Learning how to write is one of the most vital skills a child learns early on in their education. As a Cleveland occupational therapist can explain, the skills needed to be successful in this task actually start much sooner than kindergarten – or even pre-school.

Some of the complex skills needed for handwriting include:

• Knowing the letters of the alphabet
• Visual motor skills
• Letter formation
• Sequence following
• Visual perception skills
• Maintaining control of the paper (to stay in the lines)
• Bilateral coordination
• Recognition of left-to-right progression
• Recognition of top-to-bottom progression
• Movement tracking of the hand, pencil and paper
• Crossing midline skills
• Fine motor skills (in-hand manipulation, pencil grasp, visual hand-eye coordination)
• Gross motor skills (muscle memory, posture, body control)

Not all teachers have formal training in how to teach handwriting skills. When a student struggles with handwriting, a Cleveland occupational therapist can help.