Pre-Writing & Handwriting

Pre-writing skills are the fundamental skills children need to develop before they are able to write. These skills contribute to the child’s ability to hold and use a pencil and the ability to draw, write, copy, and color.

Boy writing with pencil

Pre-Writing Skills

A major component of pre-writing skills are the pre-writing shapes. These are the pencil strokes that most letters, numbers, and early drawings are composed of. They are typically mastered in sequential order, and to an age-specific level. These strokes include the following strokes: |, —, O, +, /, square, \, X, and Δ.

Pre-writing skills are essential for the child to be able to develop the ability to hold and move a pencil fluently and effectively and therefore produce legible writing. When these skills are underdeveloped it can lead to frustration and resistance due to the child not being able to produce legible writing or to ‘keep up’ in class due to fatigue. This can then result in poor self-esteem and academic performance.

  • Hand and finger strength: An ability to exert force against resistance using the hands and fingers that allows the necessary muscle power for controlled movement of the pencil.
  • Crossing midline: The ability to cross the imaginary line running from a person’s nose to the pelvis that divides the body into left and right sides.
  • Pencil grasp: The efficiency of how the pencil is held, allowing age-appropriate pencil movement generation.
  • Hand-eye coordination: The ability to process information received from the eyes to control, guide, and direct the hands in the performance of a task such as handwriting.
  • Bilateral integration: Using two hands together with one hand leading (e.g. holding and moving the pencil with the dominant hand while the other hand helps by holding the writing paper).
  • Upper body strength: The strength and stability provided by the shoulder to allow controlled hand movement for good pencil control.
  • Object manipulation: The ability to skilfully manipulate tools (including holding and moving pencils and scissors) and controlled use of everyday tools (such as a toothbrush, hairbrush, and cutlery).
  • Visual perception: The brain’s ability to interpret and make sense of visual images seen by the eyes, such as letters and numbers.
  • Hand dominance: The consistent use of one (usually the same) hand for task performance, which allows refined skills to develop.
  • Hand division: Using just the thumb, index, and middle finger for manipulation, leaving the fourth and little finger tucked into the palm stabilizing the other fingers but not participating.

Writing-Readiness Activities

  • Threading and lacing with a variety of sized laces
  • Play-doh (playdough) activities that may involve rolling with hands or a rolling pin, hiding objects such as coins in the playdough, or just creative construction.
  • Scissor projects that may involve cutting out geometric shapes to then paste them together to make pictures such as robots, trains or houses. Cutting play dough with scissors.
  • Tongs to pick up objects.
  • Drawing or writing on a vertical surface.
  • Everyday activities that require finger strength such as opening containers and jars.
  • Pre-writing shapes: Practice drawing the pre-writing shapes (l, —, O, +, /, square, \, X, and Δ).
  • Finger games: that practice specific finger movements such as Incy wincy Spider.
  • Craft: Make things using old boxes, egg cartons, wool, paper, and sticky or masking tape.
  • Construction: Building with duplo, lego, mobilo or other construction toys.

How Does it Impact School Function

  • In addition to improving penmanship, writing exercises in elementary school support development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. Students also learn the writing process, from outline to finished product, which translates into other aspects of life and learning.

  • Good handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of letters.

  • Executive Function Skill Problems
  • Writing Tips - Pressing Too Hard

Tailored Solutions for Measurable Success

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  • Choose the Path

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  • Implement the Solution

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