Before you read this article, quickly write the answer to this
question: What is your favorite color?
This might've seemed like an automatic and mindless task,
but your body and mind had to work closely together to complete a
series of steps in the right order. You had to pick up a pen or
pencil, hold it steady, remember what color you wanted to use as an
answer, think about what letters appear in the word and in what
order, move your wrist and hand in the right way to shape the
letters, follow what you wrote with your eyes, and apply the proper
amount of pressure to the paper.
Learning to Write
Even though we do it every day, writing is one of the most
complex tasks that humans engage in, involving both motor and
critical-thinking skills. It's not surprising that learning to
write is a process that takes years to complete. It also happens in
order, with each skill building on the last.
As with reading, kids are aware of writing from infancy,
especially when they're exposed to it regularly. By being read
to and seeing you write, your child begins to understand at a very
young age that written words have meaning.
It's only a matter of time before kids start trying to
create words on their own. All children start writing by
scribbling, an activity most toddlers enjoy. To do it, they must
use coordination to hold the crayon, keep the paper still, and
apply enough pressure to make a mark on the paper.
As time goes on, with lots of practice, they'll start to
realize that not only can they make marks to create a pattern, but
by repeating the same movements, they can make the pattern
again.
Practicing Writing
At around 3 or 4 years old, kids may start to practice writing,
and included among the scribbles may be recognizable letters. For
example, you may notice your child writes all of the letters of his
or her name in a seemingly random way on different parts of the
piece of paper. That's because kids learn to write individual
letters before they learn how to put them together to form a
word.
As they continue to read and develop an understanding of how
words work, kids start to understand how to group letters into
words. Between kindergarten and first grade, most learn to put
letters together into words and will use these words to label
pictures that they draw. Kids this age usually use only capital
letters and will not include spaces between words. They will also
use "invented spelling," writing words with no vowels
(for example, BBYDLL for baby doll).
Eventually, with practice and formal schooling, kids learn what
are called the conventions of print - writing from left to right,
the difference between upper- and lowercase letters, how to put
spaces between words, and how to use correct spelling in most
instances.
As your child gets older and develops more motor control, his or
her handwriting will become smaller and neater. Between second and
fourth grade, kids learn to write in cursive and will apply the
conventions of handwriting automatically.
Importance of Handwriting
Even as we move to a society driven by keyboards, kids still
need to learn to write by hand. Handwriting is so much more than
simply putting letters on a page; it is a key part of learning to
read and communicate. In fact, experts think that developing
writing skills reinforces reading skills and vice versa. In order
to read, a child needs to understand that letters stand for sounds
and that the sounds are put together to make words. Learning to
write letters is an important part of this understanding.
When preschoolers start imitating the letters that they see
around them, they show that they understand the connection between
the sounds they hear and the words they see on the page. When
kindergartners use "invented" spelling, they're
practicing writing words the way they sound, which helps them as
they learn to read. When first-graders use words to create a poem
or write about an experience, they're experimenting with
language and sharing their stories with those around them.
As kids grow older and start to use a keyboard, the motor
control and communication skills they've gained through
handwriting will help them become more successful writers because
they'll know how to transfer their thoughts into words.
Handwriting is also important because kids are required to use
it daily in school from kindergarten on. Children who struggle with
the mechanics of handwriting may have trouble taking notes or tests
or completing their schoolwork. This can affect both their
self-esteem and their attitude toward school.
Encouraging Handwriting
An important part of helping kids develop early literacy skills
is giving them chances to practice. As soon as your child is old
enough to scribble (as early as 1 year old for some kids) offer
some fat, chunky crayons or markers and a big piece of paper and
let him or her experiment.
As your child grows older, create a special art center with lots
of paper (you can bring scrap paper home from work or save junk
mail) and many different kinds of art supplies like markers,
crayons, colored pencils, and paint and brushes. You can even
encourage your child to practice writing and drawing while
you're outside, providing sidewalk chalk or a bucket of water
and a brush to "paint" on the pavement. The more practice
kids get using their hands in this way, the more they'll
develop the muscles, skills, and coordination necessary for forming
letters.
As your child enters school and starts practicing writing there,
continue to find ways to practice at home too. Suggest writing
letters and thank-you notes to friends and family. Ask for help
writing a list or recipe. Buy a notebook to use as a journal and
suggest that your child spend time at the end of each day writing
in it.
If your child's handwriting continues to be messy and hard
to read even after formal instruction at school, try these
tips:
-
Help your child take it slow.
Many kids struggle with writing because they try to do it
quickly. Encourage your child to take time to form the letters
carefully.
-
Explain that mistakes happen.
Teach your child how to use an eraser.
-
Reinforce proper letter formation.
Find out from your child's teacher how he or she should be
forming letters, and then encourage your child to practice
writing using those patterns. Using lined paper can be
helpful.
-
Make sure pencil is properly positioned.
Ideally your child will use what is called a tripod grasp. This
means the pencil should rest near the base of the thumb, held in
place with the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Plastic pencil
grips sold at office supply stores may help if your child has
trouble holding a pencil properly.
-
Expose your child to lots of words.
You can do this by reading regularly together, pointing out words
that surround you (such as street signs or product labels), and
by hanging up examples of your child's writing around the
house.
It is important for all kids, even those who struggle to write,
to practice using their handwriting. It is also certainly OK to
have them start practicing keyboarding skills, even at a young age.
But unless an occupational therapist recommends it, kids should not
use a computer with a keyboard to complete schoolwork that their
peers are completing by hand.
Signs of Handwriting Problems
Kids develop at different rates, and just like adults,
handwriting varies greatly among them. Some kids have trouble
learning the direction letters go in; others struggle to write
neatly or use cursive writing.
Sometimes writing problems can be a sign of other issues such as
developmental delay or learning disabilities. Often these problems
have multiple symptoms, with writing being only one component.
Conditions that can affect a child's ability to write
include:
- memory problems that prevent a child from remembering
spelling, grammar, or punctuation rules
- language problems that cause difficulty with word
pronunciation, spelling, and sentence structure
- visual or sequential ordering problems that cause uneven
spacing of words, and inability to make lists or put ideas in
order
- dysgraphia, a neurological disorder characterized by writing
difficulties (such as distorted letters or misspellings)
regardless of reading ability
-
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Children with cerebral palsy or Down syndrome also may have
trouble learning to write.
Signs that a child may need additional assistance with learning
how to write include a very awkward pencil grip, illegible
handwriting, difficulty forming letters, an inability to
concentrate and complete writing tasks, avoiding writing, many
misspelled words, letters or words that don't follow correct
sequence, incorrect placement of words on the page, uneven spacing
between letters, a large gap between spoken language and writing
ability, and an exceptionally slow and difficult time writing.
If your child is struggling with writing, you may choose to have
him or her assessed by an
occupational therapist
. This can help you determine if your child needs actual therapy
and tutoring or just some additional writing practice at home.
Learning to read and write is key to success at school and in
life. So whether you work together to make a book or spend time on
the weekend writing letters to Grandma, when you write with your
child, you help him or her develop important skills.
Reviewed by:
Wendy Harron, BS, OTR/L
Date reviewed: September 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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