Handwriting Skill Development in Hingham, Pembroke and Norwood, MA

We Offer Fine Motor & Handwriting Skill Development for Kids

Children must first refine fine motor foundational skills before they’re ready for written communication. For some children, developing these foundational skills may take a bit more practice and support. If this is an area of vulnerability for your child, our skilled occupational therapists at South Shore Therapies can help. Occupational therapy intervention promotes the development of distal strength, coordination and dexterity. These skills are necessary for managing and manipulating writing tools and support the child’s ability to control the pressure, spacing, size, and direction of their written work. If you believe your child could benefit from fine motor and handwriting skill development help, don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a consultation with our caring, experienced staff. We utilize a multi-sensory approach and fun activities to make learning handwriting skills seem less tedious.

How to Identify Fine Motor and Handwriting Concerns with Children:

Handwriting skill development relies on the fine motor, visual motor, and gross motor foundations. To produce written work, handwriting requires the coordination of the hands, eyes, arms, and entire body posture. Areas of vulnerability are usually identified in elementary school. With proactive identification, we can work together to set your child up for success. Parents can observe their children’s fine motor skill development through engagement in daily life tasks such as dressing, during fine motor activities at home and various homework assignments from school, and through feedback from their teachers. Below, you’ll find a handy checklist to guide your observations and assist in determining if skilled intervention may benefit your child’s development.  

Does your child have:

• Difficulty maintaining appropriate posture during seated handwriting activities (e.g., frequent shifting, “falling out of the chair,” slouching, resting head on table or arm)
• Difficulty maintaining age-appropriate crayon or pencil grasp, pressure, or paper positioning
• Difficulty with crayon or pencil control with tracing or coloring activities (e.g., staying on or within the lines)
• Difficulty with word search or hidden picture activities, mazes, or tracing from start to finish (e.g., finding words or pictures, staying within the lines when completing mazes, finding beginning and endpoints of a tracing activity)
• Difficulty tracing or forming shape or letter formations using the correct directional concepts (e.g., top-down, left-right, circle to the right, slanted lines)
• Difficulty naming and/or matching upper and lowercase forms of previously taught letters
• Difficulty producing previously taught letter formations correctly and consistently
• Difficulty recognizing differences between previously taught “look-alike letters” (e.g., b and d, m and n, v and w)
• Difficulty placing letter formations appropriately on the line and/or spacing between letters and/or words
• Difficulty recognizing the left and right margins on workbook pages or handwriting paper
• Difficulty copying information on a workbook or worksheet page (e.g., locating information on the page, missing information during copying, frequent squinting or rubbing eyes)
• Difficulty copying information from the board (e.g., locating information on the board, missing information during copying, frequent squinting or rubbing eyes)
• Difficulty completing handwriting activities within an age-appropriate time limit (e.g., needs extra time to recall and form letters during copying and/or composition tasks, frequent erasures to get it “just right”)
• Difficulty recognizing differences between own work and the model (self-editing)

How Pediatric Occupational Therapists Help With Handwriting

Handwriting development for children begins with a standardized evaluation from a pediatric occupational therapist. The child’s handwriting, in addition to various sensory, motor, perceptual, and postural abilities, are assessed to determine underlying causes of why handwriting may be difficult for your child. If areas of concern are identified, one-to-one intervention with a skilled occupational therapist may be recommended. Our occupational therapists will create an individualized treatment plan that can help improve your child’s handwriting by through age-appropriate therapy activities that promote skill development and also may suggest modifications to writing instruments, including the usage of pencil grippers, wrist holders, or slant boards to support successful participation. We have education in a variety of handwriting programs while allows us to tailor our therapy approach for each child’s specific needs for the best results.

Why Choose South Shore Therapies for Occupational Therapy?

Since 2004, South Shore Therapies has focused on providing occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and additional therapies for children and adolescents. With state-of-the-art facilities in Hingham, Pembroke, and Norwood, we serve families across Southern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Our therapy environments promote calm learning while encouraging fine motor skill development for kids of all ages. South Shore Therapists utilize the principles of neuroscience, development and the benefits of play to craft therapeutic activities that maximize children’s ability to perform successfully and independently. Staff is also trained in the latest intervention techniques to ensure a safe and enriching environment for all. Our family-friendly centers encourage parent and sibling interaction to ensure the success of our programs.

Need a Pediatric Occupational Therapist? Book a Consultation!

South Shore Therapies is dedicated to providing the highest quality services to produce results that make a difference in our clients’ lives. If you feel your child’s is struggling with handwriting or fine motor skill development, contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help with handwriting and fine motor skill development for your child. Get started today!