The best way to teach handwriting is to use a kinesthetic approach, which means to actually feel physical movement as it is being carried out. Many children don’t write letters using motor memories. They draw the letters, which means watching as they are forming the letters. This is not efficient and can slow the process of writing down.
The best way to learn kinesthetically is to simultaneously visualize and verbalize a movement pattern as the action is taking place. Here is an example of how to carry out kinesthetic instruction for letter or number formation. Have the child stand up or sit down in a chair with an upright “tall posture”. Write a model of the letter on a chalkboard, whiteboard, or in a ziplock bag of hair gel. Designate the starting point and verbalize the instruction for the letter stroke as it is made. For example, if you are making a lower case b, say, “draw a straight line down, and then go around to the right to make a circle”.
After the child observes the demonstration, have them trace over the letter on the with eyes open, then with the eyes closed while verbalizing the details of the letter formation at the same time (just as the instructor did). After tracing the letter several times, the child should then practice forming the stroke by “writing it in the air” with a pointer finger, moving the whole arm from the shoulder. The instructor should check to be sure that the motor pattern for the letter is correct before having the child write the letter on paper.
Now have the child practice on paper. This is a wonderful way to teach handwriting and parents and teachers should try this approach because kinesthetic motor learning is much more efficient than “drawing” letters.
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