Advice and resources : Handwriting
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Reversing letters and numbers in writing
Help with writing letters and numbers the wrong way round.
Learn moreHow can we help
Reversing letters and numbers in writing
Help with writing letters and numbers the wrong way round.
Learn moreOverview
Handwriting is a complex task which requires multiple skills. Some children and young people may need more support than others to develop handwriting skills. Have a look through the information on this page for some ways that you can help your child.
You can also view the full playlist on our YouTube channel.
What skills do we need for handwriting?
Posture and paper position
Sitting in a good, comfortable position with a stable base will help the child to concentrate and be able to control their pencil. It is also important to think about the positioning of the paper to make writing more comfortable.
If the child has poor core strength they may struggle, but core strengthening exercises should help.
Pencil grasp
Having a good pencil grasp helps the child to hold and move the pencil easily, with comfort, which will help them to make their writing easier to read. An inefficient grasp limits the movement of the pencil, making it hard for the child to write neatly, complete written work on time, and can cause tiredness and discomfort.
This video talks about functional and non-functional pencil grasp.
Pencil pressure
Some children may have difficulty knowing how much pressure to apply on the paper. They may apply too much force, causing pain and tiredness in the hands so it may take them longer to write. Or they may not apply enough force, making it hard to read their writing.
This video talks about pencil pressure and proprioceptive difficulties and the impact on handwriting.
Placement and letter formation
There are many strategies you can try with your child to help with legible letter formation, good alignment of letters and consistent spacing.
Alternatives to handwriting
Handwriting should not be discouraged as it is an important skill to learn. But for some children and young people it can help to find alternatives, especially if it is stopping them from achieving their academic potential or impacting their confidence.
This video talks about alternative methods of recording that you can trial.
Hand warm-up exercises
These hand exercises can be used by the child before writing or doing other fine motor activities such as cutting or drawing, to prepare the muscles of their hands. It can also help reduce pain or fatigue when writing.
- Start by rubbing the palms of the hands together briskly.
- Wring the hands as if it’s a really cold day.
- Make a tight fist with both hands then stretch the fingers wide.
- Repeat this 5-10 times.
- Press the hands together in a praying position with palms flat and elbows away from the sides. Repeat this 5-10 times.
- Hook the fingers of both hands together and pull the hands in opposite directions from each other away from the body. Repeat 5-10 times.
- Place both palms flat on the table then lift one finger at a time or lift the same fingers on both hands at the same time. They can also pretend to play the piano with both hands, which will help with individual finger movements.
Theraputty exercises
Theraputty comes in various resistance or strengths, ranging from extra soft to hard. This can help to strengthen the muscles and provide sensory feedback to the hands.
Start with extra soft or soft theraputty and gradually move to the next strength when the child finds it easy to use. The colour and resistance can be different depending on the supplier. When using theraputty, make sure it is on a smooth flat surface, preferably a table. Keep the theraputty in its container after use.
- Roll the theraputty into a big ball.
- Squeeze and knead it using alternate hands.
- Shape the putty into a pancake and stick it on the table.
- Place your fingertips and thumb lightly on the edges of the pancake, and pull your fingers in towards the centre.
- Keep the fingers straight while using the palms to roll the theraputty into a tube shape.
- Pinch the putty with the thumb, index finger and middle finger to form small peaks.
- Roll the theraputty into a cylinder and rest it in the palm of the hand.
- Push the thumb into the putty.
- Reshape it and repeat.
- Hold the bulk of theraputty in one hand.
- Pinch off small pieces using the thumb and index finger. Roll these into small pieces.
- Gather the small pieces together and when they are all pinched off, remould the ball.
- Roll out a small ball of putty and place between two spread fingers.
- Using a scissor-like motion, bringing the two fingers together.
- Repeat between different pairs of fingers until they have all been exercised.
Resources
Find additional information, plus visual examples in our information sheet:
Handwriting Information Sheet
File size: 733KB