How can my parenting style best support and improve my teen's handwriting?

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Quiz Questions

1.
Do you believe handwriting is…(you can only choose one answer)
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- A.
  a fixable problem.
- B.
  not needed in today’s world.
- C.
  something that makes people unhappy.
- D.
  a reflection on the person’s abilities.
2.
How do you remember what food shopping you need to buy?
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- A.
  Remember it.
- B.
  Type it into your phone.
- C.
  Order it online.
- D.
  Write it down.
3.
Thinking about the advice you give your child, which hashtag best sums this up?
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- A.
  #buildconfidence
- B.
  #dreambigworkhard
- C.
  #lifeskills
- D.
  #innovation
4.
When you look at your child’s handwriting, do you think…
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- A.
  I wish they could see how good I think it is.
- B.
  With a few tweaks, it could have a wow factor.
- C.
  Secretly, I wish they had typed it.
- D.
  I can only just read it. I wonder how the teachers can.
5.
You and your child have worked hard all year. It's time to talk about holidays. Where do your discussions around the family table take you?
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- A.
  Adventure family fun days in Orlando.
- B.
  Total destress and chill in the Caribbean.
- C.
  A place that our good friends have recommended.
- D.
  Cultural city break in Europe.
6.
Which fortune cookie message would you most like to get?
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- A.
  “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin.
- B.
  "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou.
- C.
  “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new” - Socrates.
- D.
  “In fact, the confidence of the people is worth more than money.” - Carter G. Woodson.
7.
Which teacher comment have you heard the most?
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- A.
  Their handwriting could be improved.
- B.
  They have tried hard but need to keep working at it.
- C.
  They do not seem to write a lot but have great ideas in class.
- D.
  Don’t worry, they can always type in their exams.
8.
What is your biggest fear for your child?
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- A.
  They’ll do the hard work but still people struggle to read their writing.
- B.
  They’ll be offered to type in their exams and see this as the best option.
- C.
  They believe that they are rubbish due to their handwriting.
- D.
  They’ll give up on handwriting and do not see its value.

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Your parenting style is being an awesome ‘Change-maker’ meaning you are the best person to encourage your child to improve their handwriting with little changes one step at a time.
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You’re open to ideas and believe that improving handwriting should be the first option as it is the quickest way in helping the teachers read your child’s work.As a ‘change-maker’ you know it’s not too late to make changes. Neural pathways do not die off. Your child's good writing habits have been replaced by bad ones due to the need to keep up with the pressure of secondary school writing. Hence your child’s work appears sloppy. You are not surprised to read that Harvard University research has shown those who handwrite recall more information than those that type. You know your child’s true talent can shine through again. Their writing will be easier to read. The best way to support them is to help them achieve their goals and banish any teacher's assumptions that your child is lazy. Readable handwriting (that helps your child retain learning too) is just around the corner.Your strength as a ‘Change-maker’ is that you will have the positive beliefs and energy to encourage your child to focus on the following 3 these quick wins.Three strategies to help improve your child's handwriting are:1. Try taking away the overwhelm. "a, t, e" are the most commonly used letters in the alphabet so if your teen can get those right you'll start to see an improvement in their writing. If you wished to pick just one letter I would pick the letter 'e', often this can look similar to the letter 'c'. It would be awful for your child to write 'eat', but the teacher reads 'cat'. An easy fix is to go back and add the loop to the letter 'e'. 2. The four most commonly used words in the English language are ‘the’, ‘of’, ‘to’ & ‘and’. Encourage these to be legible. Often the letter t's are not tall enough or are not crossed. The letter 'o' is not fully formed and can look similar to a 'u'. Mistakes like this can change how words are spelled and the whole meaning of a sentence. Getting these four words right is particularly important regardless of whatever subject your child is learning.3. Avoid biros (ballpoint pens) and use rollerball pens. These are more comfortable to write with as you do not have to press so heavily when writing. Not only will this produce a greater quality to their work, as the ink will flow more smoothly. It will help take away any discomfort when writing. Another real bonus is that it will help to avoid that horrible bobbly feeling they get when trying to write on paper has indents from where the writer has pressed too hard. I help kids to succeed at school and become more confident individuals by being that encouraging force for change, showing them how to make quick improvements to their handwriting. My work makes parents and teachers wonder how a transformation like that is possible.My approach is simple, fuss-free and engaging. I'm here to demystify handwriting, turning it into bite-sized achievable steps whilst keeping it fun. Having helped hundreds of kids from 6-year-olds to 16-year-olds who have previously struggled to write I know there is more than one way to teach handwriting. Whether that be by answering quizzes, working to improve formation or speed, showing what handwriting tweaks can be made after words have been written, or looking at how someone writes in an exam when there is time pressure. Teaching everyone, in the same way, does not work. We need to find out what style of handwriting tuition works for your child.Two of my greatest joys are seeing the relief on parents' faces when they realise their children's handwriting won't hold them back from future opportunities and working with the kids when they try to hide their beaming smiles because they are pleased with how their handwriting looks.I'm a children’s occupational therapist and a handwriting expert with over 20 years of experience. I'm a published author of two books, I have spoken on BBC Radio, and I've been featured in The Telegraph and the Good Schools Guide. You can find me at www.helpwithhandwriting.co.uk
2.
