Writing has not come easy to big or middle man. I don't know the scientific reasons behind it, but I believe that boys in particular find it harder to learn to write. It has something to do with fine motor skills and muscle development. Talking to the boys' teachers, they recommended activities which would build their fine motor skills.
Playing with Playdoh is something they particularly recommend. Other activities that are good are Lego and Hama beads. We also have some games that we have found useful. We have the children's version of operation which they enjoy playing and helps build those fine motor skills. Other games they enjoy which use tweezers are Dino Bite and Jolly Octopus. Middle Man has found the Alpha Blocks Reading system helpful. Although the letters and words in the magazine aren't cursive which he is learning in reception, it is helping him with his letter formation. We have purchased triangular pencil holders to help with grip but have had limited success with these as they were quite large and didn't fit on all pencils. You can also buy triangular colouring pencils to help your child with their grip. We have recently been sent a section of Stabilo products which I am really impressed with.
Firstly they are great as they come on right and left handed styles. The grip seems to work well and they boys have been eager to use these to help improve their writing. At school they are only allowed to write in pencil and these push up ones have come in handy when doing their homework. They in left and right handed and they are marked with and L or R so you don't get confused.
At the end of the day it is practice that is going to help the boys the most, but having a pencil that they find comfortable to use is certainly a good starting point.
Do you have any top tips or recommendations on helping your children learn to write?
just lots of practice and patience
ReplyDeleteGreat review thank you!
ReplyDeleteThese look great!
ReplyDeleteNot really, my son is left-handed and had real problems learning to write. He got there in the end. I think they just have to be physically mature enough, although these pens would have helped him a lot.
ReplyDeleteThese look fab x
ReplyDeleteSchool give them things like sand, rice, shaving foam to practice letters in
ReplyDeletejust let them take their time, don't pressure them to get things right first time
ReplyDeleteEncouragement is so important.
ReplyDeleteI'm left-handed, and initially I wrote everything from right to left in mirror writing, my Mum used to show me it in the mirror and say how clever it was but that no-one else would understand it so I had to learn to write like everyone else. I really struggled to start with, but 2 years later I was top of my year at school. They'll get there with help and encouragement, but don't make it too much of a chore, otherwise it'll ruin a wonderful skill for life.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right. I am reluctant to push them too much, just try and make it fun and as easy as possible. I find it hard helping middle man as he is left handed.
ReplyDeleteI've seen that - thinks it helps with the formation when they haven't got the fine motor skills yet.
ReplyDeletePraise goes a long way
ReplyDeleteThat's what I think susie. I don't want to put them off school when they have only just started.
ReplyDeleteTry Try and Try again never give up
ReplyDeleteEncourage all the way, for everyone that succeeds they`ve also failed multiple times. x
ReplyDeleteStart with a pencil and pencil grip and work up from there. Oh and always be encouraging! :)
ReplyDeleteEncouragement and practice
ReplyDeleteI agree, plenty of practice x
ReplyDeleteawesome!
ReplyDeleteI agree plenty of practice.
ReplyDeleteLydia wants to run before she can walk, she is desperate to perfect joined up handwriting, but rushes printing so it becomes big and messy compared to when she concentrates, she is getting better but she's such a creative girl that she likes the Los and curl of her letters I think, almost 7 but wants to write like Mummy does sometimes!
ReplyDeleteTry and try again
ReplyDeleteWow these sound fab! Might have to suggest these to my sister as my niece really wants to improve her handwriting too!
ReplyDeletepatience & practice
ReplyDeleteplenty of practice
ReplyDeletePatience
ReplyDeleteMy son struggles with his writing too, his teacher says that it is very spidery I try to encourage him to write as much as I can, but in fairness he would much rather be out kicking a football!
ReplyDeletepractice, but it has to be fun practice, otherwise it becomes a chore.
ReplyDeleteI get my kids out in the park on the climbing frames as much as I can to help with handwriting...it helps build the strength in their arms thus improving grip for writing :)
ReplyDeleteoooo some great tips x x
ReplyDeleteGet your children familiar with how to hold pens and pencils properly from an early age but never put too much pressure on them.
ReplyDeleteColouring in is the first step to learning to write so start with chubby crayons and decrease size as the little one improves. Holding a pen will then just become an extension of this practise.
ReplyDeleteMy son had a problem with his grip and wasnt too interested in writing at first. He is a bit of a climber and always hanging off monkey bars and that helped strengthen his hands as well along with play-doh. As soon as he started school he changed and held pen fine and has really neat writing :-)
ReplyDeleteThese look great, my son is good at writing but still doesnt hold it quite right.
ReplyDeleteThey look very good
ReplyDeleteI work for children's OT and we recommend the stabilo pens - we also recommend doing lots of fine motor activities and hand/finger activities to increase control and hand strength and dexterity.
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea
ReplyDeletewhat an excellent idea, my son has always had problems with writing and motor skills
ReplyDeleteFab idea!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, my only tip I have with my child is like I always say to him "Its okay to make mistakes" my little boy gets so frustrated when he makes a mistake and Im always there saying "Its okay"
ReplyDeletefab idea! my son use left hand and it's not easy
ReplyDeletethese look great
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea :)
ReplyDeleteThese look fab - working in schools, I see the importance of good pens/pencils upon the ease of handwriting...it is not easy! x
ReplyDeleteMy eldest is in the gifted & talented programme, but his writing is like a spider has crawled across the page . . . his younger brother has better handwriting than him! We'll try some of these tips with him - thank you!
ReplyDeleteI think by making mistakes in like that's how you learn.
ReplyDeleteI think just leaving them at first to 'get to grips' with what they are doing and become familiar with what they are using and then bring in the more 'technical' implements. I remember seeing my daughters teacher (shes 5 now) using tweezers with them and I was thinking what are they doing, but it works really well. I cant remember them using tweezers when my 10 year old was in nursery!
ReplyDeleteBecci Cleary
Just let them practice. Don't tell them off for getting it wrong, we all have to learn and you learn better from making mistakes.
ReplyDeleteNeither of my sons write well. The eldest is Dyslexic & Dyspraxic so even though he has help he still doesn't hold a pen correctly or write very well. The youngest is a typical boy that can't be bothered! I have worked extensively with him, bought him nice comfortable grip pens, but his writing is still very bad. I live in hope that one day all the effort will pay off & his handwriting will improve.
ReplyDeletelet them practise as well as letting them hold the pencil however they feel comfortable. there are no rules on how it should be done so long as the end product is the same.
ReplyDeleteI think it's about patience :)
ReplyDeletePatience, every child is different and will learn and get the hang of it in their own time.
ReplyDeleteMy frustration is that my eldest can write really nicely, if he's in a good mood and takes his time. Most of the time I struggle to read what he's written though... patience and practice it is then! Might try some different pencils and pens too though. :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good product, thanks for the review. I will look into it as my daughter will find it very helpful (she struggles with her handwriting)
ReplyDelete