Handwriting Problems

Dyslexic children have problems in coordination resulting in learning disability. Dyslexic children have problems in handwriting as they have coordination problems. Assessing the handwriting will help in understanding the problems, if any. After assessing the problems in handwriting, parents and teachers should help the child so that ho overcomes the problems. Read on to get information on assessing and helping the dyslexic child with handwriting problems. Every parent and teacher wants the kids to have a neat and expressive written work. But more often than not, it has been found that children struggle a lot with how they write on paper. Both parents and teachers are here required to understand whether this is just a passing phase or it is a serious inability to write. If there is any doubt it is advisable to seek advice from a professional or handwriting expert. If it is ascertained that the problem borders on a disability, it is termed as a type of cognitive difficulty. This is a chain process where the child is so intent on how he is writing that the concentration shifts from what he is writing. So when their minds are buried deep in successfully imbibing the mechanics that they fail to concentrate on the assignment. As a result they soon develop this belief that they are very poor learners and their self-esteem bears the brunt. But it is important to note here that they are still very good learners due to the fact that their understanding skills are intact, it is only their reproduction is below the mark. In this articleSigns of Handwriting Problem in ChildrenAccommodate the ChildModify the SituationRemediate the childWriting Can be Improved with PracticeSigns of Handwriting Problem in ChildrenHere are a few signs that can help a teacher or a parent to determine whether the kid is having handwriting problem.His writing will be illegible irrespective of the fact whether the child was writing in a relaxed state of under a time control.The writing style will be inconsistent. It will be a jumbled mix of print, cursive, letters would be irregular shape, size and slants and also a mix of upper and lower cases.Words and letters can be randomly omitted and some words and letters will remain unfinished.There will not be a consistent space between the words and letters.As the grip is unusual in these cases, the positioning of the letters, numbers and words are inconsistent in relation to the lines and margins of the page.Due to a cramped grip, the child is prone to holding the pen or pencil too close to the paper or holds his thumb over his two fingers and writes from the wrist. This makes the writing process even more tedious. This will make his wrist, body and paper position appear weird. Similarly, the space between the words and letters are also inconsistent.You might also notice that the kid is talking to his self or/and intently watching his wrist and hand while he is writing. This is because; writing is a difficult task for him.Finally, the content that he puts down on paper will not be a reflection of his learning skills. Tips for Helping Child with Writing ProblemGiven below are the methods in which the child with writing problems can be helped. Accommodate the Child - As explained earlier, handwriting problems affect the child in a chain process. As you accommodate the child, the impact of his disability on his learning and the manner in which he expresses them will be less and thereby do a lot in easing out the difficulty.Modify the Situation - This requires altering the assignments and the expectations that the child is made to feel from the teachers and parents alike. This way the focus will be more on learning the content and his self-esteem will also stay protected. Remediate the child - First you need to know and learn the difficulties that the child with handwriting problems face and then offer them appropriate instructions on how they can improve. They should be given opportunities to learn and write. Writing Can be Improved with PracticeIt is an important skill that needs to be developed as it helps in remembering, organising and processing information effectively. So a student suffering from handwriting problems find exercising any of these aforementioned acts difficult. Students actually end up choosing the accommodation that suits them. Like, the one who does not find it difficult to write can work on the expressions and the manner in which he uses words in his assignment and the one who finds writing difficult will refrain from organising the concepts in the expected manner.

Every parent and teacher wants the kids to have a neat and expressive written work. But more often than not, it has been found that children struggle a lot with how they write on paper. Both parents and teachers are here required to understand whether this is just a passing phase or it is a serious inability to write. If there is any doubt it is advisable to seek advice from a professional or handwriting expert. If it is ascertained that the problem borders on a disability, it is termed as a type of cognitive difficulty.

This is a chain process where the child is so intent on how he is writing that the concentration shifts from what he is writing. So when their minds are buried deep in successfully imbibing the mechanics that they fail to concentrate on the assignment. As a result they soon develop this belief that they are very poor learners and their self-esteem bears the brunt. But it is important to note here that they are still very good learners due to the fact that their understanding skills are intact, it is only their reproduction is below the mark.

Signs of Handwriting Problem in Children

Here are a few signs that can help a teacher or a parent to determine whether the kid is having handwriting problem.

His writing will be illegible irrespective of the fact whether the child was writing in a relaxed state of under a time control.

The writing style will be inconsistent. It will be a jumbled mix of print, cursive, letters would be irregular shape, size and slants and also a mix of upper and lower cases.

Words and letters can be randomly omitted and some words and letters will remain unfinished.

There will not be a consistent space between the words and letters.

As the grip is unusual in these cases, the positioning of the letters, numbers and words are inconsistent in relation to the lines and margins of the page.

Due to a cramped grip, the child is prone to holding the pen or pencil too close to the paper or holds his thumb over his two fingers and writes from the wrist. This makes the writing process even more tedious. This will make his wrist, body and paper position appear weird.

Similarly, the space between the words and letters are also inconsistent.

You might also notice that the kid is talking to his self or/and intently watching his wrist and hand while he is writing. This is because; writing is a difficult task for him.

Finally, the content that he puts down on paper will not be a reflection of his learning skills.

Tips for Helping Child with Writing Problem

Given below are the methods in which the child with writing problems can be helped.

Accommodate the Child -

As explained earlier, handwriting problems affect the child in a chain process. As you accommodate the child, the impact of his disability on his learning and the manner in which he expresses them will be less and thereby do a lot in easing out the difficulty.

Modify the Situation -

This requires altering the assignments and the expectations that the child is made to feel from the teachers and parents alike. This way the focus will be more on learning the content and his self-esteem will also stay protected.

Remediate the child -

First you need to know and learn the difficulties that the child with handwriting problems face and then offer them appropriate instructions on how they can improve. They should be given opportunities to learn and write.

Writing Can be Improved with Practice

It is an important skill that needs to be developed as it helps in remembering, organising and processing information effectively. So a student suffering from handwriting problems find exercising any of these aforementioned acts difficult. Students actually end up choosing the accommodation that suits them. Like, the one who does not find it difficult to write can work on the expressions and the manner in which he uses words in his assignment and the one who finds writing difficult will refrain from organising the concepts in the expected manner.