🧠 What Handwriting Really Requires (OT Lens)

Before a child can write comfortably, their body needs:

🧱 Postural stability — strong core and shoulders
✋ Hand strength + endurance — not just grip
👀 Visual-motor integration — eyes guiding the hand
🧠 Motor planning — knowing where and how to start strokes
⚖️ Regulation — calm enough to sustain effort

If one of these is underdeveloped, handwriting feels hard—no matter how much practice a child gets.

🛠️ A 10-Minute Handwriting Prep Routine

This routine uses the tools above to prepare the body before writing.

1️⃣ Big Muscle Warm-Up (2 minutes)

Choose one:
• wall push-ups
• wheelbarrow walking
• animal walks

Strong shoulders = freer hands.

2️⃣ Hand Strength Play (3 minutes)

Pick one:
• squeeze and pinch therapy putty
• roll play dough into snakes or balls
• pull small objects out of putty

This builds endurance so hands don’t tire after one line.

3️⃣ Pre-Writing Shapes (3 minutes)

Before letters come: │ — ○ + X

Trace them:
• in shaving cream on the table
• on the bathtub wall
• on a mirror

Large, sensory input = better motor memory.

4️⃣ Precision Strength (2 minutes)

Use clothespins to:
• clip around a container
• transfer small objects
• match colors or numbers

This directly supports tripod grasp development.

5️⃣ Optional Writing (1–2 minutes)

Only if the body still feels good:
• trace big letters
• color inside thick borders
• draw simple shapes

Stop before fatigue.

💬 Last Week’s Parent Check-In Results

As the New Year began, I asked what feels hardest right now. Here’s what you shared:

🌀 42% — Honestly… all of it
The reset hit hard. Routines, emotions, sleep, transitions—all overlapping at once.

⏰ 23% — Getting back into routines
Early mornings, fewer helpers, and the shift back to structure took the biggest toll.

💞 18% — Big emotions or clinginess
More tears, more “up please,” more need for closeness as nervous systems recalibrate.

😴 11% — Sleep disruptions
Bedtime battles, early wake-ups, and naps that forgot how to nap.

🎒 6% — Transitions (daycare, school, work)
Drop-offs, separations, and schedule changes showing up loud and clear.

A strong reminder that New Year transitions don’t happen overnight. Nervous systems need time, repetition, and a lot of grace to settle back in.

💬 This Week’s Parent Check-In

Which best describes your child’s handwriting right now?

1️⃣ Gets tired quickly
2️⃣ Avoids writing tasks
3️⃣ Presses very hard
4️⃣ Writes lightly / struggles with control
5️⃣ Doing okay, just building consistency

👉 Reply with your number.
Next week, I’ll share the results—and OT strategies matched to the most common challenge.

_{Disclaimer: The content in Mom on the Clock is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental, or therapeutic advice. Every child is unique—always seek the advice of your pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or developmental concern. When in doubt, trust your instincts and seek personalized guidance}