You want your child to practice handwriting. As difficult as it may be to find the time, handwriting practice is beneficial for various reasons. It helps strengthen fine motor skills and cognitive skills. It helps build up your child’s confidence down the road in their creative writing abilities.
When you have your child spend less time focusing on letter neatness and formation, they can start writing more efficiently, creatively and effectively. And even though technology is advancing and becoming more required these days, children still should learn how to write effectively.
While simply practicing handwriting is important and a great place to start, you should try to throw in some creative handwriting practice now and then, so they stay interested. Here you’ll learn five fun ways of practicing handwriting this winter.
1. Change Writing Utensils Up
Practicing handwriting with pencils all the time can become boring. Instead, have your child use a crayon or marker to make more colorful writing. Or, eliminate the writing utensil altogether and have them practice letter formation in salt or shaving cream using their finger.
2. Try Name Art
Having your child start practicing with their name first is a great starting point. This is because their name should automatically spark their interest and is fun to write.
3. Use LEGO Letters
Spell out letters using LEGOs. Your child can spell words with LEGO bricks and start seeing the letters’ shapes (some have a “tail”, some are tall, etc.)
4. Write a Letter to their Friend
Receiving a letter in the mail can be fun. Have your child write to a friend or find a pen pal where they can write letters back and forth to one another. Not only will they be strengthening their friendship, but they’ll also be able to practice their handwriting.
5. Work with Bendy Sticks
Bendy sticks are a great activity for handwriting and spelling since children can use the lined template for placing Wikki Stix or Bendaroos into the proper position before they copy it on their own paper.
Handwriting can be more than just a pencil to paper. You can make it an experience by letting your child move their whole body. Children under six years old tend to learn better through the use of their hands to experience and explore the world around them. There will be plenty of time for a pencil and paper later. You can also start them in pediatric occupational therapy to have them learn through moving and develop their fine motor skills.