Kinaesthetic approach to handwriting

Handwriting is a key part of communication and can be seen as a reflection of our personalities. Some of us may enjoy the mindfulness of calligraphy and the artistic nature of the written word, whereas others can only recall cramps and pain after handwriting 2000 word essays with smudgy biros. Even though technology and typing are dominating written communication, it is still important to value the techniques required when using pen and paper. There are many ways to build confidence and fluency and they don’t just involve lined paper and rubber pen grips.

Mrs Woodhouse has recently been working on handwriting with Year 2. The emphasis has been on kinaesthetic learning and focusing on fine motor skills. They have completed physical exercises and balances to help with strength in their core muscles. They have worked on the rotation of our shoulders and wrists, and have looked at exercises for tired fingers to avoid cramps. Their work on letter formation is also key, with this being assisted by tracing and drawing repetitive patterns. These are all quiet and mindful activities that can easily be worked on at home too. If you are keen, home activities can range from tracing outlines with fingers on different surfaces, completing dot-to-dot drawings, moulding play-dough, scrunching and flattening paper with the dominant hand, to standard neat colouring pages. I hope this may be helpful and inspiring – it would be great to hear if any of these techniques work for you.