Most preschoolers with older siblings are aware that the “big kids” use pencils for their homework. Just like the fight to avoid the booster seat, older toddlers and preschoolers aspire to the next stage of development. The problem with using #2 pencils before kindergarten? Many children do not have the required small muscle strength and…… Continue reading Preschool Pencils That Develop Hand Control (and with tips that won’t constantly break!)
Category: handwriting
Lakeshore’s Rubbing Plates Build Hand Strength and Coordination While Having Fun!
This simple activity uses just paper ( I use the back of scrap paper to be mindful of the environment), a crayon and Lakeshore’s rubbing plates. I included a sample photo of the number plates, but the letter plates are used in exactly the same manner. Such an easy activity, and yet it builds sensory-motor…… Continue reading Lakeshore’s Rubbing Plates Build Hand Strength and Coordination While Having Fun!
The Pencil Grip That Strengthens Your Child’s Fingers As They Write.
Pencil grips are frequently recommended but mostly ineffective in improving pencil grasp. They are often placed at the wrong part of the pencil for best use, or quickly and repeatedly lost like mittens. I wrote a post on how to decide if you need a grip for a child Should Your Child Use A…… Continue reading The Pencil Grip That Strengthens Your Child’s Fingers As They Write.
Take Notes with a Paper Notebook, But Only if You Can Write Quickly
Research in Psychological Science last spring and in an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education suggests that writing notes by hand requires the listener to synthesize a lecture more effectively than laptop note-taking. Three studies showed that testing immediately after a lecture and even a week later still saw improved retention of conceptual information when students…… Continue reading Take Notes with a Paper Notebook, But Only if You Can Write Quickly
Preschool Handwriting Activity: The Tally Sheet
Preschoolers love to play games. Take a few sheets of scrap paper and a crayon, and turn a game of chance into their first lesson in handwriting. This activity is also very effective for older children with motor or sensory processing issues that need the extra practice on grasp, pencil control, bilateral hand use, ocular…… Continue reading Preschool Handwriting Activity: The Tally Sheet
Teach Capital Letters First With Your Preschooler And Watch Writing Take Off
Teaching your preschooler to recognize and then write uppercase or capital letters is a key to early handwriting success. Many, if not most of the commercially-available workbooks (and preschool teacher handouts) teach them at the same time. Zaner-Bloser is a common style of handwriting instruction that uses this approach. If your child has been identified…… Continue reading Teach Capital Letters First With Your Preschooler And Watch Writing Take Off
What Makes A Child’s Handwriting Legible?
For most parents, the answer to whether their child’s writing is legible is like the Supreme Court justice’s comment on pornography: “I can’t define it, but I know it when I see it”. For occupational therapists, it is relatively easy to identify whether a child’s handwriting is legible or not. Does legibility still matter? The…… Continue reading What Makes A Child’s Handwriting Legible?
Does It Matter How Your Child Holds A Pencil?
The simple answer is: maybe. The standard tripod or quadrupod grip that every occupational therapist teaches will give your child a solid, controlled hold on a pencil for handwriting. Most children can learn this grip by 4 years of age. Some children watch adults and seem to copy it effortlessly. What happens to the rest…… Continue reading Does It Matter How Your Child Holds A Pencil?
When Should Your Child Use a Stylus on an iPad?
Earlier I wrote a post on the App Crayon stylus to develop pencil grasp in preschoolers. But should all preschoolers and even toddlers use a stylus? The issue is more complicated than you might think. The App Crayon is still my favorite stylus for older toddlers. The triangular shape and the boldly colored, non-slip grasping…… Continue reading When Should Your Child Use a Stylus on an iPad?
Teaching Handwriting to Toddlers Isn’t as Easy as Connecting the Dots
I recently saw a preschool homework sheet with dots forming the child’s first name. My initial thought was “Not again!”. And then I decided to be a bit more kind. Preschool teachers aren’t given any solid instruction in how to teach pre-writing. They are trying their best, and hoping that the workbooks they have in…… Continue reading Teaching Handwriting to Toddlers Isn’t as Easy as Connecting the Dots
Toddler Apps That Make Tiny Hands and Tiny Minds Work Together!
One of my favorite app designers are the folks at Tiny Hands. They have a suite (but you can buy apps separately and get free mini trials) of apps for the 2-5 set that are progressive in challenge but consistently high in fun. Since I am always looking for positive (read: active) tablet use, I…… Continue reading Toddler Apps That Make Tiny Hands and Tiny Minds Work Together!
The Science Behind Handwriting
The New York Times ran a fantastic story this week, summarizing the scientific research on the benefits of handwriting on brain development. As a pediatric occupational therapist with a specialization in handwriting instruction, it was very exciting to see their conclusions. I have read the studies they referenced, and they are solid science, not just…… Continue reading The Science Behind Handwriting