Reluctant writers

Children can often become reluctant to write, or have a poor writing speed, because they do not have the hand strength and finger dexterity to hold the writing tool correctly. This makes writing difficult, tiring and painful.

Games and activities can improve hand and finger strength.

Poor visual and motor memory skills can make it difficult to remember how to form the letters. Again, games and activities can help with this.

Tips on encouraging reluctant writers

• Best tip - Don’t force them, the more you push the more reluctant they will become.
• Assess their physical ability.
• If weaknesses are found, play the games that will build the appropriate muscles groups.
• Develop directional skills and shape formation through activities that don’t require a pencil so that they are still developing their motor memory skills which will help them later on when they do start to draw and write.
• When ready, try timed drawing and writing activities after the child has had a good run around or physical activity (but not when they are tired).
• Set up a good writing environment where they are sitting comfortably and without distractions.
• Correct poor posture and keep the activity short. One minute of happy drawing is better than no minutes.
• Try a playtime drawing/writing session activity (see below)
• You could try to do a couple of these kinds of sessions at different times during the day.
• End the sessions with a fun activity or treat.

This will take time, patience and encouragement, each improvement, no matter how small, needs to be recognised and positively praised.

Remember as a child’s skills develop so does their confidence to try, and their self-esteem, as they succeed where once they felt they failed.

Tips on setting up playtime drawing / handwriting sessions

How to Organise a Playtime Drawing/Writing Session

1. When ready, try timed drawing or writing activities after the child has had a good run around or other physical activity (but not when they are tired).
2. Set up a good writing environment where they are sitting comfortably and without distraction.
3. Correct poor posture and keep the activity short - up to 5 minutes initially. However one minute of happy drawing/writing is better than no minutes.
4. After the drawing/writing play a non-drawing activity or game with the child. Make this break between 3 and 5 minutes long, ensuring the child knows when it will end (use a timer so they can see when they will need to stop).
5. Return to the original drawing/writing activity for up to another 5 minutes.
6. End the sessions with a fun activity or treat.

Tips on Running the Session

• Start with 2 drawing/writing activities and then slowly increase the drawing/writing time and/or the number of activities and reduce the playtime slot times.
• You could try to do a couple of these kind of sessions at different times during the day.
• It may take time for the child to be comfortable with the sessions. You need to show a lot of patience and encouragement, each improvement no matter how small needs to be recognised and positively praised.
• Remember as the child’s skills develop so does their confidence to try and their self-esteem grows as they succeed where once they felt they failed.