1) Before any physical activity we should always warm up, and it’s the same with writing!  

• Play an ‘air piano’ for a few seconds. 

• Put the little finger tip to the thumb tip and rapidly tap 5 times, using both hands. 

• Repeat finger tapping exercise with the other fingers. 

• Grasp right wrist with left hand and gently ‘yank’ the arm 10 times. Swap hands and repeat.

2) Teaching your child to develop a good tripod grip and how to hold a pencil correctly is one of the biggest differences you can make to your child's writing journey! The correct tripod grip on a pencil allows the hand the largest range of movement, whilst using as little exertion as possible. It will help your child develop their pencil skills and increase their fluidity of movement.

This is one exercise to encourage your child to use the tripod grip: 

• Lay the pencil on the table with the tip pointing towards your child

• Get them to pinch the pencil in between thumb and index finger 

•  When they lift the pencil let it fall back into the web space while still holding it firmly 

• Tuck their middle finger under the pencil so it rests firmly ready for writing (and drawing).

2) Teaching your child to develop a good tripod grip and how to hold a pencil correctly is one of the biggest differences you can make to your child's writing journey! The correct tripod grip on a pencil allows the hand the largest range of movement, whilst using as little exertion as possible. It will help your child develop their pencil skills and increase their fluidity of movement.

This is one exercise to encourage your child to use the tripod grip: 

• Lay the pencil on the table with the tip pointing towards your child

• Get them to pinch the pencil in between thumb and index finger 

•  When they lift the pencil let it fall back into the web space while still holding it firmly 

• Tuck their middle finger under the pencil so it rests firmly ready for writing (and drawing).

3) Develop finger thumb opposition. Thumb Opposition refers to the ability to turn and rotate the thumb so that it can touch each fingertip of the same hand. This allows children to grasp objects. 

Activities to help include: 

• Catching, throwing and squeezing rubber balls and tennis balls. 

• Squeezing large sponges to wring out the water is great for strengthening the hands. 

• Placing discs in narrow slots; so a coin into a piggy bank is perfect or a game of Connect Four.

• Spinning tops, Jenga, wind up toys, tiddly winks games, buttoning, linking chains, stringing beads and peeling stamps and stickers are also fun activities that really help.

4) Writing with different tools and using different surfaces helps stimulate muscle memory:

Activities to build muscle memory include: 

• Writing letters in the air, in a tray of sand, in shaving foam cream, in water or flour.

• Finding ways to make writing a fun and playful activity.

4) Writing with different tools and using different surfaces helps stimulate muscle memory:

Activities to build muscle memory include: 

• Writing letters in the air, in a tray of sand, in shaving foam cream, in water or flour.

• Finding ways to make writing a fun and playful activity.

5) A few extra tips for left handers

• Angle the paper (about 45 degrees) so that writing goes ‘downhill’. 

• All left handers should sit to the left of a right hander. 

• Left handers should be encouraged to hold their pencil slightly higher up (about 3-4 cm) from the pencil point. This helps the left hander to more clearly see the point of the pencil, without having to lean over excessively. A rubber band or loom band appropriately placed can initially act as reminder.