Handwriting

Correct letter formation - the best option is to catch the opportunity when your child first begins to take an interest in writing.  

It takes 40 repetitions for the formation of a letter to become automatic. It takes 2,000 repetitions to change it. Therefore, when you notice your child is interested in writing sit with them for 5 minutes at a time making sure they form each letter correctly. 

Separate handwriting from everything else until about 12 years of age at which time handwriting is likely to become easier and neater for your child/ren. If the purpose of an activity is understanding content, structuring excellent sentences or using new vocabulary (or anything other than a specific activity for handwriting) then offer to write for your child, or let it be messy and guilt free. 

For more information about this see the details in Can I Write for my Child?

When you want to provide the opportunity for your child/ren to practise their handwriting ensure they are “writing with purpose” i.e. a shopping list to purchase ingredients, a note to let someone know when they’ll be home, a birthday card for a friend or a poster for their bedroom door. 

If your child is older or you would like something more structured we recommend: 

• Our Creative Spelling and Animalia Core Programs. These include handwriting in the form of copywork and writing activities where legibility is important because of the purpose of the activity. This is an organic way to learn handwriting, and it is often enough. 
• Handwriting Without Tears  - this is the best handwriting program we know. 
• WETDRYTRY App – this is free from the App Store  

A note about pencil grip: Pencil grip matters to the extent that it is about being comfortable and functional. There’s no one correct way that everyone must hold a pencil.  

It doesn’t matter if you don’t really write much until High School. They only really need to conquer four things, and they are based on consistency - size, shape, slope, placement (being able to write in a straight line). These skills are included in Animalia.