Handwriting

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Handwriting

• Beth Anne May, OTR/L
• Occupational Therapist

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What is Occupational Therapy?

• OT is the use of purposeful fine motor activities
  to facilitate a childs active participation in
  self-maintenance, academic pursuits and play that
  occur in the school environment.

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Occupational Therapy in the School
SystemVSOccupational Therapy in a Medical
Model
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OT Treatment in the School

• Handwriting
• Self-help Skills
• Cutting
• Play Skills
• Feeding
• Sensory Integration

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OT Medical Model

• Strengthening
• Stretching
• Exercises
• Endurance
• Life Skills

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Common Handwriting Problems and Solutions
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Problems Solutions

• Pencil Grasp
• The optimal pencil grasp is known as the tripod
  grasp.

• Pencil grip for proper finger placement

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Problems Solutions

• Child does not space between words

• Use a stamp pad and have a child stamp their
  fingers between each word.
• You can also use candy, stickers, or a tongue
  depressor.

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Problems Solutions

• Child writes too hard

• Practice coloring objects in various shades of
  color
• Try a mechanical pencil
• Put paper over Styrofoam

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Problems Solutions

• Child writes too soft

• Practice coloring objects dark
• Pencil grips
• Weighted pencil grips

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Problems Solutions

• Child writes with an open hand or fingers straight

• Place a small sponge or a marble in the last two
  fingers of the childs hand.

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Problems Solutions

• Child doesnt stabilize paper with other hand

• Clipboard
• Tape paper
• Name the childs helper hand

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Problems Solutions

• Child holds pencil too close or too far away from
  the tip

• Wrap a small rubber band around the area where
  the fingers should be placed
• On traditional pencils remind them to hold the
  pencil where the paint ends

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Problems Solutions

• Awkward letter formations

• Teach your child Magic C letters first
• Demonstrate letters
• Use a variety of media

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• ALWAYS REMEMBER
• Your child has many strengths and is working to
  develop their areas of weakness. We are all here
  to help them realize their strengths and acquire
  the skills to overcome their weaknesses.

Thanks for your participation!