Handwriting is a complex activity that involves lots of underlying skills before we can expect a child to be successful at it!
Expectations and demands on our little ones are growing, and handwriting skills are no exception! Expecting a 4 year old to pick up a pencil currently and write their letters is just not an age-appropriate skill!
Building Blocks that need to be in place before handwriting can take place:
Pre-writing skills
Hand grasp/pencil grasp development
Postural control
Fine motor control - this includes pincer grasp and in-hand manipulation skills
Bilateral coordination
Visual-motor integration and visual perception
Motor planning
Proprioception - awareness of where the fingers are in space in particular
Sustained attention
The best way to set your child up for future handwriting success is play! Basic play items such as blocks, crayons, paper, painting supplies and play dough will all work on the development of the building blocks required for handwriting success! Have your child help out in the kitchen with you and make crafts together!
When reading the developmental milestones for each group below, please remember that children all develop differently - some will be able to do the activities mentioned before, some after. Please don't feel the pressure to tick of each milestone!
Development of Handwriting 2-3 years old
Can string 4 large beads onto a piece of string - 29 months
Imitates horizontal line on paper - 29 months
Can Copy a vertical line - 36 months
Digital Pronate Grasp develops (fingers and thumb grasping a writing utensil with fingers and thumbs facing the writing tip of the utensil) - 24-36 months.
Development of Handwriting 3-4 years old
Cuts a piece of paper in half - 36 months
Copies prewriting lines of vertical, horizontal and circle shapes - 36 months
Can unbutton large buttons - 36 months
Imitates bilateral movements of the limbs (e.g. arms up together) - 36 months
Begins to imitate a cross shape - 41 months
Static Quadrupod Grasp begins to develop - 36-48 months
Static Tripod Grasp begins to develop - 36-48 months
Can touch the top of each finger to their thumb - 48 months.
Development of Handwriting 4-5 years old
Can draw a person with at least 3 different body parts - 48 months
Can copy colour and shape patterns with blocks or beads - 53 months
Can copy a cross shape - 54 months
Begins to imitate a square shape and left/right diagonal lines - 54 months
Can join a series of dots together to make a simple drawing - 59 months
Can cut a large circle and square with scissors - 59 months
Static tripod and quadrupod grasp continues to develop - 59 months.
Development of Handwriting 5-6 years old
Can copy a square and diagonal line - 5 years
Begins to imitate an X and Triangle shape - 5 years
Can draw a person with 6 or more body parts - 5-5.5 years
Can begin to write numerals 1 through to 5 - 5-5.5 years
Copies X and Triangle shape - 5.5 - 6 years
Can print their name with uppercase and lower case letters - 5.5 - 6 years
Remember, the best way to develop these skills and provide your child with a strong foundation for handwriting success is to PLAY!
Think your child may benefit from an Occupational Therapy Assessment to better understand their handwriting and fine motor skills?
Contact Ashlee on 0477 190 111 or at ashlee@ssts.com.au
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