During the last four months (and counting!) of no school, opportunities for handwriting practice in the classroom disappeared. Virtual learning became the norm and will continue to be for many children, so it’s easy to neglect the essential skill of handwriting.
Children need to continue handwriting practice so they don’t lose any progress they may have made during the school year. Handwriting doesn’t have to be work, though; handwriting exercises can be fun! Here are a few ways to work on handwriting at home with your kids:
Create a story together.
Encourage your child to write a few sentences or paragraphs, depending upon age and skill level, each day, and add your own writing to the story. Alternate back and forth until you’ve written a complete story (or two, or three, or four) together.
Practice with sidewalk chalk.
Children love to create with sidewalk chalk; have your child not only draw pictures but practice letters and even leave messages on the sidewalk for friends and family members.
Write in other media.
Practice writing in sand, in shaving cream on a mirror or the shower wall, in rice or salt on a cookie sheet, or with finger paint or glue. Use cotton swabs, sticks, fingers, or whatever you have on hand.
Get an app for that!
A number of apps for smartphones and tablets support handwriting practice. One option is the Handwriting Without Tears Wet-Dry-Try Suite app, by the creators of the popular Handwriting Without Tears program used in many schools.
In addition to these fun activities, a number of free handwriting practice worksheets are available online for download. To make reusable worksheets (and save paper!), laminate them or place them in a plastic sleeve and use them with dry-erase markers. Check out StudentHandouts.com, KidsTV123.com, or the This Reading Mama blog for free practice worksheets; Pinterest is another great resource.
Want more fun ideas for handwriting practice? Check out these additional resources:
No-Worksheet Handwriting Ideas:
- Handwriting Activities for Kids Who Hate Handwriting: 35 Ideas
- 55 Ways to Make Handwriting Practice FUN for Kids
Handwriting Apps:
Your child’s occupational therapist can make recommendations suited to your child’s age and skill level. If you believe your child may need some help with handwriting, please schedule a free consultation today.
Image Courtesy Pixabay
