How an Occupational Therapist help a child to develop his handwriting
We, as humans, are looking for perfection everywhere! And this includes handwriting as well. Perfectly scribbled, Good handwriting is something we still revere, even after decades of technological advancements.
Although we tend to improve our handwriting, we aren’t all elaborate calligraphers; that is alright. Nevertheless, we have decent, legible handwriting, if not good. However, many children have illegible Handwriting. TheraCure Provides the Best Occupational Therapy for Handwriting Problems
This problem might seem small for us adults, but for a child, it isn’t. Teachers tend to associate smartness and tidiness with a child’s handwriting. It might also be associated with your child’s marks since the teacher will only be able to grade them if she can understand them.
Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder that affects handwriting. It impairs Fine Motor Skills and affects a child's ability to plan ahead. In addition, it impairs a child's ability to perceive patterns on a page as letters. A child with dysgraphia may find it difficult to plan ahead for the next part of a letter, and may have difficulty continuing to write.
Handwriting plays a significant role in the current world, even with the presence of laptops and emails. A child has to complete his/her education by writing his exams on paper, which is in turn based both on their intelligence and handwriting. Having Bad handwriting means the teacher won’t be able to understand the writing, even if it is correct. It could, in turn, lead to lower grades in school.
This academic effect might affect the child, leading to anxiety and decreased self-esteem. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge if your child has illegible handwriting.
Occupational Therapy to Improve Handwriting
Although a person’s handwriting reflects their personality, changing a child’s handwriting is possible if it is genuinely unreadable. The method to change a kid’s handwriting is via Occupational Therapy.
While we might not be able to assess the reason behind it, Occupational Therapists are skilled professionals who can understand its reasons.
Our OTs assess your child and their Handwriting Problems, noting down all the factors which could be the possible reasons for their bad handwriting. After understanding the reason behind it, they make a therapy plan or schedule that includes various activities and exercises that would help your child improve his/her handwriting.
Our OTs uses many exercises and activities to improve the kid’s handwriting, but there are also tips that you, as a parent, can use at your home. Some being:
1. Encourage your child to eat using a silverware spoon to increase grip strength.
2. Let them be involved in outdoor activities and sports that promote visual and motor coordination skills.
3. Make sure that your child keeps practicing to write in better handwriting.
It is always advisable to consult an OT if your child’s handwriting is a problem since this could also be an underlying sign of Cognitive Development or Muscular Problems your child might be facing. And although occupational therapy sounds like a lot of time, they are successful and helpful in improving your child’s handwriting quickly and efficiently.
