any tips on handwriting

[tjw]

hi i am trying to teach g how to write at the moment he has a real problem forming any words at all, i have got all types of pens ect, it seems to stress him out, so we only do 5/10 mins at a time, its not good because we cannot tell if he is right/left handed, he seems to be going towards his left more than anything but even his teachers dont know what hand he is, do you think this is common, he is good in maths and he can spell and do name on computers but when it comes to pen and paper i carnt even get him to hold a pen properly . i was just wondering if any tips on here to try and encourage this. many thanks

theresa x

 

ps he will be six in sept am i pushing him do you think.

Edited August 9, 2008 by tjw

[aro]

Ooo our two must be twins My dd is 6 in sept and she can't even draw a circle or cross (she does have cerebal palsy too though)

 

We've been to a specialist center for her CP and we asked them to focus on her hand skills. As her grip is apparently to weak to hold a pencil steady they suggested loads of squeezy things like playdoh, balls etc and we've stuck a foam golf ball onto her pencils for the grip, hopefully progressing to a "jumbo grip" to develop her tripod grip next.

 

Has an OT looked at your sons pencil grip and grasp? Might be also worth doing all the sensory things like drawing in sand, soap foam etc?

 

Good luck,

 

A x

[tjw]

Ooo our two must be twins My dd is 6 in sept and she can't even draw a circle or cross (she does have cerebal palsy too though)

 

We've been to a specialist center for her CP and we asked them to focus on her hand skills. As her grip is apparently to weak to hold a pencil steady they suggested loads of squeezy things like playdoh, balls etc and we've stuck a foam golf ball onto her pencils for the grip, hopefully progressing to a "jumbo grip" to develop her tripod grip next.

 

Has an OT looked at your sons pencil grip and grasp? Might be also worth doing all the sensory things like drawing in sand, soap foam etc?

 

Good luck,

 

A x

thanks A great advise about the sand and soap foam it will make it fun for him as well, we are currently awaiting assessment for g so we do not have an ot at present, his school try to have one on one with him for writing but to no avail at moment like you said not even doing circles shapes nothing his grip is realy weak,plus he seems to have no interest in it what so ever, i lose all eye contact with him as soon as he starts trying this, so i have no distraction in the house for that 10mins, but he just cannot get it, thanks again

theresa x

[Nic m]

Theresa, my dd, has hypermobility and this has caused her problems with writing and cutting food she is 11 and can now comfortably write for short periods but has an alphasmart for lengthy written work.

She still has no strength for cutting food so this may be something to look into.

 

N x

[aro]

Oh that's a point, I forgot to mention dd's hypermobility (really bendy fingers and unstable shoulders ) and school are about to request funding for a touch screen monitor for her (can't operate mouse/joystick etc due to physical and cognitive problems)

 

Perhaps school could let you ds record work on the computer? (or do they already do this?)

 

A x

[julie1]

perhaps you could ask ot to do some visual perceptual tests with your son as well as the others that have been mentioned. Its just that my dd also has hypermobility and at age 6 could not write her name. she now uses triangle pens/pencils an angled board and a coloured overlay. these have all made a huge difference to my dd. the visual perceptual tests showed us that she sees things differently to others which made it far harder for her to learn to write.

[SarahSH]

Yes - agree about the triangular pens and angled board. Looking at my son try to write when he was younger, you had to wonder how anyof us do it, the grip seemed so tricky. Thick triangular pencils helped him for years. His grip is unusual now, ten years later, but works fine with normal pens.

Sarah

[warrenpenalver]

I still have appalling handwriting I learnt using pencils and a triangular rubber thingy that slid over the pencil to help grip it. At least with a pencil the teacher/mummy could go back with the rubber and correct bits so i could copy them. Interestingly i wasnt allowed to use pens until i was 11 when i changed school.

 

I found i also held a knife when eating the same way as a pen.

 

rubber non slip grips on pens may help as even now i prefer pens with those sculpted rubber grips otherwise pen works its way out of my grip.

[tjw]

I still have appalling handwriting I learnt using pencils and a triangular rubber thingy that slid over the pencil to help grip it. At least with a pencil the teacher/mummy could go back with the rubber and correct bits so i could copy them. Interestingly i wasnt allowed to use pens until i was 11 when i changed school.

 

I found i also held a knife when eating the same way as a pen.

 

rubber non slip grips on pens may help as even now i prefer pens with those sculpted rubber grips otherwise pen works its way out of my grip.

hi thanks for your help and advise on this, g cannot use a knife also i have got him the triangle pencils i have just be doing writing with him again he can not go the right way when trying to write he gos in reverse and also gets frustrated and stroops off for a sulk and tells me i am not his teacher (cheeky litttle things at this age) i will try the rubber pens next see if that helps i am keeping it casual with him so not to stress him out. thanks again

theresa x

Edited August 10, 2008 by tjw

[tjw]

Yes - agree about the triangular pens and angled board. Looking at my son try to write when he was younger, you had to wonder how anyof us do it, the grip seemed so tricky. Thick triangular pencils helped him for years. His grip is unusual now, ten years later, but works fine with normal pens.

Sarah

hi sarah thanks for the help i have been holding his book at an angle today he did seem a bit more comfy with that he has the pencils you mentioned, i dont wont to push to hard with him but the children have to sign in at school now and i dont wont other children picking up on g not being able to do this. children can be unkind sometimes.

theresa x

[tjw]

perhaps you could ask ot to do some visual perceptual tests with your son as well as the others that have been mentioned. Its just that my dd also has hypermobility and at age 6 could not write her name. she now uses triangle pens/pencils an angled board and a coloured overlay. these have all made a huge difference to my dd. the visual perceptual tests showed us that she sees things differently to others which made it far harder for her to learn to write.

hi julie we have not got an ot for g at the moment we are waiting for assessment but hopfully that wont be to long now, its very interesting what you said about visual perceptual test hopfully we will be able to have a look into that as well thanks for your reply

theresa x

[tjw]

Theresa, my dd, has hypermobility and this has caused her problems with writing and cutting food she is 11 and can now comfortably write for short periods but has an alphasmart for lengthy written work.

She still has no strength for cutting food so this may be something to look into.

 

N x

hi nic thanks for the reply g can not cut food or use a knife i have to cut food up for him, hypermobility is something i never heard of b4 i came on this site but i feel alot better armed now for my next visit to the dr (monday) still just trying to get him to a pead for assessment i think i may have a fight on my hands with the dr not looking forward to it at all thanks again

theresa x

[tjw]

Oh that's a point, I forgot to mention dd's hypermobility (really bendy fingers and unstable shoulders ) and school are about to request funding for a touch screen monitor for her (can't operate mouse/joystick etc due to physical and cognitive problems)

 

Perhaps school could let you ds record work on the computer? (or do they already do this?)

 

A x

h aro yes they let g use the computer at school which they say he is very good with can write and spell his name fine on that but he has been using a computer now since he was 2/12yrs old it seems to be his forty thanxs for all your advise

theresa x