• handwriting problems which can slow the writing process down so much that it is difficult to think and so write in sentences,
• spelling problems which will often restrict vocabulary used in writing to words that are easy to spell,
• poorly developed thinking and creativity skills which lead to difficulties in formulating ideas.

Handwriting Vs Finger-writing

Since most schools stopped teaching cursive writing in favour of the linked script style there has been less emphasis on teaching handwriting technique. Consequently, many children now hold their pens in an awkward manner, forcing them to use a technique called "finger-writing". Finger-writing is slower and more difficult to do than traditional handwriting. Visually, it often lacks style because the letters slope in different directions. And, even more seriously for the longer term, the hand gets tired quickly and so writing continuously for more than a few minutes becomes painful- a serious handicap when sitting for a 3 hour exam at matriculation level, or trying to take notes at university.

How to Hold the Pencil: Ideally, your child should be sitting upright, not hunched over the paper. The hand should be holding the pencil at an angle of about 60 degrees and using a 3 finger grip, 2-3cm from the tip. Discourage the use of biros because young children's hands are still too small to hold a biro at the correct angle - biros force them to hold the pen upright in order to get the ink flowing properly.

If your child is left-handed you need to be especially vigilant because left-handed children are not always taught the special techniques needed to compensate for the fact that they must push the pencil rather than pull it (like a right-handed person). The first thing to check is the slope of the letters- left-handed writers should slope their writing in the opposite direction to that of right-handed people. The 3 finger grip is still used, although the pen should be held in a slightly different way.

Long term habits are hard to break. So, if your child is not holding the pencil correctly, it is important to make the change as soon as possible. If your attempts to do this are not successful, it is likely that your child is writing with inappropriate wrist movements, or is sitting with poor posture.

Poor handwriting can also be a sign of other language problems. For example, poor writing is frequently used to cover up weaknesses in spelling or written expression. If this is the case, remedial action should be taken to fix these problems before attempting to change the handwriting style.

Do not let your attempts to help your child write better develop into a battle. This will lead to a negative attitude and so make the problems harder to fix later on. If your child can't make the changes you are asking for, contact us for an expert assessment so you can be sure of exactly what needs to be done.

With appropriate training and practice, it is possible to correct handwriting problems and develop a fast, legible handwriting style, in about 6 weeks.

Spelling

Poor spelling is usually a symptom of an underlying problem with reading, so working on spelling in isolation is usually a waste of time and effort. Indeed, it may even be counter-productive, because continued effort without any real success can increase feelings of inadequacy and lower confidence levels. If your child has a spelling problem have a diagnostic assessment done so that you can find out the cause of the problem, then work on the solution.

Story Writing

If your child is good at handwriting and spelling, yet still has problems writing down ideas, try using a tape recorder. Record what he/she has to say, then transpose from there. This way you are teaching your child to break up a complex process into simpler steps. If this approach does not work then we recommend a diagnostic assessment so the cause of the problem can be isolated.