Strategies to Help Your Child Use Their Hands
Strategy 1
Pencil adaptations. Grips/built up pencil/triangular pencil/short pencil/stubby pencil. Click on the link below.
Strategy 2
Write on an angle board. Sometimes a child finds it easier to write neatly if their book is on a slight slope (see below). This also encourages good posture.
The image above shows a writing slope which has been purchased. It is easy to make your own writing slope using a lever arch file.
Strategy 3
Scissor alternatives. Paper and scissors. Click on the link below.
Strategy 4
Pre-writing exercises. Mickey Mouse, finger push ups, spider push ups. Click on the link below.
Strategy 5
Set the rules and targets which you are looking for. These can include targets based upon neatness of work, time taken to complete work and the content (or amount of learning) in a task. If your child is 7 years of age or older, you could encourage self-monitoring of these targets where they access their own effectiveness.
Remember, you should always set clear task goals based upon what it is that you are looking for;
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Speed: time limit can be set. |
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Neatness: No time limit but look for consistency and presentation. Be specific with targets, for example, keep writing on the line, letters should be the correct height/size and spacing should be even. |
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Content: How many facts, length of writing or certain words used? |
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Learning: They need to remember the facts. |
