robsiew Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 My ds has fine motor issues. Writing is quite difficult and it's no where near "neat". I'm wondering for those kids who have a hard time with printing, does starting cursive ease things up at all? I'm trying to figure out if I should try cursive with him or if that's going to just be another frustrating thing. My ds is currently in the process of being diagnosed with either Asperger's, NLD or both.. we're not sure yet, if that helps at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Yes, many/most OTs recommend cursive rather than printing for fine motor problems because it's easier not to have to keep picking the pencil up off the paper, plus letter reversals aren't an issue. My ds with the most fine motor difficulties started cursive in K and did quite well (he's in school). Now both his cursive and his print are neater than mine ;) (don't get too excited; that doesn't say a whole lot :D). The only downside is the difference in reading cursive letters vs print in books, though that didn't seem to affect my ds at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 My ds has fine motor issues. Writing is quite difficult and it's no where near "neat". I'm wondering for those kids who have a hard time with printing, does starting cursive ease things up at all? I'm trying to figure out if I should try cursive with him or if that's going to just be another frustrating thing. My ds is currently in the process of being diagnosed with either Asperger's, NLD or both.. we're not sure yet, if that helps at all. I agree with Wapiti. Our OT taught my dd cursive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachmejoy Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 I did educational therapy years ago, trained by the National Institute of Learning Disabilities and we used cursive exclusively. It really does make a difference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsiew Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Thanks Ladies... maybe we'll give it a try. I've used HWT with my kids... is there a certain type that's easier for kids? I have a CD with several different fonts on it so I have some choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 My son had a terrible time with printing. He was able to do it, but he had to think about the formation of each letter. Partway through 3rd grade or at the beginning of 4th, I began teaching him cursive and it's made all the difference for him. He is in 5th now and he can write almost as fast as he can think in cursive. He still isn't fluent in print. His handwriting isn't beautiful, but it is legible. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 I would start work from a whiteboard or a chalkboard, it is easier than starting on paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsiew Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 I would start work from a whiteboard or a chalkboard, it is easier than starting on paper. That's a really good idea! Thanks! I asked him today if he'd like to start cursive and he got really excited. That's half the battle with introducing something new to him.... anyway. I will take this advice and start with the board. I know he will like that. Thank you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 That's a really good idea! Thanks! I asked him today if he'd like to start cursive and he got really excited. That's half the battle with introducing something new to him.... anyway. I will take this advice and start with the board. I know he will like that. Thank you!!! You're welcome! I learned that the hard way, on my guinea pig. I tried 3 or 4 different cursive programs with my daughter with no success and many tears. I e-mailed Don Potter and he told me to try the chalkboard. (He's a chalkboard guy. I prefer the whiteboard.) My son got the whiteboard first and he is doing great!! I do one letter at a time until they can make the letters well, then work on joins and 2 and 3 letter words, then longer words. When they can write anything well on the white board, they get to try paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Handwriting Without Tears, made this mama stop crying :) Seriously, a miracle!!! Third grade is what you want .... and the Teacher's book. For under $20 my life... was good :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 It helped Calvin: we dropped printing and used HWT cursive. It eased things considerably. I wouldn't describe his writing as neat, but it's mostly legible. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsiew Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 I'm so glad to hear success stories! Rylan has been begging for sheets! (I'm going to use HWT, but I'm making them myself because I have a CD with that font on it). He had NO interest in the white board (which really surprised me) so we'll try the sheets. I'm making them with large lines and not much on a page so he has a better chance of success. If that doesn't work I'll move him to the board. With him I have to run with what he wants to try... otherwise I get NOWHERE real fast! :glare: Thanks everybody! Hopefully we'll have our own success story soon! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I'm so glad to hear success stories! Rylan has been begging for sheets! (I'm going to use HWT, but I'm making them myself because I have a CD with that font on it). He had NO interest in the white board (which really surprised me) so we'll try the sheets. I'm making them with large lines and not much on a page so he has a better chance of success. If that doesn't work I'll move him to the board. With him I have to run with what he wants to try... otherwise I get NOWHERE real fast! :glare: Thanks everybody! Hopefully we'll have our own success story soon! :001_smile: Hi Robyn, Not to be a downer, but I don't think this will be the same. Part of the success is HOW the book is written with the instructions for how to write each letter. Also, each letter has "one to trace... one to do" which makes is so you are always back to a correct on.... every other letter.. I would really advise you to consider biting the bullet and purchasing the books. I have the font, too... it's just not the same... Just my thoughts.. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsiew Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 Hi Robyn, Not to be a downer, but I don't think this will be the same. Part of the success is HOW the book is written with the instructions for how to write each letter. Also, each letter has "one to trace... one to do" which makes is so you are always back to a correct on.... every other letter.. I would really advise you to consider biting the bullet and purchasing the books. I have the font, too... it's just not the same... Just my thoughts.. :) Well, I have the 2nd cursive book (and my kids have been through the printing) so I've been using the order of letters and how they are formed from the 2nd cursive book. I would use it, but the lines are just too small right now for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 My ds still prefers to write in print, but his cursive is MUCH neater. It looks totally normal and average neatness. His printing still looks like a young grade school child's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abc123mom Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Just adding agreement with other responders. We have used HWT for my ds and it is really great. His cursive is legible and he actually enjoys doing it which is always a plus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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