Poor pencil control and what to do about it.

bedshaped

My dd (now 11 and at Senior school) got nagged to death at Primary school to hold her pens and pencils properly, but her handwriting has never been terrible. I just used to tell her that everyone is different and not to worry about it as long as she does her work and her writing was legible. I didn't encourage her to practice at home.

Your son probably gets angry and frustrated because the teachers are always telling him he's doing it wrong.

Let's face it who wouldn't get angry and frustrated if they were told they were doing something wrong all the time??

Is it possible to have a word with the teacher (if you haven't already) and tell her how upset he is getting about it? If the teacher is making a big deal of it in front of other children it could mean he'll get stick off the other kids for being 'different' - the same goes for buying him special pencils etc.. of course it's entirely up to you what you do but I thought I would add my personal experience and thoughts.

Keeping_Positive

At four he has plenty of time to learn. My middle child was one of the youngest in the class and was just not ready to start learning writing/reading etc. It took until the latter half of year one before she was ready and now is doing well. Before it would be a nightmare trying to get her to concentrate or try anything. She is still behind but way better than she was (proud mummy :j )

Give him the opportunity to draw/write but dont force because if he's anything like mine they just dig their heals in! You dont want him to think school is a battleground.

Ive just been told Im holding my youngest up by not letting him join the library like all the others - hes only 5 :eek: !

Mrs_B_12

He's only 4, same as my youngest and he has only just started to take an interest in picking up a pencil and colouring in outside of school. Don't worry, he had plenty of time to learn, that's why he goes to school isn't it? I could understand the teacher mentioning it if he was into year 1 at the same level but I think you shouldn't worry and just let him go at his own pace with it for now.

conradmum

My son is exactly the same. He has an August birthday and just started Reception this year. He's never been remotely interested in colouring in and doesn't like writing either. I think it's because his efforts look so bad and he feels frustrated that they don't come out the way he wants them to.
I got him some stencils so that he could see a reasonable result for his efforts. His teacher has been very supportive too. He was very pleased to receive a 'Pupil of the Week' certificate for 'trying very hard to write his name.' I would be very careful not to make an issue of it if it's upsetting him. He'll get there eventually.

benood

Our children really love aquadraw - it's a special sheet which you can use a water filled pen to draw on, but once it dries the picture vanishes ready for a new drawing. You can get a Thomas version which has an engine which follows a line you draw - might be a good way to inject some fun into drawing. It seems to me like your son has a block and encouragement will have a negative effect so you'll need to be a bit crafty.

Don't worry too much though - our middle son didn't get on too well in reception but is blossoming now - reception was too much playing and not enough structure for him.

quietheart

Your poor boy under all this scrutiny at school and he's only 4 - it drives me mad! When my first son was in reception school got occupational therapy in and he would be taken out of class for special sessions which basically involved colouring in a picture with a heavy black outline. not sure what it was meant to achieve.... if his grip stays weak using toys like threading cotton reels etc are good for the small motor movements.
Let your boy do the things he enjoys and tell school to take a chill pill!

Mrs._Irwin

I had terrible handwriting as a child, still do, and I've always been quite conscious of it. These things can be spun out of all proportion in a little one's mind. It's easy to spend too much time on something they're not very good at, at the expense of something they are good at, therefore they think they're rubbish, because all they do is things they're rubbish at.
If he's upset when he's asked to hold a pencil/crayon etc. how about forgetting the tool for a while, and paint with fingers, make things out of clay, get some confidence in his dexterity without the pressure of having to hold something.
I stopped worrying so much about my handwriting when I realised how good I was at reading, spelling, grammar etc. It's what you write that counts, and manual dexterity improves with practice, which he'll do when it's not being dissected.

Mrs. Irwin

Rachie_B

poppyscorner wrote: »

Hi all,

Have been to a curriculum evening at DS1's school its a bit like a parents evening but where the teacher talks to the parents as a whole group rather than 1 -1 conversation however at the end of the session she came over to say she was concerned about DS as he has very poor pencil control we do sit down with him at home but he refuses point blank to colour in draw write etc and tbh it is not something I have pushed as he is reception year and still 4 yrs old so I did not think its a major issue as yet.

