Callirobics are a distinct set of handwriting therapy exercises. This type of handwriting therapy consists of having your child practice simple writing patterns that are repetitive (curved and straight lines) along with listening to music. Your child is relaxed by the music and it also adds rhythm while they are practicing their exercises.
When you combine music with their exercises, it takes the “chore” out of practicing their penmanship and makes it fun. The music also benefits your child by allowing them to learn through auditory rather than visually. And, each of the exercises is only a couple minutes long.
How Does It Work?
When your child is consistently practicing their curved and straight line patterns, its training their eyes to stay focused on details and trains their hand to perform simple writing movement elements. They also get a better flow and rhythm with their writing by the accompanying music.
Because the activities in callirobics are brief, your child sees more success and they grasp tracing abstract shapes better. The music they perform the exercises with is appealing as well with songs like “London Bridge” or “Danny Boy.”
How Handwriting Therapy Can Benefit Your Child
Callirobics quickly and substantially improves your child’s handwriting, despite them never forming a single letter when they use the program. Callirobics can help any child who is having trouble with consistency in slant, formation and spacing, doesn’t like penmanship or just thinks they can’t do it. Other benefits may include:
- Offers sensory processing.
- Builds fine motor skills.
- Provides self-esteem, self-discipline and better work habits.
- Creates a fun and creative approach to handwriting practice.
- Provides fluent writing movement.
- Builds visual perceptual motor skills.
- Offers better hand-eye coordination.
- Provides a multi-sensory activity.
Callirobics programs are a helpful tool for parents, a pediatric occupational therapist, home-schooling, a speech pathologist, activity directors and special education professionals to apply to help children realize all of the above benefits and more.