Handwriting question

[busymotherof4]

I am an experienced Mom but my 5 year old is my first that I am teaching everything to. This make me a bit anxious. He is at the stage where he like to write random strings of letters all over a paper. Everything seems normal but he is all about just getting the letter on the page. Frequently he writes from bottom to top. I have tried correcting this but he wants no part in it. The others were sent to school so I never paid attention to how they wrote.

I have tried demonstration, having him trace with his finger (he will not do that), tracing letters (to him the point is making your letter look the best, not doing it the same each time)

He won't let me put my hand on the pencil at the same time.

So is this normal and something I should leave alone for another year or is he starting bad habits that I am going to regret not correcting? :confused:

[kristinannie]

Unlearning improper writing has been really hard for me with DS5. I would highly suggest getting a handwriting program and helping him learn how to correctly make each letter. I was using a ball and stick method program (CHC) and it was a disaster for us. Zaner Bloser is awesome. DS5 loves it. I sit with him while he does his handwriting lesson to make sure he is doing it right. It is the way I was taught so it is easy for me to teach that way. He still writes some letters improperly, but I don't worry about it except during handwriting class. I don't want him to stop writing just because he is scared about writing something incorrectly. I also purchased Startwrite software for about $30 so I can print out my own handwriting sheets of whatever he wants to write. He can trace the letters that way. He finds that fun.

 

I am sure that others will disagree with me, but it has been really hard for me to change the way DS5 writes since I let him write on his own for 2 years. His name is John Paul and I don't think he will ever make the J curve the right way!!! :banghead: I will be doing things differently with DD3!!!! I will also teach her how to write in lower case before upper case because DS5 always writes everything in uppercase.

[MerryAtHope]

Unlearning improper writing has been really hard for me with DS5. I would highly suggest getting a handwriting program and helping him learn how to correctly make each letter. I was using a ball and stick method program (CHC) and it was a disaster for us. Zaner Bloser is awesome. DS5 loves it. I sit with him while he does his handwriting lesson to make sure he is doing it right. It is the way I was taught so it is easy for me to teach that way. He still writes some letters improperly, but I don't worry about it except during handwriting class. I don't want him to stop writing just because he is scared about writing something incorrectly. I also purchased Startwrite software for about $30 so I can print out my own handwriting sheets of whatever he wants to write. He can trace the letters that way. He finds that fun.

 

I am sure that others will disagree with me, but it has been really hard for me to change the way DS5 writes since I let him write on his own for 2 years. His name is John Paul and I don't think he will ever make the J curve the right way!!! :banghead: I will be doing things differently with DD3!!!! I will also teach her how to write in lower case before upper case because DS5 always writes everything in uppercase.

 

I agree. As hard as it is to teach a child to write when they don't want to do it the correct way, it is even harder to help them relearn improper letter formation. And improper formation will slow them down later. You might try doing lessons together with a puppet or favorite stuffed animal or Rescue Hero or something. Have that creature learn how to do it too, and talk and participate in the lesson, make it fun and add some humor too if you can.

 

HWT has a song, to the tune of "When you're happy and you know it, Clap your hands," that goes, "Where do we start our letters? At the top!"

 

I don't remember the rest but we sang that part over and over, LOL! HWT is really great for teaching methods.

 

Merry

Edited August 9, 2011 by MerryAtHope

[Mrs. Lilac]

I just downloaded The Joy of Handwriting from CurrClick and I am really pleased with how she explains to the kids how to form letters. Nice and simple. I got both cursive and manuscript, and cursive is finally clicking for my DD with these easy instructions.

[busymotherof4]

Thanks for the thoughts. My Mommy radar was saying he is/was headed for a habit. I am going to check with a few local people to look at what they use for handwriting and pick a program. I learned D'Nealian growing up and that is what was used with my 3 oldest but HWT looks interesting. Zaner Bloser also looks like a nice font. Yuck more choice to make. I also need to find a way to get him to do this my way. I might need to get out the M&M's or Skittles. That or sticker charts. He is highly motivated by stickers.