Exploring Handwriting Tools And Resources For Kids
Importance of Handwriting for Child Development
Handwriting is an important skill for young children to develop as it helps with motor skill development, cognitive development, composition skills, and self-expression. As children learn to grip and control a pencil, they build fine motor skills in their hands and fingers that allow them to manipulate tools for writing. The hand-eye coordination required for handwriting aids in cognitive development as the brain works to guide precise hand movements. Forming letters also activates areas of the brain involved in thinking, language, and memory. According to research from Indiana University, the act of writing by hand improves a child’s ability to compose and articulate ideas more effectively than typing. Handwriting provides a means of self-expression and creativity that supports emotional development. Children can convey their personality through the unique style of their handwriting.
Sources:
The Importance of Teaching Handwriting
7 Reasons Why Handwriting Is Important for Kids
When to Start Teaching Handwriting
There are key developmental milestones that recommend when to start teaching handwriting skills at different ages:
Around age 2-3, focus on building fine motor skills through play and activities like shape tracing, drawing lines and circles, and using crayons and markers. Develop hand-eye coordination through play dough, puzzles, stacking blocks, and arts and crafts. [1]
By age 3-4, work on pre-writing skills like using a proper pencil grip, tracing letters, copying shapes and lines, and forming some letters and numbers. Use lined paper to practice horizontal, vertical and diagonal strokes. Encourage drawing pictures to represent thoughts. [2]
Around age 4-5, start formal handwriting instruction for writing letters, numbers and name. Use multisensory techniques and demonstrate proper letter formation. Focus on 2-3 letters per week and provide models and guides. Practice brief sentence writing. Praise all efforts to build confidence.
Best Handwriting Tools for Beginners
When children are first learning how to write, it’s important to provide them with the right tools to help develop their fine motor skills. Some of the best handwriting tools for beginners include:
Pencils are a classic writing tool for kids. Look for larger pencils and pencil grips to help small hands hold the pencil properly. Soft lead pencils like 2B provide darker lines without needing to press hard [1].
Washable markers in a variety of thicknesses allow kids to practice writing with color. Super tip markers give more control for writing small letters. Avoid scented markers which can be distracting.
Preschool crayons in standard or jumbo sizes help strengthen little hands. Triangular crayons can be easier to grip. Coloring and tracing letters with crayons develops motor coordination.
Small chalkboards or mini-chalkboards provide a fun, sensory way for kids to practice writing. Sidewalk chalk and driveway chalkboards encourage large motor development.
Dry erase boards and markers are mess-free and allow children to trace letters or sight words repeatedly. Look for boards in different sizes for tabletop or floor use [2].
Handwriting Paper and Notebooks
Lined paper, graph paper, and specialized notebooks can help kids practice proper letter formation and spacing. Lined paper with a dotted midline helps beginners understand where to place letters on the line.1 Widely spaced lines are good for preschool and kindergarten, while narrower spacing is better for older grades. Graph paper’s square grids help with proper letter size and spacing between words. Spiral notebooks allow pages to lay flat, while binding allows pages to be easily removed. Popular notebook choices for kids include the Mead Primary Journal, Learning Owl Handwriting Practice Paper Notebook, and Melissa & Doug Wipe Clean Printing Set.2 Look for notebooks with quality thick paper that won’t allow ink to bleed through. Paper style and notebook choice can make writing practice more engaging and successful for kids.
Proper Pencil Grip
The most common pencil grip taught in schools is the tripod grip. With this grip, the pencil rests on the middle finger with the index finger on top and the thumb stabilizing the side. According to the Royal Children’s Hospital, the tripod grip allows for the greatest control and free flowing writing movements (source).
Some benefits of the tripod grip include:
- Allows flexibility in the fingers for fluid writing
- Avoids tight gripping that can cause hand fatigue
- Promotes good control and accuracy
For children with special needs, occupational therapists may recommend adapted grips. Options include triangular pencils, pencil grips, and weighted pencils to accommodate motor challenges (source). The key is finding a grip that allows the child to write comfortably while developing proper handwriting skills.
Letter Formation
When teaching handwriting to children, it’s important to focus on proper letter formation. There are a few popular styles for teaching letter formation including Startprint, D’Nealian, and Zaner-Bloser.
Startprint letter formation emphasizes starting letters at the top and forming them in a continuous motion downward. Letters are grouped into “families” based on their starting point and pattern of strokes. This style helps reinforce consistency and flow in letter writing. The Startprint method introduces letters in an order that allows children to build skills progressively.
