Can you improve handwriting?

AlexLK

liney wrote: »

OK, poor grip very often leads to cramp, and pressing down too hard on the paper which means that letters do not flow and speed is reduced. No one told me: I witness it in school regularly.

"Death grip" as I call it (I teach violin and see it all the time).

Bennifred

My youngest boy is dyslexic and dyspraxic - he can't even read his own writing! We made sure that he was taught to touch type so that he could use a word processor in class and in exams (They are only supposed to be granted permission to use word processors in exams if it is their usual way of working).

Spendless

liney wrote: »

OK, poor grip very often leads to cramp, and pressing down too hard on the paper which means that letters do not flow and speed is reduced. No one told me: I witness it in school regularly.

I would recommend some blue tac around the pen instead of a tri-pod gripper. Students seem to find it more comfortable... and i've always got a piece of blue tac handy.

Thanks for this suggestion. This is def worth a try, quick and cheap. I have some in. Dopey question where about do you put it? He grips at the bottom of the pen with his fingers

AlexLK

Spendless: to be quite honest, I do not see the need for any "special devices". Have a good look at how he holds the pen, if it doesn't look "right" it probably isn't.

liney

This is how I demonstrate:

First, pinch the pencil between the thumb and forefinger always on the painted part of the pencil. You never grip where it has been sharpened, so gauge on your pen - maybe 2cm from tip ish.

Next, rest the side of the hand on the table and relax. Your fingers will curl underneath, and you will see the pencil fall in the V between the thumb and finger.

Finally, the middle finger will automatically be resting underneath the pencil. Demonstrate using it for support.

Wrap blu tac all the way around the pencil where the normal grip would be, ie the start of the painted area. Have him grip the pencil correctly and form the indents. This will then help him to put his fingers in the right place, write without the pencil slipping and disourage him from re-gripping incorrectly.

theoretica

It takes about 6 weeks of concious thought to develop new muscle habits. If he can force himself to think about how he is holding a pen, and slow down to write legibly, for six weeks this will probably make a big improvement.

I find with some pens my handwriting looks neater and more legible than others - particularly thin nibs seem good for me for some reason - but it might be worth rounding up a range of different pens and trying them out.

Spendless

AlexLK wrote: »

Spendless: to be quite honest, I do not see the need for any "special devices". Have a good look at how he holds the pen, if it doesn't look "right" it probably isn't.

I know he doesn't hold the pen right. He grasps it at the bottom in a sort of 'clench'. I don't know how to describe it. He knows he doesn't hold his pen in the correct way, as it was him that brought it to my attention when he was 11.

Blu-tac we have in and it's just a simple thing to try to see if it helps at all. If it doesn't we're in no worse a position than we currently are.

Humphrey10

I had individual handwriting lessons when I was at primary school. My handwriting was so bad they thought I was left handed - I was asked "would you like to hold the pen with your left hand? Do Mummy and Daddy tell you to hold the pen with your right hand?" !
A fountain pen was the solution, as well as being shown how to hold a pen properly. I used one of those triangular pen grips before I got the fountain pen but I don't remember how much it helped.

I second the suggestion of a calligraphy set. The ones with multiple nibs with notches in are the most fun.

btw as it turns out, the reason my handwriting is so pants (and it takes so long) is dyspraxia (diagnosed in my mid-twenties). If this is the problem Spendless it will help your son to get it diagnosed.

barbiedoll

I've always had terrible handwriting, my mum has ripped up birthday cards that I had written to relatives, because they were so messy. Fountain pens were my worst nightmare, I was one of those kids who always had ink all over their hands, clothes and exercise books!

I did end up teaching myself calligraphy and I have written out many wedding invitations and greetings cards. But I have to write all day for my job and by the time I have finished a side of A4, my writing has deteriorated to the point of illegibility.

The comment about intelligence and bad handwriting certainly rings a bell with me. My boss's handwriting is worse than mine (as she freely admits), the doctors and pharmacists are pretty bad, worst of all are the consultants....and they have the most expensive pens!

OP, tell your son to learn to print, that's what I do if I have to fill in a form. It doesn't have to be capitals, I print in lowercase which is still a lot more readable than my actual handwriting (although not by much) If he's going for a career in medicine, poor handwriting won't hold him back!

pollypenny

aileth wrote: »

Maybe he's just really bright, some of the most intelligent people are known for having awful handwriting! Doctors are renowned for it. I've also seen tonnes of Judge's handwriting and it looks like they're holding the pen with a clubbed first and scrawling all over !

But when those doctors were in school, I bet they had good clear, if not beautiful, handwriting.

All my ex-pupils who did medicine had good writing.

It's a skill to practice, like any other.