In the digital age when a majority of our written communication is done by typing on a keyboard or smart devices, parents shouldn’t forget the importance of the art of handwriting in children. Technology may have made a lot of things easier for us, but handwriting skills will always be critical for your child’s success. Learning the proper grip of a pencil and knowing how to write legibly aren’t just part of fine motor skills. Children who have good handwriting skills are also found to have a greater ability in expressing themselves in written words. Because handwriting can give them a competitive edge in school, you can help improve your child’s handwriting with these tips.
Start with the basics
Before learning the proper way to write letters, young kids usually begin scribbling irregular shapes and figures. To teach them proper handwriting, start with the basics first. Show them how to work with lines which can help their handwriting be more readable. They may have trouble doing it at first but that is why you’re there to guide them. Then, have them practice writing letters by tracing. You can either write on a piece of paper which your child can trace or buy them books for tracing.
Teach them how letters are formed
Identifying and remembering letters isn’t going to be easy for young children at the start. One trick you can use is to tell stories as you go along. For example, when writing the letter H, you can tell them to write two parallel lines that look like a wall and draw a bridge in the middle to connect the walls. This strategy will make it easier for your child to remember letters if they’re having trouble.
Encourage drawing
Perfecting the art of holding a pencil correctly, using the correct posture, coordination, control and dexterity can be achieved by frequent practice. Encourage your little one to spend more time practicing by drawing more often. It doesn’t always have to be about writing letters. As long as they allocate time to practicing manipulating objects, their fine motor skills will improve a lot faster.
Make practice more fun and exciting
Practicing handwriting may eventually get boring for kids and that’s normal. However, you can make this activity something they’ll look forward to if you make it exciting and fun. Incorporate some games and try to do things a little differently. For example, you can get other substances your child can write with, like a box of sand or rice, or you can get paint and finger paint letters.
Also, instead of sticking to a plain pencil, make things more exciting by giving them colorful pens, crayons and markers. Colorful instruments will make children more inclined to write.
Work on their fine motor skills
To further improve your child’s handwriting skills, spend time helping them work on their fine motor skills. There are plenty of fun ways to do that. For example, you can give them play dough to exercise their hand muscles. Sit down with them and think of fun things to create with them. You can even create letters with play dough to improve letter recognition and reading skills. Mazes are also another fun way to practice handwriting.
Practice as frequently as possible
Getting as much practice as possible is one of the best ways to help a child improve their handwriting skills. Make sure they spend some time every day practicing. Incorporate it in your daily routines. For example, you can leave them notes before leaving for work in the morning and ask them to write back. You can also task them to create the grocery list before you go shopping. Always look for opportunities to practice because yes, it will make perfect in the long run!
While handwriting may be given less and less emphasis in schools nowadays, parents should never forget the role it plays in their children’s success. Make sure your little one doesn’t get stuck with poor handwriting and help them work on this skill with the help of these tips.
Here at Launchpad Early Education, we make sure our kids are equipped with all the skills they need to be successful. For more information, please feel free to give us a call or visit our website.