Scissor skills stages Learning to cut with scissors is more complex than it may initially seem. It requires good postural control, good hand-eye coordination and the ability to use both hands together. In [...]
Making handwriting easier Handwriting is a complex skill, but there are tips which make learning it easier. One of the most helpful things you can do, as a teacher or parent, is to [...]
The importance of pre-writing shapes Pre-writing shapes are the lines and shapes a child needs to be able to draw prior to learning to write. They are the shapes which form letters, such [...]
Handwriting is a complex skill Handwriting is a skill that is taught in every school. There are many approaches to teaching handwriting. Some schools focus on the cursive first approach. Others teach handwriting [...]
Supporting each other at home I write this post on the second day of official school closures in the UK following the Coronavirus outbreak. There are a lot of supports already popping up [...]
Pros and cons of pencil grasps For children who have an immature pencil grasp, there are many pencil grips available to help. In this post we will use the term ‘grip’ to refer [...]
Pencil grasp is a complicated affair Developing a good pencil grasp is a big milestone for children. The way a child holds onto their pencil is often a focus of assessment in the [...]
Can you tell by looking? Have you ever wondered what the difference between left and right handed scissors is? You know that left handed (LH) children should have specific scissors. Often, you probably [...]
There's more to handwriting than meets the eye Handwriting is an incredibly complex skill. Before children can hold a pencil, they need to be able to sit up and move their arm independently [...]
Helping with cutting skills Cutting skills are a typical activity taught in every classroom. Using scissors to cut successfully is almost a rite of passage for any child. Especially those who have ‘accidentally’ [...]
Embedding OT supports into your classroom When I first graduated, quite some time ago now, I was frustrated at what I interpreted as a lack of support from educators in following through with [...]