Handwriting: Getting ready to write

Failure to develop efficient and legible handwriting in primary school can have negative consequences for academic achievement and students’ self-esteem (Feder and Majnemer, 2007). The physical demands of writing increase as children progress through school, making it essential that children learn effective habits to increase or maintain legibility and speed. Teachers can support students to develop such efficient handwriting habits.   What does it mean? Handwriting is a complex task involving many components such as fine motor control, visual perception, in-hand manipulation and sustained attention. Typically, the quality of children’s handwriting legibility and speed develops quickly when children are aged six to seven years. By age nine, most children can write automatically and most will continue to improve their speed as they progress through school. However, between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of school-age children have difficulties in developing their handwriti