Freedom Panther

Please forgive that I don't remember what the subject line was in the
original post...I'm on digest and am not sure how to reply to an individual
poster, but yet to the list - for the benefit of everyone who may be
interested, so I'm approaching this from the way I do know...anyway...

Heather wrote:

Do you have any suggestions on what helps writing...develop? I have
also read that sometimes motor skills develop at different levels - I notice
she really presses hard with her pens/pencils - she says her hand hurts -
maybe she just isn't ready? ...

Any thoughts??

Heather


Hi, Heather,

If your 7 yo is ready to write, but finds the process painful and
frustrating, you may want to look into the following website:

Handwriting Without Tears, http://www.hwtears.com

There is a section "Just for Parents" with Fun Ideas you can do at home to
enourage handwriting practice, such as having child draw letters on the wall
of the tub in shaving cream or soap paint, finger painting letters, using
chalk on the sidealk, etc.

Also a section on "Readiness," help with extra practice with developing
fine motor skills with playful activities (using scissors, playing with
clay, picking up small buttons, beads, etc., up from floor using tweezers,
squirting water bottle outdoors on sidewalk).

Of particular interest to you may be "Common Handwriting Problems and
Solutions" where they discuss pencil grasp, awkward letter formations,
posture, and much more.

One thing I do not presently see in my material, but I AM SURE I SAW
ORDERING INFORMATION AT THIS WEBSITE FOR "PENCIL-GRIPPING SUPPORTS" to take
the strain off little fingers.

Hope this provides helpful information for you or someone dipping into the
archives.

Blessings,

Freedompanther


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