DD6 and her classmates are obsessed with it as well. She "signs" everything

Anonymous wrote:There are homeschool handwriting books which are aimed at starting with cursive, rather than print. Why not pick one up? It's not a bad skill.

In that vein, we use Cursive First: https://swrtraining.com/cursive-first/

I like that the practice sheets have a *lot* of practice -- not just a couple of lines and a picture to draw --- and are Xeroxable.

My children demanded fountain pens, so I got a pack of these multi-colored ones, which they seem to enjoy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00092PRCA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There are homeschool handwriting books which are aimed at starting with cursive, rather than print. Why not pick one up? It's not a bad skill.

Anonymous wrote:OP,

I'm French and in my country children are taught to write in cursive very early. It's a primary school requirement. I got French cursive books for my kids when they were about your son's age. They are now teens and are among the very few who can write in cursive.

So go with it.

I’m the PP whose kid learned in 1st—this was indeed at the French school.

My 5 year old also likes cursive, which she doesn't know? So she always signing her name, but not quite correctly, she just doesn't pick up her pen at all. She is not interested in being told how to the do it correctly though either haha.

OP,

I'm French and in my country children are taught to write in cursive very early. It's a primary school requirement. I got French cursive books for my kids when they were about your son's age. They are now teens and are among the very few who can write in cursive.

So go with it.

Anonymous wrote:Get him some fountain pens. Both zebra an pilot have inexpensive disposable fountain pens. One of my kids has a writing disability and cursive is much easier than print, and the fountain pens have been much better because they have less friction.

My other kid is obsessed with drawing and writing. He loves the fountain pens too. We just upgraded to fountain pens that are let you refill the ink (better for the environment) but it is like a $4 investment to let him play with some fountain pens. You can also get drawing art books at target (they don't have the fountain pens, unfortunately) in the art section. They are very nice and pretty reasonable.

Stop trying to redirect him. He sounds very artistic. GL

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and it affects my right hand the most. I hold a pen slightly differently and find cursive and smooth-writing or fountain pens to be best, too.

OP here. Thank you, all! Some great suggestions and I hadn't thought about the fact that it's his artistic outlet (as obvious as it seems now to me). I'll look into the pen and paper suggestions. For those who asked about the problem, my worry is about the fixation on it. It's not a preference, it's an all consuming activity. Typical day when I get home includes him showing me his sheaf of cursive writing (yes, he goes to Montessori), asking me to go over words with him -- for some reason, "Hot Chocolate" is a favorite one because there are so many loops, asking if we can spend one *hour* writing before dinner and then putting his favorite sheets into a laminate sleeve so they don't get messed up. His preschool teacher said she's not seen anything like this in 20 years. But, there is no harm except that he misses out on playing outside sometimes or with his siblings, so I will not worry about redirection. Thanks again for the suggestions and the perspective.

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DC keeps talking about cursive. He is 6 and not artistic at all. He seem to like it more than printing. He is practicing typing write now; chatting with kids ( I hope they are kids ) on roblox. I’ll teach him cursive over the summer.