Education


Understanding how your child learns to handwrite


Have you ever wondered how your child has learnt to write? What contributes to them being able to hold a pencil and fluently write across a page? Perhaps you may wonder why your child might struggle a bit more than their friends or why their writing might appear bigger or smaller.


Handwriting is a complex skill that


involves an integration of skills such as motor, cognitive, sensory and visual perception with an emphasis on repeated practice to consolidate learning.


The learning part Typically children learning to write will


follow a sequential pattern. Early writing or pre-writing can start as young as 18 months and usually presents as a random scribble. It then progresses onto purposeful form production, such as vertical and horizontal lines and circles, before moving onto crosses and


diagonal lines. By the time your child will begin to think about writing letters they would typically have learnt how to produce all these forms and put them together into beautiful pictures that we all enjoy. Children will typically be ready to start writing letters by about four or five years old but some children might be slightly younger or older. When learning to write letters they will initially start with the 'verbal - thinking stage'. They will then progress onto the motor stage, where your child might consider how they are holding their pencil and essentially at this stage they might want to consider how they are refining their motor skill to successfully achieve the task of writing. The end stage is the autonomous stage, which involves the fluent production of motor movements to produce writing; they might also consider their force, fluidity and speed. Practice is essential to helping your child consolidate their learning. Practice tends to be either 'massed' (less rest between tasks) or distributed (more rest between tasks). Whatever practice your child engages in, incorporating time


ACTION STATIONS WRITE


scale related rest breaks is important. There are various techniques to support your child with learning to write and these include 'modelling' (showing your child how to write), 'observational' (your child will learn by watching their teacher or friends), 'guidance' (providing hand over hand assistance or talking them through their actions) and 'rehearsal techniques', which might involve learning how a letter is formed by singing over and over again, for example "I always start my tall letters at the top..."


Final thoughts Providing your child with opportunities and purpose for wanting to handwrite can be a very rewarding experience and will continue to benefit them within school and with their learning. There is a general thinking in the handwriting world that handwriting and development of creativity in children are closely related and, indeed, once a child has truly consolidated their handwriting they will begin to develop their own unique style.


Supplied by Denise Yusuf – Action Stations Write


Bourne Musicians Music Classes


A Saturday Handwriting Club for children of all abilities: run by a Children’s Occupational Therapist.


Let have fun with writing! We use fun and creative methods to explore different handwriting programmes and develop new techniques.


The club offers opportunities to develop sensory, motor and perceptual skills underpinning handwriting production and practice writing through creative and motivating topics.


More able writers have the opportunity to practice calligraphy, bubble writing and word art.


Where: Bearsted & Thurnham King George V Memorial Hall When: Saturday’s: Time: 4.15 – 5.15 pm


All places must be booked in advance, please email or phone: Email: actionstationswrite@gmail.com Phone: 07749 320 202 Visit Website for cost (£) of sessions and further details: www.actionstationswrite.com


Parent Workshops and Teen Groups to Follow 26 Mid Kent Living


NOW IN OUR 10TH YEAR


See the classes in action at www.bournemusicians.co.uk


Or call 01622 880377 for more details e: bournemusicians@hotmail.co.uk


Term times classes in Bearsted & Hollingbourne


“Best Local Activity for Under 5s” for 3 years running.


Babies and children aged 3 months to 5 years Voted for


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