Which is better - learning handwritting

For my birthday and Valentines day my 4 y/o son gave me some cards.

One person made dots that he traced and made his letters neater.

The other person let him make his own letters. The "L" was upside down - like a big lower case "r".

Which is better to teach them?

Re: Which is better - learning handwritting

DS was taught freehand.. my DD on the other hand is doing connecting the dots

it really depends on your child.

Re: Which is better - learning handwritting

DD has some worksheets, and it has both methods. The "trace the dots" method for a couple of letters, then the rest of the line they get to do freehand for a couple of letters. Best of both worlds, I guess.
She has pretty neat handwriting, so I guess it's working...

Re: Which is better - learning handwritting

Posted by GoldenRod

DD has some worksheets, and it has both methods. The "trace the dots" method for a couple of letters, then the rest of the line they get to do freehand for a couple of letters. Best of both worlds, I guess.
She has pretty neat handwriting, so I guess it's working...

Re: Which is better - learning handwritting

Dots are not recommended because the require visual closure skills. It is best to have them trace the letter already made then make it free hand. The focus should be on proper letter formation, not the end product of what the letter looks like. It is important to watch them as they are writing each letter and correct them when the begin to form the letter improperly. Handwriting becomes very habitual even at a young age and bad habits are hard to break. If you really wanted to practice in a structured way, the Handwriting Without Tears website has a great Preschool workbook. Another tip is to use broken crayons to promote proper pencil grasp!

Re: Which is better - learning handwritting

I always liked writing the name with yellow highlighter and then have the child trace those letters. I felt like it was more clear for them to see the shapes making the letter (such as the lines, loops, bumps) this way then with the dotted lines.

Then once they got better at that I would just put the starting dot...like at the top of the line for the letter "L" for example, and walk them through the "Line down, then a small line across" until they were able to write the letters independently.

And my #1 pet peeve --- is when parents teach their kids to write their name in ALL capitol letters! It is so much easier to teach them the proper way with the lower-cased letters then to have to re-teach the lower-cased letters later!

Re: Which is better - learning handwritting

Posted by iluvmynutty

Dots are not recommended because the require visual closure skills. It is best to have them trace the letter already made then make it free hand. The focus should be on proper letter formation, not the end product of what the letter looks like. It is important to watch them as they are writing each letter and correct them when the begin to form the letter improperly. Handwriting becomes very habitual even at a young age and bad habits are hard to break. If you really wanted to practice in a structured way, the Handwriting Without Tears website has a great Preschool workbook. Another tip is to use broken crayons to promote proper pencil grasp!

Re: Which is better - learning handwritting

DD learned using Handwriting Without Tears. It has several steps for each letter including tracing step and then guided verbally, and then free hand.

At 4 She can write all of her capital and lowercase letters. She writes her first and last names correctly and can write letters small enough to write in a composition book.

I love this program. She does it with her OT. A year ago, she couldn't hold a pencil or crayon properly. This is what her school will use in kindergarten too.