St John's Church of England School

🖍 Have a small selection of handwriting materials readily available at home. Soft pencils fibre-tip pens and some sheets of A4 typing paper are enough for a start.

🖍 Encourage your child to write on a line, even if they have to draw it themselves

🖍 Encourage your child to join his/her writing in any work brought home

🖍 Let handwriting play a part in your family’s daily life, for example:

 making lists and labels

 keeping a family diary

 leaving notes for each other in busy households

 keeping in touch with distant friends and relatives

 designing and making home-made notepads and greetings cards.

🖍 Many children like to do their writing work lying on the floor, but don’t let them! So do your best to provide somewhere where your child can work, the end of the kitchen table is perfect!

🖍 Praise, praise

• write with a sharp pencil

• warm up your fingers, arms and elbows before writing

• Grip your pen and pencil properly

• Sit correctly and comfortably

• Tilt your paper and hold it steady