3 Things Children Need For Proper Letter Formation

The development of handwriting is a complex task that requires motor skills, cognitive skills and neuromotor skills.  It is not always easy to identify exactly what piece of the “puzzle” is missing if a child is having difficulties with handwriting.  To start, keep in mind that children need the following skills to form letters correctly:

1.  a complete visual representation of the letter – Can the child accurately identify the letters that you are practicing?  Provide children with letter cards or alphabet charts for proper letter formation.  Check out Classroom Wall Cards and Alphabet Strips at   http://yourtherapysource.com/wallcards.html

2.  recognition of the line segments that form the letter – Can the child recognize horizontal, vertical and curved lines?  This skill requires cognitive skills, visual memory and visual spatial skills.  Practice pre-writing skills such as Black and White Lines for Pre-writing Practice at http://yourtherapysource.com/freeblackwhiteprewriting.html, Lines, Lines and More Lines at http://yourtherapysource.com/lines.html or Fading Lines and Shapes at http://yourtherapysource.com/fadinglinesshapes.html.

3.  the ability to reproduce the sequence and direction of the line segments to form the letters – When it comes to the act of handwriting can the child coordinate all the cognitive and motor skills needed to form letters?  Practice the proper formation of all the letters with Fading Alphabet  at http://yourtherapysource.com/fadingalphabet.html.  Provide visual representation of how the letters are formed with a Handwriting Station such as http://www.yourtherapysource.com/hwstation.html.

Reference:  Schickedanz JA (1999)Much More than the ABCs: The Early Stages of Reading and Writing.Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

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Lines, Lines and More Lines is a download of 24 task cards (12 full pages) to trace lines of
varying difficulty, 5 letter matching lines, 4 line racing games and 3 roll and draw games.  FInd out more at http://yourtherapysource.com/lines.html.