Handwriting is a complex task and requires visual coordination, core strength, fine motor skills, hand strength, and more. If left underdeveloped, handwriting can become an issue later in academic life. A child struggling with handwriting may soon become frustrated and lose motivation or even start showing opposition towards writing tasks. However, early action ensures that their difficulties are addressed immediately and minimizes their progress at school.

How to Know if Your Child has Handwriting Difficulties?

Common difficulties from which your child may suffer during handwriting include:

• Difficulty remembering how to form letters or copying from a book or whiteboard.
• Poor spacing of letters and words.
• Difficulty writing correctly between the lines.
• Immature pencil grasp.
• Weak fine motor skills, hand strength, and dexterity.
• Unwillingness to complete written homework or other writing tasks.
• Excessive tiredness after short periods of writing.
• Sloppy or illegible handwriting.

These can all be signs that your child has handwriting difficulties.

What are the Causes of  Poor Handwriting?

Many different factors come into play when a child has trouble with handwriting. For example, a child must coordinate their eyes, hands, arms, body posture, pencil grip, and letter formation to write clearly. If they have difficulty in one or more of these areas, it can affect their writing ability.

The exact cause of these problems may differ from one child to another. For example, some children want to get their homework done, while it is just a matter of paying attention and slowing down. They may have handwriting difficulties because they struggle with visual-motor skills (processing what they see and then copying it on their paper). Or they may have a poor hand or grip strength, making it difficult to correctly hold the pencil or write for a more extended period, or have issues with posture. While other children can show more severe problems.

How Can an Occupational Therapist Help with a Child’s Handwriting Development?

Even with all the technology available today, handwriting is still a vital skill. Identifying difficulties early on can help correct them before more serious issues or bad habits develop. However, good handwriting takes time and practice.

Licensed occupational therapists provide one-on-one therapy sessions tailored to your child’s needs. An occupational therapist will assess several areas, including gross motor skills and fine motor skills such as postural and core support, hand and pinch strength, and cognitive and visual skills such as visual attention, concentration, visual-motor integration, and visual perception. Based on the assessment results, the occupational therapist creates a personalized treatment plan. This plan works on the individual issues your child is struggling with and supports them in overcoming obstacles, developing their skills, strengthening their muscles, and learning to form letters correctly.