6 Multisensory Techniques for Teaching Handwriting
Handwriting involves more than just making letters on a page — it requires potent fine motor and visual-motor skills. Here are some multisensory techniques to try if your child is struggling with writing.
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Multisensory instruction can help kids who struggle with writing in more ways than one. That's because handwriting involves more than than but making letters on a page. It requires stiff fine motor and visual-motor skills. Hither are some multisensory techniques to endeavor.
Use dark ruled and "bumpy" newspaper
Does your child have trouble staying inside the lines when she writes? Download wide-ruled paper with bold lines at the top and bottom with a dotted line in between. This tin help her see barriers so her letters don't migrate.
You can also trace the top and bottom lines with glue. When it dries, your kid's pencil will "crash-land" the lines equally she writes. Remind her that alpine letters (like T) go to the top line, and that smaller letters (like c) should fit between the lesser and middle lines.
Trace and practice mazes
Tracing is an constructive style to teach handwriting. By having her trace shapes and maze-like paths from left to correct, acme to bottom, or through jagged and curvy lines, you tin help your child develop fine motor control. This can as well help her learn how to orient her movements from acme to bottom and left to correct.
Mazes tin can also assistance your kid practice staying within a designated space. Download mazes and tracing worksheets for your child to use.
Try "Wet-Dry-Try"
You may take heard of the Wet-Dry out-Attempt app from Handwriting Without Tears. But you can do a depression-tech version of the activity, too. All y'all demand is a small chalkboard, a sponge cut into minor cubes, and a piece of chalk.
Take your child wet a sponge cube and squeeze it out so it's not dripping with water. Write a letter on the slate so your child has a model. Next, enquire her to write the letter using a wet sponge. Then inquire her to trace it with a dry sponge. Finally, ask her to write the letter using chalk.
Use a "Spacekid"
Some kids, peculiarly those with visual-spatial problems, have trouble spacing out words on the page. If your child leaves also much or too picayune space betwixt words, a "Spacekid" can help. (Download the template to brand i.)
As she writes, have your child identify her Spacekid downwards at the end of each word. She should kickoff the next word on the other side of the Spacekid tool.
Endeavour sensory freezer-bag writing
Fill a freezer-sized ziplock bag with a couple dollops of colored hair gel. (You could also use articulate hair gel and add food coloring or glitter.) Seal it tightly, taping over the top to brand sure it stays airtight.
Take your child place the bag on a table and smooth it out until it's flat. Inquire her to utilize her finger or the eraser end of a pencil to exercise writing words or letters. The resistance of the hair gel will help her feel how the messages are formed.
Prove sky, grass or footing
Your child may have trouble making her messages the correct size. For example, she may write dOgS instead of dogs.
This action uses hand positions to help your kid understand alphabetic character size. Starting time off with the discussion boy to exercise. For alpine letters like b, your child points her thumb up to the sky. For small messages similar o, she makes a fist to bespeak grass. And for descending letters like y, she points her thumb down for ground.
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This article originally appeared on Understood.org. Reprinted courtesy of Understood.org © 2022 Understood For All, Inc.
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