Handwriting Skill Development in Hingham, Pembroke and Norwood, MA

We Offer Fine Motor & Handwriting Skill Development for Kids

Children must first master fine motor skill development and the fundamentals of handwriting before they’re ready for written communication. For some children, this can be a struggle. As a handwriting skills and occupational therapy specialist in Hingham, MA, South Shore Therapies Inc. offers a solution. Occupational therapy helps kids target the muscles and ligaments responsible for writing and gripping writing tools while also teaching them how 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 Parents Can Discover Handwriting Issues With Children

Handwriting skill development is essential, but many children lack the fine motor, visual motor, and gross motor skills necessary to master handwriting instruction. Handwriting requires the coordination of the hands, eyes, arms, and entire body posture. Developmental struggles are usually identified in elementary school. The sooner they’re recognized, the faster you can get help for your child. Parents should observe their children’s progress through homework assignments and feedback from their teachers. Below, you’ll find a handy checklist to initiate a discussion about assistance your child may require with fine motor or handwriting skill 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)

Please share everything you observed on the above checklist with your child's teacher and occupational therapist, along with the sample's of your child's handwritten work. These samples should include handwriting produced during copying near and far and independent writing.

How Pediatric Occupational Therapists Help With Handwriting

Handwriting development for children begins with a professional evaluation from a qualified pediatric occupational therapist. The child’s handwriting is assessed and any issues that may make writing more difficult. This includes testing the child’s sensory, motor, perceptual, and postural abilities. Handwriting development for kids is one of our specialties at South Shore Therapies. Our occupational therapists can help improve your child’s handwriting through age-appropriate therapy activities and suggesting modifications to writing instruments, including the usage of pencil grippers, wrist holders, or slant boards. We follow the Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum but 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 with special needs. 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 7-12. South Shore therapists utilize the principles of neuroscience, development, and 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 handwriting development is lagging, please schedule a consultation with our experienced handwriting skills and occupational therapy specialists in the Hingham area. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help with handwriting and fine motor skill development for kids with special needs. Check out our resources to get started!