Year 5 son Handwriting is awful!

[Remmy123]

My son who is 9 used to have lovely handwriting. This year his handwriting has got progressively worse to the point that I cannot even read it.

It isn't even on the line, the same size, capital letters etc have been forgotten etc

Tonight's homework ended up a disaster as i made him re-write it but it was even worse when I did!

Where do I start to improve it?

Thanks

You need to find out why it has deteriorated so badly first?

Test his eyes.
Try find out why it has deteriorated.
What do his teachers say?
Has he gotten worse in other areas too?

Thanks - I am blaming lockdown and online learning at this point but I am going to speak to his teacher tomorrow because if it's this bad in school they shouid have told me!

.. will also get his eyes tested

Is he out of practice after using a keyboard instead of writing?
Excluding other causes, you can try pre- writing skills, such as tracing patterns, or drawing repeated loops keeping the base on the line, zig zags between two horizontal lines etc. Lots of repeated patterns on lines, that can be fun if it's turned into something decorative or part of a picture. But if he doesn't enjoy that sort of thing, I wouldn't bother to be honest. My son had shocking handwriting, he was dyspraxic. Getting him to do it again never worked because he'd already given it his all the first time.

If you think it’s lockdown related make sure you give him lots of hand, shoulder and core strength activities.

Thanks - how do I give core strength in his hands?

My son did the magiclink handwriting course last summer and was the best money I’ve ever spent. He had to take it back to basics (he was 7 when he did the course) as his school had rushed to cursive before he had formed his letters correctly so he couldn’t get it to flow.
You can download the videos and worksheets after you have paid for it and so can use them for a little refresher if you need to.

Core strength in the body first. Being able to sit at the table and support their body is really key for handwriting. Then things like theraputty - hide buttons in it and get him to pull them out.

Definitely worth speaking to the school and seeing what they think.

Ds3, who is 11, has dyslexia and his handwriting ha s always been a struggle. He can type at about 30wpm though.

@Remmy123

Thanks - how do I give core strength in his hands?

Finger gym exercises. Play dough, plastic tweezers, sewing, threading etc

But he needs OT of physio assessment first to see if that is actually an issue
They can then suggest exercises