If we try and get him to do this he gets very cross and will shout usually out of frustration so how do I do anything about it or more so do I need to be doing anything about it any one got any ideas thanks xx

Edited to add.. He loves reading and I can get him to sit reading for ages with his reading books and games etc he loves puzzles but give him a pencil and he hates it.

oh bless him,he has just started reception and is very little still !!

i wouldnt make a big thing of it,many children dont know how / dont like to do "formal" writing / drawing at that age!

fab idea about the aqua draw / mega sketcher type things

Nenen

It's a well known 'fact' that all doctors have illegible handwriting... perhaps you should mention to your ds's teacher he wants to be a brain surgeon and so needs to maintain this skill! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

On a more serious note.... Stereotypically little boys do develop fine motor skills later than girls but I doubt if the teacher (unless she is really odd) isn't aware of this fact. I always have a huge dilema over handwriting issues (and I have to admit a professional interest as I'm a teacher myself) as my dh has the most awful handwriting I've ever seen and yet is highly academic/well qualified... so it hasn't held him back! Yet I know many people (parents and teachers) set great store by presentation and handwriting. I must admit I am on one extreme end of the handwriting continuum (in my lack of emphasis upon it) and many teachers and parents disagree with me!

Personally, I am much more concerned with the quaility of the content of what a child has written than the handwriting (as long as it is actually legible and easy for the child to maintain joined flow by a reasonable age... 8-10 yrs). Even in English exams (SATs and GCSEs) handwriting counts for a very low propertion of marks. However, I have been severely critisised by a few parents (and occasionally colleagues) for taking this approach as many parents just look at the presentation of work and think that the ones that look the best are actually the best pieces of work. Just to add to my problems, I've never been a big fan of colouring in either... too many memories of being bored witless being made to do this at school myself. :eek:

In my experience, too many children waste endless time in some schools doing this (although far far less nowdays then 10-20 years ago). I try, with my Y3 class, to ensure they are all capable of colouring in reasonably and once I know they have that skill they only ever do it for something special/going on the wall (unless they choose to do it because they enjoy it).

Going back to handwriting, I feel with the ever-increasing use of computers handwriting is becoming less and less important... I guess the skills of handwriting with pens and pencils will one day be as obselete as using a quill and ink to do copper plate and illustrated letters is today!

Having said all that, it could be that your ds's teacher has a genuine concern. Is your son young in year (July or August birthday)? Do you notice a big difference between his fine motor control and that of his male peers? Personally, I'd make an appointment to go and discuss this further with his teacher and try and establish how much of a problem she really thinks it is. Several posters have denigrated the teacher for suggesting something amiss at such a young age but, if there is a really significant problem then the sooner this is rectified the better. As a pp said, once a poor grip is established it is almost impossible to break and, whilst I agree that people do vary as individuals, the 'correct' grip is encouraged as it is the most ergonomic for writing for extended periods (particularly important in exams until such time as every child does all these on computer).

If your son does have a problem with fine motor control it is important you find ways of improving this without upseting him and making him feel a failure... several PPs have made excellent suggestions already. I'd add to those: tracing (you can get some lovely little books with alternate pages of tracing paper and pictures which make it easier for little ones as the tracing paper doesn't move out of place), anything 'fiddly' ... playing with little Lego pieces etc, using a computer mouse for drawing pictures (use the 'Paint' program in the accessories of MS), icing and decorating cakes or biscuits, playing with sand... the list is endless!

Having said I don't put too much store by handwriting... I'm now going to contradict myself (told you I had a dilema)! The most frustrated children I see in school are the ones who are very bright orally but find it very difficult to express themselves on paper as they find writing so laborious and tedious. Their hand cannot keep up with their brain... they know full well they are under-performing compared to their own ability and also to the performance of others (sign of a bright child IMHO) and they get extremely furstrated. Obviously they are usually male! So, if there is anything you can do to help your son develop his fine motor control in a fun way that doesn't put him off altogether I'd say give it a try!
One last thing... as he gets older, if the problem persists, you could try reading him a book by Anne Fine called 'How to Write Really Badly' ... most children (and adults too) find it hilarious!
Good luck!

Annie021063

I am a trainee teacher and work in school as a Teaching Assistant. We work with those children who have poor pencil control by doing the following:

• Plenty of handwriting practise - instead of always using pre printed letter sheets try getting them to write out jokes - challenge them to make it legible so we can read it to class, children love a challenge.
• Set child up with a small tray that's their own and fill it with things they can do whilst sitting on the carpet, like cutting drawn shapes out, finger strengthening activities such as playing with large ball of Blu Tac, give them a large peg to squeeze between thumb and other 4 fingers in turn.

Most children who have poor pencil control also have weak hands and some of the above exercises help to strengthen their muscles. It's working for us in school and I hope it helps you too.