Fix Messy Handwriting w/Instant Hack

Hi everyone! Today's video goes over my absolute favorite strategy to fix messy handwriting with a focus on letter sizing. Focusing on letter size is the premise of the Size Matters Handwriting program, which was piloted by an incredible OT with decades of experience under her belt, Beverly Moskowitz. If you haven't checked out the Size Matter Handwriting Program yet, this is a must! Go to realotsolutions.com to learn more about this program, including the multiple research studies proving the efficacy of this approach.
This video is designed to provide general information about occupational therapy for caregivers. This video does not provide medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Please see a medical professional if you have concerns about your child’s development

[@jesminaktar4816]

Very helpful I must try this with my first grader his handwriting is literally hieroglyphic.

[@TheOTGuide]

Go for it and let me know if it helps!! -Dana

[@lizipowell317]

I love this! I homeschool and my son will be going into 4th grade, I can't seem to find a handwriting curriculum that I can jump into his competence level without it being cursive. I do hope to add cursive this year but I really would like to see his printing improve first and nothing I've recommended has helped so far. I did just get some spelling work pages that have these boxes, and I know we've used them for some things here and there and he'll know how it works, I'm hoping using them in this context will be a good visual cue for his penmanship. Thank you!

[@otchristine9161]

I've been using letter boxes for years and they truly do help!

[@TheOTGuide]

They are the best!

[@EM-si3jq]

Thank you for your great works! Love the boxes idea. Small, tall, fall also works since they rhyme.

[@TheOTGuide]

Aw, thank you for your comment! Yes, I like that!

[@lisagee3318]

Everything is a process as long as somebody is there to assist it makes a big difference you know thank you for your admiration for understanding how to assist others

[@TheOTGuide]

Thank you so much Lisa for your amazing comment :)

[@leslieyoung142]

I have used the boxes, but not consistently. Thank you. I really like the idea of encouraging the students to form their own boxes.

[@TheOTGuide]

Of course! Thank you for the kind comment! :)

[@samispelke7060]

How do you transition your kids from 3-lined paper to 2-lined? A lot of my kids do well with this idea on 3-lined paper, but then demonstrate challenges with transitioning to 2-lined or wide-ruled paper.

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey Sami! First, I transition them to narrower and narrower tri-lined paper that is essentially the same size as regular 2-lined paper, it just has the guiding dotted line through the middle. Then I transition them to 2-lined paper. If they are struggling to carry-over the concept of sizing, I'll have them draw the middle dots on the college bound paper to guide them. Then over time, I fade out that dotted middle line and try to have them visualize the middle dots instead of actually use them :) Does that make sense? It is hard to describe!

[@samispelke7060]

@@TheOTGuide Yes thank you! I will try those recommendations!

[@kimtrout4552]

Spot on. Teaching directionality and adjectives -top, bottom, tall, short is a huge piece with usinf a visual cue. Tho boxes paper is useful actually for all of our kids learning the lower case letters.

[@TheOTGuide]

For sure!! Couldn't agree more :)

[@victoriasatcher3498]

Love this! I'm going to try this with my little one.

[@TheOTGuide]

Amazing!! Let me know how it goes!

[@robbincarey935]

I generally say tall and small. Not to confuse short and long vowels.

[@TheOTGuide]

oooo I like that!

[@tabussum7913]

Hi I'm glad that I find your channel as ot

[@TheOTGuide]

Aw, thank you so much! Welcome to my channel!

[@gayatri_bhattacharya]

hi Ma'am super useful and unique ideas as usual...could u pls share how to teach kid to draw basic objects like fruits, trees, flowers etc ...my son can write and colour but struggles with drawing

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey Gayatri! Thank you for your kind comment and happy Friday! Yes, I'm going to add this topic to my list :) Thank you for the suggestion!

[@gayatri_bhattacharya]

@@TheOTGuide thanks for considering

[@TheOTGuide]

Of course! The more suggestions the better :)

[@manpreetkaur-un5zu]

😊

[@TheOTGuide]

:)

[@Matthew750-4]

My handwriting is holding me back I school. I'm too embarrassed to even start my work because of it.

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey Matthew! First of all, I'm so sorry for my delay. And that sounds like a tough situation. Have you talked to your teachers and parents about your concern? It seems like you can type perfectly well, maybe they will allow you to type instead of handwrite your assignments? Typing is often faster & more efficient, plus as a society we are moving towards typing instead of handwriting anyway! If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know! -Dana

[@im_wrong_because___________]

Me googling: *what does it mean if you have bad handwriting but good “number” writing* Then clicking on the link to this video and finding out it’s for kids😂

[@TheOTGuide]

Hahaha

[@LoVeAmBiEnT]

So apparently this is for children yet I’m in my 40s and my riding is sloppy as hell

[@TheOTGuide]

Aw man! Do you know how to type? It's never too late to learn how to type quickly and efficiently! (I recommend using typing.com - it's free, easy, and fun!)