The D’Nealian style uses slanted print letters with tailored lead-ins and lead-outs to promote smooth writing. Letters flow together naturally by starting each new letter where the previous one ended. D’Nealian aims to facilitate the transition from print to cursive handwriting.
Zaner-Bloser methodology focuses on stroke formation, numbering the order and direction of strokes needed to form each letter. This multisensory approach provides a structured system for memory and repetition. Zaner-Bloser guides students to write neatly and efficiently with proper posture and pencil grip.
No matter which style is used, following consistent letter formation patterns aids legibility and fluency. Multisensory techniques like tracing letters with fingers, writing in shaving cream or sand, and using chalkboards or wipe boards allow children to gain motor memory for letter shapes.
Multisensory Techniques
Multisensory techniques engage multiple senses like touch and smell to make learning handwriting more interactive and engaging for kids. Research shows that multisensory instruction enhances memory and learning (Understood.org). Here are some activities to try:
Sand/shaving cream writing – Let kids practice letter formation by tracing letters and words in sand or shaving cream spread out on a tray. The tactile sensation helps reinforce the motor patterns (Kids Academy).
Wiki Stix – These waxy sticks cling to paper, allowing kids to form letters and shapes that stick as they practice handwriting (Mama OT).
Sensory bins – Fill bins with materials like beans, rice, or beads and have kids practice writing letters and words by “digging” through the textures (Rainy Day Mum). The tactile input can make writing more interesting.
Making Handwriting Fun
Handwriting practice does not have to be a dreary task. Using creative and playful methods can make learning fun and engaging for kids. Some fun handwriting activity ideas include:
Mazes are a great way to practice letter formation while problem solving. Printable mazes with letters along the path allow kids to write letters as they find their way through the maze. Maze books and printable mazes can be found online.
Coloring letters, shapes and pictures is an excellent hand strengthening activity. Having kids trace and color over letters and words gives great repetitive practice. Print free printable coloring pages online or create your own pages with letters to color.
Turning handwriting into a game makes it more motivating. Games like hangman, letter bingo, and letter searches allow kids to practice writing while having fun. Multi-sensory games like writing letters in sand, shaving cream or foam engage senses.
Some good online resources for fun printable handwriting pages and games include What Do We Do All Day and The OT Toolbox.
Apps and Online Resources
There are many excellent websites and apps available to help kids practice and improve their handwriting skills.
For online practice, sites like Handwriting Heroes provide video lessons that guide students through proper letter formation and technique. Students can complete the lessons online at their own pace. Outschool also offers live online handwriting classes led by teachers.
Apps like ABC Kids Tracing, Handwriting Without Tears, and LetterSchool help make handwriting practice engaging through games and interactivity. They allow kids to trace letters on a touchscreen device, getting real-time feedback on letter shape and size. Many include animations and rewards to keep kids motivated to practice.
Both websites and apps allow parents to assign specific letter drills or words to practice. They can customize the experience to target each child’s needs and skill level. Online resources provide data and analytics to track progress over time. They are a great supplement to handwriting instruction in the classroom or at home.
Troubleshooting Handwriting Issues
Some common handwriting issues that children may face include messy writing, reversals, and reluctance to write. Here are some tips for troubleshooting these problems:
Messy writing can be caused by poor pencil grip, improper letter formation, or underlying fine motor difficulties. Work on strengthening hand muscles through play dough, using larger pencils or pencil grips, and modeling the correct letter strokes (cite https://www.readandspell.com/us/handwriting-problems). Have the child practice proper letter formation on large surfaces like whiteboards before bringing it to paper.
Reversals are common with letters like “b” and “d.” Multisensory techniques associating the letters with keyword mnemonics (e.g. “b” for ball) can help reinforce directionality. Extra practice distinguishing similar letter forms and monitoring letter orientation in words may also help overcome reversals (cite https://www.theschoolrun.com/common-handwriting-problems-and-solutions).
Some kids are reluctant writers simply because handwriting is laborious for them. Keeping activities fun and focused, allowing typing or dictation, and celebrating all attempts can help. Underlying fine motor or processing issues may need occupational therapy. Praise progress and focus on mastery of letter formation (cite https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/writing/articles/handwriting-whats-normal-whats-not). With patience and targeted intervention, handwriting skills can improve significantly.