5 Tips To Improve Children’s Writing – Parenthood

Improving children’s writing is a good way to improve their fine motor skills and brain coordination. Although it seems like a simple task, using a pencil to write involves the activation of simultaneous processes which are not always automatic.

It is important to know that the degree of literacy directly depends on the muscle development of the hands.

In view of this, a child cannot be required to write correctly if he has not acquired certain physical skills beforehand.

One of them refers to the acquisition of the tripod socket allowing to have a good grip of the pencil. This is the key to enabling children to improve their calligraphy and produce smoother strokes.

Usually, children’s development allows them to switch from penta-digital to tri-digital around their sixth birthday. With this type of grip, performing the writing exercises that you will discover below will be more effective.

Keys to Improving Writing in Children

1. Hold the pencil correctly

To begin with, it is important that the child holds the pencil with his thumb, index finger and middle finger. Another essential aspect concerns the length and size of the instrument used. They must be adapted to the size of the child’s hand. The grip should therefore be firm but not too tight.

2. Keep the proportions

Lack of consistency is one of the reasons writing is difficult to understand, or unattractive. If you want to correct this aspect, it is important to use a notebook with double lines and to differentiate between the lines of upper case and lower case letters.

3. Use playful methods to motivate practice

Traditional games are activities that can help children improve their writing skills. Connecting the dots, word search and the “hangman” game are fun ways to make better use of the pencil.

4. Strengthen muscle groups

As you know, fine motor skills in children depend on muscle development. For this, it is essential to work the fingers and wrists on a daily basis. Some ways to do this are: playing in the sand, playing with building blocks, using cutlery at the table, coloring, cutting from paper, or using play dough.

5. Increase the time allowed for reading

Reading is not just about improving creative and cognitive development. It also helps to improve writing. The more the child becomes familiar with defined and proportioned features, the easier it will be for him to have concrete mental images. Thus, he will be able to trace the letters by imitation with much more ease.

Other important tips

• Know how to distinguish the underlying problems. Many children who have problems with calligraphy are more severe. They can hide spelling difficulties or attention problems. Unclear handwriting can also reflect a lack of interest in school.
• Create a pleasant and positive atmosphere. Thus, the little one will not associate the practice of calligraphy exercises with a punishment. Choose a location in which the position and illumination are suitable so that the child can train without problems.

• Avoid putting pressure. Calmness and patience help your children feel more confident and competent. Pressing or forcing them to write well and quickly can be counterproductive. It can even cause unnecessary frustration.

• Use cards with examples and models. There are a large number of pre-drawn notebooks with outlines and illustrations to enhance writing. Lots of activities can also stimulate fine motor skills. This is the case, for example, with coloring, perforation and drawing.
• Stimulate artistic skills. Painting or sculpting doesn’t just stimulate creativity. It also allows children to increase their coordination. It is a fundamental skill for children to be able to correctly trace each letter of the alphabet.

Improving children’s writing is not an impossible task if practiced regularly. Applying appropriate strategies allows writing not to be seen as a tedious activity, but a time for sharing. Make this activity of life a leisure and you will be able to admire wonderful results.