Education: Improving Handwriting Skills

by Cambria VandeMerwe on November 10th, 2017 | 1 Comment »

Clear handwriting is an important skill for kids to learn as they will be using it through the rest of their lives. The only way to improve handwriting skills is to practice, practice, practice.

4 Tips to Improve Your Child’s Handwriting

Make sure your child is using the pencil correctly. Help them get the right grip and apply the right amount of pressure to the paper.
Slow down. First comes focus on writing legibly then comes speed. Many kids feel they need to be writing as fast as their parents and other adults do. Practice writing each letter clearly and speed will come naturally with time.
Use paper guidelines over and over again until the movement becomes natural. Don’t be afraid to continue to use them even after they move out of them in school. Using them at home can compliment the non-guideline paper at school.
Write everything. The only way to get better is by continuing to do it. Let your kids help you write the shopping and to-do lists, made up stories, journals, thank you cards to grandma, and all those sticky notes.

Encourage your kids to take pride in their handwriting and to want to make it look nice. Continue to give them praise throughout the process, as well; even as an adult, you don’t want to hear you have bad handwriting. Negative comments can be extra concerning to kids. Praise, encouragement, and practice will all improve your child’s handwriting.