Fun with Handwriting

Pediatric Occupational Therapists are often called upon to help children improve their handwriting. Children who need this extra handwriting help are sometimes reluctant to write, and even dislike writing. In these instances, a therapist must come up with fun and creative ways for the child to practice writing.

Here are a few fun games that can get a child to practice handwriting. The child can play these games with a therapist or parent – they might even enjoy it!

Word by Word

Materials

Paper, pencil and one playing die

Instructions

For this activity, the therapist and the child write a story together! First, choose a title for the story. It could be “Hunting for Dinosaurs,” “The Magic Spell”, or anything else that the therapist or child can think of. The therapist goes first, and rolls the die. Whatever number she rolls, that’s how many words of the story she has to write. For example, if she rolled a 4 she could write, “Yesterday I saw a”. Then the child rolls the die, and writes the number of words that they rolled. The therapist and child keep rolling and writing, alternating turns, until the story ends. Another way to conclude would be to set a number of rolls. “We’re almost done. We each get three more turns and then we’ll be done”.

Monster Cafe

Materials

Paper and pencil. Crayons or markers optional.

Instructions

Have the child create a menu for a special or unique restaurant. For example, if the child likes monsters, they could create a menu for a Monster Cafe, that includes the appetizers, main courses, desserts and beverages that monsters would like to eat. Example items from one boy’s menu include “slime guts with chocolate, mud and rocks meatloaf, and dirty sneaker ice cream.” Creative children with vivid imaginations would enjoy this activity, since they can create any menu item they choose.

Other menu ideas include a menu for an ice cream parlor for clowns, a diner for kids, or a fast-food place for aliens! This activity can get creative children inventing and practicing handwriting in a fun, motivating context.

Let’s Argue

Materials

pencil, paper, and a judge

Instructions

This fun handwriting game gives the opportunity for child and therapist to have a written debate. First, pick a topic. This could be any two-sided issue, such as:

-         Which animal makes a better pet: a cat or a dog?

-         Yes or no: should kids be allowed to eat whatever they want?

-         Who is the cooler superhero: Batman or Spiderman?

-         Yes or no: should kids get to go to bed whenever they want?

-         Which sport is more fun, soccer or football?

The options for topics are endless! Whether the therapist or child chooses the topic, a fun written debate can take place. The child chooses which side of the argument they will take, and the therapist takes the other. Then each person writes 5 (or more, or less) statements/reasons to support their side. At the end, both lists are read to a judge (who doesn’t know who wrote which one) and the judge decides who wins.

            Kids can have a lot of fun “debating” with their therapist. When the debate is written, handwriting can become very motivating! Have fun.

Have fun writing!