School-based occupational therapy intervention on handwriting

Handwriting is one of the most complex skills that is learnt and taught. It is not only an academic skill that allows children to express their thoughts and feelings but it also helps children to communicate with others. ... [ view full abstract ]

Handwriting is one of the most complex skills that is learnt and taught.
It is not only an academic skill that allows children to express their thoughts and feelings but it also helps children to communicate with others.
The development of writing ability is very important in building a child’s self-esteem. Similarly it considers an essential ingredient for success in school.
Children spend 31 to 60% of their school day performing handwriting and other fine motor tasks, and difficulties in this area can interfere with academic achievement.
Handwriting efficiency requires mastery of multiple skills, including vision, coordinating the eyes, arms, hands, memory, posture, and body control, as well as the task of holding a pencil and forming letters.
Developing handwriting skills has historically been an essential part of school-based occupational therapy. Handwriting difficulties are the first reason for referral to occupational therapy services in schools. Occupational therapist has an unique role in evaluating and treating a child's functional performance of handwriting skills.
Occupational therapist helps children improve their handwriting through identifying the internal or external factors that are contributing to a child’s handwriting difficulties. Both evaluation and intervention procedures are discussed in order to guide the occupational therapist in developing remedial and instructional programmes.
When a child experiences improvements in their handwriting, they feel less stressed and more happy. Their performance improves and this starts a cycle of success and motivation. That’s an amazing transformation to be a part of!
But everything begins from a good occupational therapy intervention!