My Child Was Diagnosed With Dysgraphia. How Can I Help At Home?

Students with Dysgraphia often have difficulties with handwriting and fine motor skills. They struggle to hold a pencil correctly, write neatly, and form letters. Fortunately, with intervention, these skills can improve. Interventions are supports that can be provided in the academic setting as well as at home.

In the school setting: Accommodations such as text-to-speech technology, the use of a computer, and extra time to complete assignments are provided. These allow students to get their ideas out in a different manner and ease the act of writing (Frye, 2021).

Teachers can also provide a copy of notes and shorten assignments as needed. Similarly, they provide pencil grips to help students hold pencils correctly and paper with raised lines to help them write with the margins.

At home: Parents can provide supports to help their children as well. For example, children can practice typing for ten minutes a day on programs like www.typing.com and www.typing.academy to support writing in a different modality.

Additionally, parents can provide pencil grips at www.pathwaysforlearning.com to help with hand position as well as relieve pencil pressure and hand fatigue. Additional supports include allowing your child to speak into a voice recorder app before writing, encouraging him/her to discuss their ideas aloud before writing, and practicing print and cursive handwriting at home.

You may also use multi-sensory activities such as drawing letters in the air, in sand, or shaving cream. Additionally, using raised line paper can aid children to write within the lines and margins (Frye, 2021).

Furthermore, occupational therapists can help children with hand positioning, handwriting practice, and building finger strength. Overall, students with Dysgraphia can improve their handwriting skills and succeed in the classroom.