Handwriting Intervention

  • Young boy smiling at a desk in a classroom, holding a pencil with a blue pencil case and a blue pen on the desk.

  • An OT can help with the following difficulties associated with handwriting:

    1. Holding a pencil in a functional grasp

    2. Controlling a pencil and hand eye coordination for letter formation

    3. Placing letters along the line

    4. Having consistent size of writing

    5. Supporting children who mix up capital and lower case letters

    6. Organising writing on the page such as starting at the margin and knowing when to start a new line

  • Poor handwriting can sometimes be associated with developmental disorders like Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Autistic Spectrum Conditions or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

    A child who struggles with handwriting may have the following underlying difficulties which need to be addressed during intervention:

    1. Reduced core body strength

    2. Reduced hand strength

    3. Difficulties isolating fingers to complete tasks

    4. Difficulties coordinating hand and finger movements

    5. Visual motor difficulties which can affect skills like remembering what letters look like or being able to translate an image of a letter into a motor action

  • Handwriting intervention typically includes posture work, fine motor warm ups and the practice of specific handwriting skills. It usually lasts 45 minutes followed by a 15 minute consultation with parents or school staff.

    Handwriting intervention can be completed at home or in school.

 
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