Improving Handwriting - 9 year old

[Anonymous]

My child can talk though answers and give very good verbal explanations to his homework problems, but when it comes to getting them down on paper he is challenged. His writing is terrible. Rs look like Vs and issues with spacing, writing diagonally down the page. It is very upsetting to see him struggle so much. He is ADHD and very sensory challenged, yet loves tactile stuff like legos, dirt, gravel, water play.

Any suggestions on how to improve his writing without forcing him to practice letters on pages of paper? This is starting to affect his grades now that the work in 4th grade is much more writing intensive.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Take a chapter book (let him choose) and ask him to copy a paragraph with all the correct punctuation. Check and correct the work and explain why what he did was wrong. Keep para's short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a chapter book (let him choose) and ask him to copy a paragraph with all the correct punctuation. Check and correct the work and explain why what he did was wrong. Keep para's short.

Good idea. I can probably get him to do this in exchange for a candybar. That might make it fun.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I would get an OT consult before trying to do this on your own. I am not sure copying will help.

My son is 8 and also really struggles with writing. The OT had some great input on how to help with letter formation, what type of paper and pencils to use, how he should sit, and also how to reduce writing demands. He is in a private school so he does not have an IEP, but his school is very open to her ideas (e.g., he dictates his answers to a teacher aide on tests).

Also, for some kids learning to type is really the best solution, and an OT would know about that, too.

[Anonymous]

We did Kumon and other workbooks. Learning cursive helped with the print. The joke books someone recommended on here on Amazon are great.

[Anonymous]

I could have written the same thing about my 8 year old about his r's looking like v's. He bunches all his letters together and makes his loops in the opposite direction I would make them. People on here have recommended Handwriting without Tears.

[Anonymous]

I posted a similar question a while back about my 8 yo and many suggested Handwriting Without Tears. He's been working on it a couple of times a week and his handwriting has improved a little. We are also working on typing with typingclub.com

[Anonymous]

At the end of the first week my 3rd grade son started meds for ADHD, his teacher sent home a packet of graded work. I sent it back with a note that said that this wasn't his work. She emailed me and said it was his work. I was in shock. Never before had he written legibly. This handwriting was legible, stayed on the lines, etc. It no longer looked like a serial killer's writing. Medication is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

I'm of two minds- you can see an OT or buy a handwriting book (or both)....

Or you can, as I have done, accept that some kids' handwriting peaks around age 7, never to improve. I teach high school, so every year I'm presented without about 100 examples of this phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

Test for dysgraphia.

[Anonymous]

My son was exactly like this when he was 9. Now he is exactly like this at 12, but the difference is that he types everything. I found that nothing really worked to improve his handwriting and that making him try harder or practice only tired his hand and made him angry.

I used a typing program to teach him to type and now he is so much better. In fact, the only really difficult class is math because that class is literally the only one that requires handwriting. He uses a large amount of scrap paper so that he can write really big.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest an OT consult. Also, try some pencil grips. My child began using one after suggested by OT and it improved his writing. We use the Groto grip (look on Amazon) and it helps, but doesn't make it perfect.

[Anonymous]

My kid who is 9 has had OT through his IEP (and still gets OT) since he was 4 for handwriting, fine motor, etc. His handwriting is still pretty bad. Thankfully, he learned to type when he was 7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid who is 9 has had OT through his IEP (and still gets OT) since he was 4 for handwriting, fine motor, etc. His handwriting is still pretty bad. Thankfully, he learned to type when he was 7.

Pp, did he take a class? Program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Test for dysgraphia.

Wow, this sounds exactly like my child. I called the 504 Coordinator and asked if the school OT could evaluate him for this. He does not have a brain injury but does have ADHD. Right down to the difficulty typing shoe laces does this sound like him. Thank you for posting.