Factors to Consider When Observing Handwriting

Courtesy Carissa Jannicelli Pampanin, MS, OTR/L Director of Occupational Therapy and Deanna

Jannicelli Corby, MS, CCC-SLP Director of Speech and Language Pathology

Pencil grip: is it functional or nonfunctional?

Is dynamic finger movement present? If the hand and wrist move as a unit or the whole arm is moving during handwriting, this would be considered “static.” For optimal handwriting, the fingers should be moving dynamically and fluidly.

Posture & core: The foundation for distal fine motor skills to develop is having a strong, supported core. Poor core and upper body strength may impact fine motor strength and dexterity.

Positioning desk & table height: If a student’s desk is too high or too low, this will impact function. Proper positioning is important too, observe how a child sits in their chair. Are there feet squarely on the floor (or can they even touch the floor?), are they sitting upright in their chair, facing forward?

Hand dominance: Lack of established hand dominance may lead to delays in handwriting skill. This is oftentimes due to the lack of adequate motor practice for one side to establish as dominant.

We hope these tips help you if you suspect your child is having difficulty with their handwriting!

Pediatric Therapy Center of New Jersey, 912 Pompton Avenue, Suite B1, Canfield Office Park , Cedar Grove, 973-680-1971