Handwriting difficulties come in so many different modes! There are children who hold their pencil ineffectively, to the student who has never developed the correct letter formation and now struggles to cope with legible written work, to poor line awareness and spatial awareness.

Occupational therapists help evaluate the underlying elements that encourage a student's handwriting, such as muscle strength, coordination, endurance, and motor control, and parents can encourage activities at home to support good handwriting skills.

What can an occupational therapist do?

• Illustrate proper posture to support the use of the hands, arms, eyes and head

• Evaluate a child's level of strength and endurance.

• Analyze fine motor control, such as the capacity to hold a pencil or other writing utensil

• Determine perceptual and visual ability that affects a child's ability to form letters

• Help promote and evaluate handwriting skills by collaborating with teachers

• Implement home activities that promote the improvement of skills needed to excel in handwriting.