'i need to practise writing, as i'm a bit weaker at it than reading. Im just not so keen.'

[BrittaPerry]

Sigh. 5yo little old woman dd1.

She's not overly bothered - this was a thowaway remark when wriing a story.

So, if she wants to practise writing, how can i guide and support her? Or should i just leave her to it?

My handwriting is shockin, btw. Was still doing sheets of it in high school.

What about improving her fine motor control by encouraging her to play with tiny toys? Geomag are great because they really build muscles (your hands will hurt after the first time you play with them!), but also Sylvanians, Hama beads etc.

Does your daughter like to draw? That could help too.

You could reassure your daughter that many people's handwriting spontaneously improves as they get older even if they do no practice whatsoever. My older daughter (home educated) often wouldn't put pencil to paper for six months on end. Then when she did, there was a huge improvement over the previous time. It was a similar story with some of her friends.

My younger dd, though considerably delayed in her overall development, is also progressing well without practice. She was only scribbling, and never for long - few of her masterpieces took more than five seconds! - but has suddenly begun to do detailed drawings complete with recognisable features. It wasn't the practice; it was just that the time was right.

Developing handwriting isn't always about doing lots of handwriting. It sounds like you particularly struggled with this area yourself, but did all that extra practice do you any good, do you think?

The thing that helped me in the end was relaxing, and realising that people in the real world just care if they can read it or not - i was getting so wrapped up in forming the letters 'properly' that it looked awful.

Now i hardly do joined up writing and type when i can, and manage perfectly well to study at degree level, run my own buisiness and household, train nd run a team and hold down two other jobs on top. Nobody rips up my work, tells me to do it again or laughs in my face, despite school apparently training me for life...

Doubt her school will see it that way though :-/

She has ok fine motor skills- she can't do buttons etc yet very well, and struggles to cut up her food sometimes, but she can colour mosly between the lines (when she can be bothered) and can read and verbally spell very very well. Her typing is improving rapidly as well - she can pretty much use our old keyboard where modt of the letters have rubbed off. She has known how o form letters for ages - she started reception able to write huge letters, read and spell to some extent, and she is in year one now.

She is a very clever child :). Obviously she is concious that her handwriting isnt great though, and i would rather help her now before people start having an issue with it.

Up to now the main thing I have done has been to ask her to stop and think before she writes something - she will start a long word almost at the right side of the paper. I'm also trying to reassure her that mistakes are ok, and it is ok to just put a neat line through and carry on.