Your parenting style is being a Fantastic Traditionalist, meaning your skills will help your child improve their handwriting by understanding the value writing has in today's world.
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You believe that handwriting is a life skill that everyone should be able to do.You are enthusiastic and determined in a good way to show that handwriting is not dying out. Yes, we do not write as much as we used to, but isn’t receiving a hand-written note on Mother’s Day or Father’s day so lovely?For you giving up on handwriting is totally wrong. It’s like going to bed without brushing your teeth! Your child has already spent years mastering handwriting why should they give up now? You are not surprised to read that Harvard University research has shown those who handwrite recall more information than those that type. You want your child to be proud of their writing, and to retain what they are learning, as it is a skill that will set them up for life.As a traditionalist, the best way you can support them is by sticking to the tried and tested methods of improving handwriting. You have all the conviction you need to support your child by focusing on the following these 3 quick wins to improve their handwriting quickly and effectively.Your three strategies to use with your child are:1. Avoid biros (ballpoint pens) and use rollerball pens. These are more comfortable to write with as you do not have to press so heavily when writing. Not only will this produce a greater quality to their work, as the ink will flow more smoothly. It will help take away any discomfort when writing. Another real bonus is that it will help to avoid that horrible bobbly feeling they get when trying to write on paper has indents from where the writer has pressed too hard. 2. Remind your child to lay their work out correctly. Writing next to the margin, using rulers and labelling work with clear arrows is helpful to the reader. Our eyes scan work from left to right, often only skimming over the word. When the work appears disorganised on the page it becomes more difficult for the reader to mark it. Some teachers and examiners are known to downgrade students' marks for illegible handwriting. 3. Keep choosing positive words when you are looking at their writing. Try to avoid saying the words "good" or "bad". It is helpful to be more descriptive when commenting about letter size, formation, word spacing, or style. For example, "I like how you have written this word. Have you considered leaving a bigger word space gap? This will help the reader not to see one long word". By using this strategy you will help your child understand that not everything to do with their writing needs to be improved. Giving them the positive boost that they need. I help kids to succeed at school and become more confident individuals by being that encouraging force for change, showing them how to make quick improvements to their handwriting. My work makes parents and teachers wonder how a transformation like that is possible.My approach is simple, fuss-free and engaging. I'm here to demystify handwriting, turning it into bite-sized achievable steps whilst keeping it fun. Having helped hundreds of kids from 6-year-olds to 16-year-olds who have previously struggled to write I know there is more than one way to teach handwriting. Whether that be by answering quizzes, working to improve formation or speed, showing what handwriting tweaks can be made after words have been written, or looking at how someone writes in an exam when there is time pressure. Teaching everyone, in the same way, does not work. We need to find out what style of handwriting tuition works for your child.Two of my greatest joys are seeing the relief on parents' faces when they realise their children's handwriting won't hold them back from future opportunities and working with the kids when they try to hide their beaming smiles because they are pleased with how their handwriting looks.I'm a children’s occupational therapist and a handwriting expert with over 20 years of experience. I'm a published author of two books, I have spoken on BBC Radio, and I've been featured in The Telegraph and the Good Schools Guide. You can find me at www.helpwithhandwriting.co.uk
3.
Your parenting style is by being a marvellous 'Mover With The Times’, meaning you are aware of what other resources are out there to help your child improve their handwriting.
