Any suggestions on helping ds with his penmanship?

[Brichard]

ds will soon be in Kindergarten, and it seems so many children are learning to write before they enter.

I have always struggled with my handwriting, and I've acutally read where they think it is a genetic thing. But, any ideas on making writing easier or more fun? ds gets frustrated very easily and will just throw his hands down at times.

I'm looking to all you pre-school teachers out there!

Specific websites and/or items to purchase would be a great help!

I remember those triangular pencil grips when I was a kid. Do they still use those?

[Diane]

Kids aren't able to write well until they have first developed good fine-motor skills. Fortunately, these skills improve easily with lots of practice.

Use the following activities to help your ds develop the precision, balance, and hand-eye coordination that are needed to perform the fine-motor skills used in handwriting:

Give your ds clay or play-dough to play with to strengthen the major muscles used in handwriting. Encourage him to play with Legos, miniature cars, small blocks, action figures, and other small toys. Try doing some puzzles with him. Provide creative art projects that involve using crayons, marking pens, scissors, and finger paints, as well as tearing paper. Play games with your son that involve the handling of cards and small game pieces. Ask him to sort collections of loose coins into stacks of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Help your son learn to manage such everyday skills as tying and lacing his shoes and buttoning his clothes.

Remember, every child has a different timetable in acquiring the fine-motor skills needed for handwriting. The more your child uses his/her fingers in activities, the sooner she will acquire these skills.

Diane... :wave:

[Lynda/WA]

My SIL is a former kindergarten teacher. She suggested I provide activities for DS that would increase his fine motor skills and manual dexterity before entering K. For example - make bead necklaces (for mothers day!) with pony beads (not the really small ones). Have you ever seen the perle beads? They are plastic beads that you put on a peg board and then iron to melt together. They have them at Wal-Mart. Maybe some books with mazes (they make some larger easier ones). Maybe make pictures using things like beans and macaroni glued on. She said anything that has you using your pointer finger and thumb in a pincer motion is good. Just make sure it isn't to difficult that he gets frustated (like with really tiny seed beads).
There is a series of books called *Build a Doodle ----*. They show you how to draw a picture using simple shapes. For example to draw a tepee make a triangle. A little triangle inside for the door and a couple of lines at the top for the sticks. This not only helps with fine motor skills but also following directions and visual perception (My son's K did this during class)
There is a type of pencil/crayon that helps make the child hold it correctly. It looks like a triangle. The fingers go into correct position naturally using them. She told me to hold off on having him actually write letters. Too early and you can form writing habits that are hard to break. In fact she siad she would rather have a shild come in not knowing how to write than writing all in caps. My son's K started teaching them when to use a capitol letter before most could even write. And they all had to put their names on their papers in upper and lower case letter combo in correct form. My DD starts kindergarten in the fall and except for her stencils she doesn't write letters at all.

[kat]

You ladies covered it nicely. I would hold off on the letter writing too. Different schools use different programs. I do like for my kids to know how to write their first names though when I get them, but like Lynda said not in all caps. It does take time to undo a habit.

[Brichard]

This information is very valuable and I appreciate it immensely! I've been wanting to get ds some Tinker Toys, and this seems like a perfectly good reason! I'll also have him working on the Playdough as well.

I did some searches on the Internet, and they actually have a device that hooks up to your PC and uses the same type of technology as a Palm Pilot to make sure your child is writing correctly.

It looked neat, but as frustrated as I get with the Graffitti language used on a Palm... I'd hate to see the reaction of ds!

Blocks and Clay it is!

He has just recently started buttoning and unbuttoning shirts, so that is encouraging!

[MaryL]

Another idea...

When you are ready to practice name writing, or "Draw a Doodle" pictures, etc...try using a Magna Doodle type toy. It is a different "feel", plus very easy to erase when a mistake is made, or if your child is upset with little mistakes. Kids should realize that handwriting is fun...not a perfection to be attained while they are so young.

Also try simple stencils for your child to trace. Tracing is a great activity...so are simple mazes.