I often get asked the question if handwriting is really important anymore.\u00a0 After all, aren\u2019t we all writing a little sloppier in the age of email and texting?\u00a0 This is certainly a valid question.\u00a0 However, there is still so much we can get out of handwriting-related activities, far beyond the actual printing of words.\u00a0 I will first bore you with a little background info about Occupational Therapy.\u00a0 There are two types of activities: an \u201coccupation as an end\u201d (i.e. learning to perform an actual task for the sake of completing the task) and an \u201coccupation as a means\u201d (i.e. learning to perform a task for the skill development needed for other tasks).\u00a0 For example, learning how to sort laundry is functional and would qualify as an \u201coccupation as an end.\u201d Picking up pom poms with a clothespin, however, is an \u201coccupation as a means\u201d because it is not functional standing alone but develops important skills.\u00a0 Some of our clients will learn how to print their name and to print more advanced things as well.\u00a0 Some will not, but by working on handwriting-related activities, they will still build functional skills.<\/p>\n
A study by the University of Washington found that the skills learned in handwriting practice translate to other areas of life. So, when your brain tells your hand to make a certain letter, stroke, or even scribble, a neurological relay response is happening and our clients are learning to use their brain to generate ideas to then be executed into movements (which is called ideational praxis).\u00a0 This can then help with gross motor tasks (like moving their arms to put in their sleeves) as well as fine motor tasks (like using their fingers to manipulate the zipper on their coat).<\/p>\n
The starting point in the developmental progression depends on the individual client, but I will quickly go through a typical chain of development.\u00a0 When in doubt, we always err on the side of an easier step for the client to build confidence.\u00a0 Development occurs proximally to distally (or inner\/outer), meaning the torso should be stable first, then the shoulders should be stable before focusing on the arm, hand, etc.\u00a0 This is where the term \u201ccore development\u201d comes in, and is developed from activities such as sitting on a therapy ball, swinging on a swing, lying on the stomach propped up on elbows, etc.\u00a0 Shoulders can be strengthened from activities such as wall push-ups, wheelbarrow races, or hanging from monkey bars.<\/p>\n
The next step is to really work towards getting the clients to use their hands cooperatively in a variety of activities to promote grasp development.\u00a0 One of my favorite activities to do with the clients is to play in a toy bin.\u00a0 This is a really motivating activity, but so many skills are being addressed in the process.\u00a0 The toys come in all sizes and shapes, which requires them to adjust their grasp as needed to hold each toy.\u00a0 They may \u201cpress buttons\u201d (which addresses index finger isolation), \u201cspin the dial\u201d (rotation of the wrist), \u201cflip it over and see what is underneath\u201d (for forearm movement).<\/p>\n
After the clients are effectively using their hands and grasping items with ease for general play, I really work on refining grasps and making them stronger.\u00a0 It\u2019s important that the muscles in the fingers are strengthened as well as the muscles in the palm, which are called intrinsic hand muscles.\u00a0 Examples of activities that strengthen the fingers are clipping clothespins on to a ruler, stretching rubber bands to place on a tube, or placing plastic chips into a slot on the top of the coffee can, which creates resistance that you have to push through to get the chip inside.\u00a0 Examples of activities working on intrinsic palmar muscles include using a hole puncher to punch holes in paper, squeezing a hand strengthen, and squishing Play-Doh.<\/p>\n
After grasp is becoming precise and consistent, we can really begin to work towards handwriting.\u00a0 There are so many factors involved in teaching handwriting that would take too much time for this article, but the OT department at Grafton would be happy to assist!\u00a0 The main take-home points of this post are 1) the skills developed from working towards handwriting translate far beyond the actual task of handwriting to help clients in their daily lives and 2) we can all help clients move through the developmental progression by encouraging play with engaging toys and activities using their hands (feel free to give some of the activities mentioned in this post a shot).\u00a0 Everyone has fun, and a few skills may be developed in the process!<\/p>\n
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I often get asked the question if handwriting is really important anymore. After all, aren\u2019t we all writing a little sloppier in the age of email and texting? This is certainly a valid question. However, there is still so much we can get out of handwriting-related activities, far beyond the actual printing of words. I will first bore you with a little background info about Occupational Therapy. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,31],"tags":[230],"class_list":["post-4029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behavioral","category-behavioral-healthcare","tag-occupational-therapy"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n