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I am looking for websites with printable handwriting guides. Any ideas?

19 replies

tortoise · 23/08/2008 21:13

DS2 is nearly 9. His hand writing is absolutly awful!
He needs a lot of help to improve it or it will drive his next teacher mad!

Are there any websites with printable hand writing help sheets?

Or would it be better to get this?

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mrz · 23/08/2008 21:26

Try these you can choose different styles and sizes.

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tortoise · 23/08/2008 21:36

Thanks. That looks good.

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spongebrainbigpants · 24/08/2008 17:49

tortoise, I would ask his teacher first if possible. It's always best to get something that complements what they're learning at school if you can so he doesn't get confused.

I used to be a primary teacher and most of the boys in my class drove me mad with their handwriting - they're just generally not as bothered about presentation as the girls IME!

Good luck!

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Fizzylemonade · 24/08/2008 20:44

Agree with mrz, we used those as they had some from school (reception year) and they had left the web address on the bottom.

We were advised to write stuff like his name because he was 4 1/4 but with your son you could write sentences or specific letters over and over, then laminate them!!!! They can write over the top using a wipe board pen which flows better than any pencil or pen. It means you can use them again and again or just print them.

Laminator was £20. You can get them in Tesco, Staples etc and then buy the laminator pouches.

To practice you can get him to do the curves and basic stuff like this (same site) this this is what my son started with.

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Feenie · 24/08/2008 20:52

This site is good for going over correct letter formation.

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Califrau · 24/08/2008 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChairmanMiao · 24/08/2008 21:10

Handwriting site

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desperatehousewifetoo · 24/08/2008 21:20

Have added to my watched threads too. Thanks.

Although my ds might not think they are so interesting!!

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mrz · 25/08/2008 13:50

As a reception teacher I would suggest exercises to strengthen hands / fingers /shoulder girdle to make writing easier. Lots of children (especially boys) actually find writing painful. I'm sure youv'e heard the "my hand hurts" cry why asking your child to write.

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tortoise · 25/08/2008 19:11

Thanks mrz. What sort of exercises would help?

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desperatehousewifetoo · 25/08/2008 21:04

tortoise, my ds had ot last summer because of poor handwriting. The sorts of things he had to do to strengthen fingers and hand were:

popping bibble wrap between index finger and thumb.

hiding marbles in playdoh/plasticine and dc has to get them all out.

ripping thin card into tiny pieces using only index fingers and thumbs.

rolling tissue paper into balls using index finger and thumb.

wheelbarrows - hold dcs legs and they walk along on hands.

walking like a crab - lie on floor, tummy facing ceiling, lift up onto hands and legs and 'walk' across floor pushing tummy upwards.

She also recommended usig squared paper for writing. With squares about 1/2cm large. Use a new square for each letter. This helps with spacing and getting even sized letters.

I'm sure mrz has loads of other suggestions (I'd like to hear any) but in meantime, hth.

They are all quite fun things

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tortoise · 25/08/2008 21:07

thank you, they sound great.

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mrz · 25/08/2008 21:15

Sorry bit of a long post

Upright working surfaces promote fine motor skills. Examples of these are: vertical chalkboards; easels for painting; flannel boards; lite bright; magnet boards (or fridge); windows and mirrors; white boards, etc. Children can also make sticker pictures; do rubber ink-stamping; use reuseable stickers to make pictures; complete puzzles with thick knobs; use magna-doodle and etch-a-sketch as well. The benefits for these include: having the child's wrist positioned to develop good thumb movements; they help develop good fine motor muscles; the child is using the arm and shoulder muscles.

Rolling play dough into tiny balls (peas) using only the finger tips.

Cutting play dough with a plastic knife or with a pizza wheel by holding the implement in a diagonal volar grasp.

Tearing newspaper into strips and then crumpling them into balls

Scrunching up 1 sheet of newspaper in one hand. This is a super strength builder.

Using a plant sprayer to spray plants, (indoors, outdoors) to spray snow (mix food colouring with water so that the snow can be painted), or melt "monsters". (Draw monster pictures with markers and the colours will run when sprayed.)

Picking up objects using large tweezers such as those found in the "Operation" game. This can be adapted by picking up Cheerios, small cubes, small marshmallows, pennies, etc., in counting games.

Turning over cards, coins, or buttons, without bringing them to the edge of the table.

The following activities ought to be done frequently to increase postural muscle strength and endurance. These activities also strengthen the child's awareness of his hands.
Wheelbarrow walking, crab walking

Clapping games (loud/quiet, on knees together, etc.)

Catching (clapping) bubbles between hands

Pulling off pieces of thera-putty with individual fingers and thumb

Drawing in a tactile medium such as wet sand, salt, rice, or "goop". Make "goop" by adding water to cornflour until you have a mixture similar in consistency to toothpaste. The "drag" of this mixture provides feedback to the muscle and joint receptors, thus facilitating visual motor control.

Picking out small objects like pegs, beads, coins, etc., from a tray of salt, sand, rice, or putty. Try it with eyes closed too. This helps develop sensory awareness in the hands.

The joints of the body need to be stable before the hands can be free to focus on writing.
Wheelbarrow walking, crab walking, and wall push-ups.
Toys: Orbiter, silly putty, and monkey bars on the playground.


Fine Motor Skills
When a certain amount of body stability has developed, the hands and fingers begin to work on movements of dexterity and isolation as well as different kinds of grasps.

Children will develop fine motor skills best when they work on a VERTICAL or near vertical surface as much as possible. In particular, the wrist must be in extension. (Bent back in the direction of the hand)

Attach a large piece of drawing paper to the wall. Use a large marker and try the following exercises to develop visual motor skills: Make an outline of a one at a time. Trace over your line from left to right, or from to bottom. Trace each figure at least 10 times . Then have the child draw the figure next to your model several times.

Play connect the dots. Again make sure the child's strokes connect dots from left to right, and from top to bottom.


Work on a chalkboard, using chalk instead of a marker.

Paint at an easel.

Magna Doodle- turn it upside down so that the erasing lever is on the top . Experiment making vertical, horizontal, and parallel lines.

Ocular Motor Control
This refers to the ability of the eyes to work together to follow and hold an object in the line of vision as needed.

Use a flashlight against the ceiling. Have the child lie on his/her back or tummy and visually follow the moving light from left to right, to bottom, and diagonally.

Find hidden pictures in books.

Maze activities.

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tortoise · 25/08/2008 21:27

Thank you.
I will get him working on some of those. At least it is fun things which he should enjoy.
He loves monkey bars too and is very good at them. He does have a lot of upper body strength.

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mrz · 25/08/2008 21:33

Test to see if he can make windmills forwards and backwards with his arms outstretched that's a good indication of shoulder girdle development and touching each finger tip to the tip of the thumb on the same hand in order for finger control.
good luck

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mrz · 25/08/2008 21:34

much more fun that pages of handwriting

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tortoise · 25/08/2008 21:37

Have printed your post our to refer to tomorrow.
Will test windmills and fingers. He can do the finger one on the train tomorrow. That will keep him occupied. I expect the other 3 will try too!

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desperatehousewifetoo · 25/08/2008 21:53

Hama beads are quite good too.

I seem to remember ds having to draw spirals on a piece of paper on the wall (start small and get dc to keep wrist in same place as shape spirals out) and the same lying on stomach on floor to strengthen shoulders.

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tortoise · 25/08/2008 22:06

DS1 likes Hama beads. DS2 not so keen. But will see if i can get him to use them sometimes.

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