Hand writing in a 5 year old

Fire_Fox

What does her class teacher say?

cutestkids

I work as a classroom assistant with this age group and can assure you that 99% of children at this age have messy writing.

The picking up beads with tweezers is a great exercise for getting her grip and fine motor skills developed, as is playing with lego, the proper small piece stuff not the large duplo, use playdoh or plasticine and get her to roll tiny peas or sausage shapes between her finger and thumb.

Really though her writing will come and you will normally see a marked difference in the next year.

I would however get the arm that was broken checked out and encourage her to do the above with both hands to help build the strength in the left as well as the right.

Caroline_a

Everybody knows that the people with the worst hand-writing in the world are doctors. Or is it that people with the worst hand-writing become doctors? In any case, unless the teacher is concerned I think you should leave well alone! She's only 5!

fluffnutter

Without wishing to be dismissive, I'm tempted to say it doesn't really matter. There's a long history of very professional people having terrible handwriting (think doctors!) plus the ability to text and type is probably more important these days... In fact, give her an advantage by teaching her to touch-type now.

I've been to university. Of all my qualifications and education, being able to touch-type has been the most useful

mrcow

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

If you are genuinely concerned, and I don't think you should be, then I'd get her to practice her fine motor control. Picking up beads with small tweezers and moving them from one cup to another is an easy example.

Or getting some of those Hama beads that you make patterns with and iron to make a picture and getting her to do them with a pair of tweezers could be a more creative version of the above.


Or putting the little Aquabeads thingies which you make a picture but doing it with tweezers. My 5 year olds loved them.

Caroline_a

fluffnutter wrote: »

Without wishing to be dismissive, I'm tempted to say it doesn't really matter. There's a long history of very professional people having terrible handwriting (think doctors!) plus the ability to text and type is probably more important these days... In fact, give her an advantage by teaching her to touch-type now.

I've been to university. Of all my qualifications and education, being able to touch-type has been the most useful

Absolutely, I've been to uni too, and my typing skills have ensured that I've never been out of a job for more than a week or two. Additionally, learning to type 'correctly' will ensure less issues later on for muscular problems due to poor keyboard technique.

fluffnutter

Caroline_a wrote: »

Additionally, learning to type 'correctly' will ensure less issues later on for muscular problems due to poor keyboard technique.

That's very true. I've never had any pain in my fingers or wrists, probably because my hands are positioned correctly whilst typing. And relaxed. It's important to keep your hands loose and I think that's easier to do if you can type properly.

PoorCharleyBear

My daughter has just turned 6. Her writing is 'neat' compared to many of her peers- I dread to think what theirs is like. Hers looks like a spider has been on a night on the town.

If your daughter likes colouring in, encourage this as it helps with pencil control and is a precursor to good writing control.

But really- don't worry. 5/6 is no age at all. Some kids are not even speaking well at this age.

aliama

meritaten wrote: »

she is five? and had problems with breaking her dominant arm and you are worried her handwriting is 'messy'? ALL five year olds have messy handwriting, they are just learning! methinks you expect too much!

I'm inclined to agree with this, and I also feel that if she sees that you are concerned it may well make her feel worse.

However, I also think the suggestions to seek an OT for her other hand are valid too, but perhaps this couldbe done without making it all about her handwriting.

FattyBettyBoo

My DD is 6 1/2 and its only in the last couple of months that her handwriting has become readable. Something seemed to click and she went from large wonky back-to-front upside-down all different sized letters, to something that resembled writing. The teacher said that using lined paper helps a lot as they try hard to keep the writing between the lines.

At parents evening I looked at all the other kids writing and some were very neat and some were almost scribbles. I think its like walking, toilet training etc etc .... we all do it at different ages but we get there eventually!