© Beverley Paine

[an excerpt from Developing Children's Handwriting, a Practical Homeschooling booklet, by Beverley Paine, available from Always Learning Books.]

The purpose and anticipated audience for any writing activity will affect the form
taken by the writing, the style of handwriting used and the degree of concern over the
layout and presentation. Offering a variety of reasons for writing, and then a variety of
audiences, will help to develop confident and competent writers.

When brainstorming activities that will naturally include handwriting practice, think about the different audiences, that is the people who will read what they have written. It's not necessary to insist on neat, legible writing every time your child writes. You don't write legibly all the time, especially if the audience is yourself and no one else. Rough drafts are seldom neat, although they still need to be reasonably legible! Crossing out errors is quite acceptable in this form of writing, and even in note taking. Once you 'publish' your words, that is, present it to another, you will need to pay more attention to neatness and legibility.

If we make writing a chore for our children they will become reluctant writers. Holding a pen or pencil is difficult for most young children, even when we supply suitably sized pencils or grips. It takes considerable practice to master manipulating the writing tool as well as holding the paper flat and still with the other hand. Sympathy and understanding at this stage will encourage your child to perservere.

Whatever handwriting style your children use, the steps toward legibility and speed are:

• form letters correctly
• slant the letters consistently
• make the letters a consistent size
• use consistent spacing between words and letters
• keep the hand loose and comfortable