test him the better.

Have school put him in handwriting interventions? DS was in them all through primary. His handwriting is still barely legible. He's dyspraxic and the relief when he could just type in secondary was great! Sometimes you just have to give up and find a different way.

I don't know how motivated he is 🙄 but I have bought one of the resources suggested, thank you. I can ask the school about dysgraphia.

Many thanks for your suggestions

If you see him writing, is he trying to write as fast as possible? Often children of that age have bad hand writing because they are rushing.

I think as well some children don't hold the pen correctly. While there are a number of different ways children often get into habits where they hold the pen incorrectly .

Also worth mentioning a friends daughter used a laptop in exams and did really well at GCSE and A level so it's not the complete end of the world if he uses a laptop!

Watching with interest. DS1 also has illegible handwriting. There was talk of a laptop when he first started secondary, but it's all gone quiet now.

In my experience nothing really helps.
Speak to the Senco about using a lap top so that it's already the norm when he comes to GCSEs and beyond.

If your child types in lessons they will be eligible to type in an exam - as others said speak to the SENCO and they will be able to put this in place. Make sure he gets used to typing on a proper keyboard and not tapping an iPad as he will have to use a laptop in exams.

I have an adult child who sailed through school and Cambridge Medical School, always top of the class. Played sport for school, county, University at highest levels. Handwriting is like dense impenetrable scribbles. It's NO indication of disability.

Write from the start is a great program, it’s a set of books and was recommended for my son by occupational therapists.
My DS is 14 and I was told he would never have legible handwriting but weekly practice since September with an OT and daily intervention at school has really improved it.