Handwriting
Handwriting is the ability to write letters and numbers using a pen or pencil.
Factors that affect handwriting
Handwriting is a higher level skill that involves many areas of development. If your child is having difficulty with handwriting, check the following areas to determine where the break down is occurring:
- Motor Skills - Motor planning and fine motor control is required for handwriting.
- Vision - Vision is important for eye-hand coordination and typically directs our motor performance.
- Postural Control - Children who do not have a strong base of support may have difficulty with handwriting.
- Upper-extremity Strength - Upper extremity strength can affect your child's ability to perform handwriting tasks, which require dexterity and precision.
- Visual-motor Skills - visual motor skills involve the ability to coordinate what the eyes see, and reproduce that information into written form.
- Visual Perception - Visual perception is the ability to understand similarities and differences between forms. Visual perception is related to the size, shape, direction, and position of letters.
- Auditory Processing - Auditory processing difficulties can make it difficult to write if your child has difficulty remembering which letter makes which sound.
- Memory - Memory can affect your child's ability to write. Your child may have difficulty remembering how to form the letters, sequence letters, and attend the finer details involved with handwriting.