Is Your Kid Pressing Down Too Hard When They Write? How Can You Tell?
Does your kid complain that their hand hurts after writing for only a few minutes? Does your child push down when they are writing like they are trying to drill a hole through your dining room table? I find it pretty common with students, whether they are 6 or 10. It doesn’t matter. And hand cramps can kill a kids writing rhythm and routine.
This is what I do to see if they need to “lighten up” with the pencil.
1. I flip over a piece of writing they have done or are working on and feel the back of that page with my palm. Does it feel like Braille? Is it very bumpy, with a lot of ridges? If so, that means that your child is most likely pressing too hard when they write.
2. I take a piece of scrap paper and have the child make circles their pencil. If they were pushing down hard before they will continue to do when they do this.
3. Now I have them try to make the circles as light as possible, barely pushing down on the pencil for a few moments.
4. Then I ask them to write their name with the same pressure as they have been making the circles. Show them it is possible to write without pushing down so hard.
5. Encourage them to continue writing with a “lighter hand” and keep a piece of scrap paper next to them in case they become “heavy handed” again.
This will help your child to write more with ease.
October 15th, 2009