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You believe that emerging technology (including typing!) brings many benefits, but know that handwriting is not dying any time soon.We shouldn’t be asked to make a choice. Technology is evolving and making our lives better. Yet some things feel so much more meaningful when they’re handwritten; for example a Mother’s or Father’s day card. In Maths and Science at school, handwriting is still essential.Yes, it is true that one-day typing in exams will be here, but you know it is not now. How can all the schools in one country have the technology for everyone to use a laptop for an exam at the same time? It will happen - but not just yet. You are not surprised to read that Harvard University research has shown those who handwrite recall more information than those that type. Your strength is that you’re a realist and devoted parent. This is the best way you can help your child take effective action.This means you can encourage your child to see writing and typing/technology in the right context and help them to use the following 3 quick wins to improve their handwriting and their learning retention. Your three strategies to use with your child are:1. The quality of handwriting changes when we become tired. It is more likely to look worse at the end of the week or when a school holiday is due. Before commenting ask yourself is tiredness a factor? This is also a helpful tool for your child to use too. It helps them appreciate that very late nights are not conducive to producing the best academic work.2. The four most commonly used words in the English language are ‘the’, ‘of’, ‘to’ & ‘and’. Encourage these to be legible. Often the letter t's are not tall enough or are not crossed. The letter 'o' is not fully formed and can look similar to a 'u'. Mistakes like this can change how words are spelled and the whole meaning of a sentence. Getting these four words right is particularly important regardless of whatever subject your child is learning. 3. Avoid biros (ballpoint pens) and use rollerball pens. These are more comfortable to write with as you do not have to press so heavily when writing. Not only will this produce a greater quality to their work, as the ink will flow more smoothly. It will help take away any discomfort when writing. Another real bonus is that it will help to avoid that horrible bobbly feeling they get when trying to write on paper has indents from where the writer has pressed too hard. I help kids to succeed at school and become more confident individuals by being that encouraging force for change, showing them how to make quick improvements to their handwriting. My work makes parents and teachers wonder how a transformation like that is possible.My approach is simple, fuss-free and engaging. I'm here to demystify handwriting, turning it into bite-sized achievable steps whilst keeping it fun. Having helped hundreds of kids from 6-year-olds to 16-year-olds who have previously struggled to write I know there is more than one way to teach handwriting. Whether that be by answering quizzes, working to improve formation or speed, showing what handwriting tweaks can be made after words have been written, or looking at how someone writes in an exam when there is time pressure. Teaching everyone, in the same way, does not work. We need to find out what style of handwriting tuition works for your child.Two of my greatest joys are seeing the relief on parents' faces when they realise their children's handwriting won't hold them back from future opportunities and working with the kids when they try to hide their beaming smiles because they are pleased with how their handwriting looks.I'm a children’s occupational therapist and a handwriting expert with over 20 years of experience. I'm a published author of two books, I have spoken on BBC Radio, and I've been featured in The Telegraph and the Good Schools Guide. You can find me at www.helpwithhandwriting.co.uk
4.
Your parenting style is a wonderful 'Supporter', meaning you know when and how to encourage your child to improve their handwriting without them feeling overwhelmed.
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You believe that a few tweaks here and there will boost your child’s confidence to write more in school. The issue has been their belief that they are the worst writer in their class.You are not surprised to read that Harvard University research has shown those who handwrite recall more information than those that type. For you, handwriting is more than a method of communication. It is what is making your child sad, frustrated, anxious and angry about themselves. Your child does not need any more knockbacks. Your strength is your nurturing approach. You can best support your child by following your gut instinct in knowing how to help them. This will give your child the confidence needed to write.You’ll no longer fear that they are writing as little as possible. Bewildered looks will soon be replaced with happy smiles, as you support your child to implement the following 3 quick wins to improve their handwriting and their learning retention.Your three strategies to use with your child are:1. Keep choosing positive words when you are looking at their writing. Try to avoid saying the words "good" or "bad". It is helpful to be more descriptive when commenting about letter size, formation, word spacing, or style. For example, "I like how you have written this word. Have you considered leaving a bigger word space gap? This will help the reader not to see one long word". By using this strategy you will help your child understand that not everything to do with their writing needs to be improved. Giving them the positive boost that they need. 2. The quality of handwriting changes when we become tired. It is more likely to look worse at the end of the week or when a school holiday is due. Before commenting ask yourself is tiredness a factor? This is also a helpful tool for your child to use too. It helps them appreciate that very late nights are not conducive to producing the best academic work.3. It takes 66 days to change a habit. Research has disproven the idea of making improvements in 21 days is incorrect. Remind your child that any changes in their writing will take time but they will happen. Continue to be that reassuring, positive voice in their ear as they make the necessary improvements to their handwriting.I help kids to succeed at school and become more confident individuals by being that encouraging force for change, showing them how to make quick improvements to their handwriting. My work makes parents and teachers wonder how a transformation like that is possible.My approach is simple, fuss-free and engaging. I'm here to demystify handwriting, turning it into bite-sized achievable steps whilst keeping it fun. Having helped hundreds of kids from 6-year-olds to 16-year-olds who have previously struggled to write I know there is more than one way to teach handwriting. Whether that be by answering quizzes, working to improve formation or speed, showing what handwriting tweaks can be made after words have been written, or looking at how someone writes in an exam when there is time pressure. Teaching everyone, in the same way, does not work. We need to find out what style of handwriting tuition works for your child.Two of my greatest joys are seeing the relief on parents' faces when they realise their children's handwriting won't hold them back from future opportunities and working with the kids when they try to hide their beaming smiles because they are pleased with how their handwriting looks.I'm a children’s occupational therapist and a handwriting expert with over 20 years of experience. I'm a published author of two books, I have spoken on BBC Radio, and I've been featured in The Telegraph and the Good Schools Guide. You can find me at www.helpwithhandwriting.co.uk