Ideas to help an older child learn to write

iammumtoone

Corelli - thank you so much I have ordered a used version of the book, £5 from the states it will take a few weeks to get here but will be worth the wait it looks like there are loads of great ideas in there.

theoretica - yes he can type he loves computers however he still needs to be able to write. I do intend to teach him to touch type as I think this would help every child and cannot believe they don't teach it as standard in schools. The handwriting needs to come first though. I also like the idea of all requests having to be written down.

Mojisola

What are the school doing to help him?

tyllwyd

Have you got a drawing tablet for his pc/laptop? This kind of thing -
http://www.johnlewis.com/wacom-intuos-pen-small-graphic-tablet-and-pen/p1203222?sku=233162568&kpid=233162568&s_kenid=22c6a2ea-c408-b409-72a9-000055218522&s_kwcid=402x21092&tmad=c&tmcampid=73&kpid=233162568

tyllwyd

(...carrying on from the previous post because I cant seem to add to it)


... They can be quite fiddly to learn how to use so it might be a complete non-starter, but if he likes it, it might be a bit more interesting trying to write on screen rather than on paper. Actually, perhaps a better idea would be a tablet with a stylus, so it relates more closely to writing on paper.

no.1swimmum

He could have Disgraphia - my youngest son (now 19 and about to start Uni) had similar problems, even now his writing is not brilliant but he has had quite a bit of help at college over the last 3 years, didn't get much help at school at all, I realise now that I should have pushed a bit harder for more help, he has come on leaps and bounds whilst at college, probably because he was studying a subject close to his heart, and had a lot of help after some of his exam results were disappointing.

At primary school he really struggled with anything that involved writing, his reading was above average. I had him assessed for dyslexia and although they found that he did not have it the lady was the first to mention dysgraphia, but even then the school didn't take it on board. Try having a look here https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/understanding-dysgraphia you might find that even if its not the reason for your sons issue with writing but you might get some ideas to help him. Good Luck.

Sezzagirl

I noticed this range of educational books in a supermarket "Back to School" section yesterday. There are others too - maths I think?


I didn't look too closely as my boys are too old for these books now but I did think what a fab range for boys and girls who like a bit of adventure with their learning.


Maybe this might interest him?




http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1407162829?keywords=star%20wars%20education%20books&qid=1437564684&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2

pinkshoes

Does he like writing rude words?

Or could he help you plan the weekly food menu by writing it? (You would have to allow him to have input on what you eat though!)

Or would a BIG reward for some learning help? E.g. If he completes 10 minutes of writing a day for 4 months, you will take him and a friend to somewhere really exciting? find him some hilarious, rude and crude poems to copy out? Encourage him to write his own about you??

Nan63

We got my grandson interested by using his interests. He loves football so it was all about writing out the players names in his favourite team, writing down the results, writing down his 'dream team', names of stadiums etc etc . It didn't work overnight but it certainly made a difference to his attitude and willingness give it a go. He will be 9 in November and we started this late last year. He'll never win prizes for neatness but his writing has come on in leaps and bounds over the past year. Good luck OP!

Fireflyaway

I got my child to practice writing by not letting on what I was trying to do or she would resist! I casually wrote her notes and she wrote back! You can also get crayons that write in the bath. I know he is 9 but my daughter still likes them and she is similar in age. The other thing is suggest he writes a story about something that interests him or could you get him a penpal? Its fun to receive letters and photos and if he strikes up a friendship that could encourage him?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Have you tried more than one colour paper? Some people like writing on blue, some on yellow, that kind of thing.

You could try seeing whether he gets on better with marker pens, washable sharpie type pens, nice broad barrels, that kind of thing. I'd also try an old fashioned chalk board.

Some kids hate it because they have hypermobile joints and holding the pencil hurts their fingers, so a thick marker might be easier to hold, some hate the sensation of a pencil scratching on paper.


To give an idea, I hated handwriting at school. Detested it. Despised it. I was good at art but hated having to make letters in exactly the same way, make them keep within little lines, it was about as imaginative as watching a brick to see whether it did something interesting.

Whilst I have good adult handwriting, that only developed once a new teacher said I could write any way I liked with whatever pen or pencil I liked. He took the idea of failure away and I could just let my thoughts flow.

Nowdays, at school, I hate using whiteboards. They're too slippery, they squeak and they're too bright in their whiteness. So my boss got the tiny whiteboard in my office removed and the entire wall painted in blackboard paint. So there's no restriction to my thoughts and plans and everything is in colours that pop out of the wall - and there are lots of kids coming into the office that say they wish their classrooms had the same because it's easier to read and understand.

I'd also suggest encouraging him to draw, as that will help develop fine motor skills away from the thing he's finding difficult. Think BIG. Think messy, think bright.

It's not just a 'boy' thing. Plenty of people dislike formal handwriting - and being forced to do it at home can make it worse, but taking a sideways approach can help.