Handwriting
Making a start
Most little children at some point have a go at forming letters, often around age 3 or 4. Maria Montessori believed that it was natural for children to write before they could read and, in one sense, writing is an easier task than reading: it is less abstract. One problem with this approach is that many children, especially boys, find the fine motor skills involved in writing very challenging at a very young age. My own sons were all reading fluently long before they felt comfortable writing, and for this reason I wouldn't advocate insisting that writing should precede reading (though there's no need to discourage it if it does).
When children do start to form letters, I find it best to just let them have a go - no lines, no rules about formation (until they begin to grow frustrated because they can't make their letters like the ones in the book...). Then I start to show them that there are good and not-so-good ways of forming letters. At first, it's best to not to worry about lines at all: children have enough to do forming the shapes without having to worry about correct line-placement, and there's plenty of time for that later. It's a good idea to give children at this age a chance to copy/learn those patterns which form the bases of the various letter families. That way, you can lay a good foundation for later writing without hindering the child's natural enthusiasm for trying to write now in his own stumbling way.
Once your child shows signs of being keen to write his own ideas down, the trick is to strike a balance between offering enough guidance to help him write what he wants to write in a pleasant and legible way, yet not overwhelming him at this early stage with rules and demanding a really high standard, which can put him off the process altogether. You might want to keep handwriting lessons separate from writing lessons so that you can resist the temptation to criticize his letter formation rather than focus on what he's actually trying to say in his writing. Don't worry: after a while, the skills he's learning in the handwriting will begin to show in his general writing!
Moving on
At around age 6-7 you can follow a basic handwriting programme to teach a simple print, then move onto cursive if you want to from 7/8 onwards. We use Christopher Jarman's 'The Development of Handwriting Skills' text (see Preparatory Level, English ages 5-6 and 6-7 for more details). A cheap, consumable workbook such as Lett's Hilarious Handwriting is much less thorough but might provide some light relief (though it's not hilarious I'm afraid...). It makes sense to stick to one style, as otherwise the child can become confused (Lett's for example, puts a loop on the 'k' which most other styles do not). I think legibility should be the main aim, which is why I like Jarman - it provides a simple yet elegant style. Some of the American styles we used at first were far to fancy and complicated. Your child can always branch off into copperplate or calligraphy later on!
Making a start
Most little children at some point have a go at forming letters, often around age 3 or 4. Maria Montessori believed that it was natural for children to write before they could read and, in one sense, writing is an easier task than reading: it is less abstract. One problem with this approach is that many children, especially boys, find the fine motor skills involved in writing very challenging at a very young age. My own sons were all reading fluently long before they felt comfortable writing, and for this reason I wouldn't advocate insisting that writing should precede reading (though there's no need to discourage it if it does).
When children do start to form letters, I find it best to just let them have a go - no lines, no rules about formation (until they begin to grow frustrated because they can't make their letters like the ones in the book...). Then I start to show them that there are good and not-so-good ways of forming letters. At first, it's best to not to worry about lines at all: children have enough to do forming the shapes without having to worry about correct line-placement, and there's plenty of time for that later. It's a good idea to give children at this age a chance to copy/learn those patterns which form the bases of the various letter families. That way, you can lay a good foundation for later writing without hindering the child's natural enthusiasm for trying to write now in his own stumbling way.
Once your child shows signs of being keen to write his own ideas down, the trick is to strike a balance between offering enough guidance to help him write what he wants to write in a pleasant and legible way, yet not overwhelming him at this early stage with rules and demanding a really high standard, which can put him off the process altogether. You might want to keep handwriting lessons separate from writing lessons so that you can resist the temptation to criticize his letter formation rather than focus on what he's actually trying to say in his writing. Don't worry: after a while, the skills he's learning in the handwriting will begin to show in his general writing!
Moving on
At around age 6-7 you can follow a basic handwriting programme to teach a simple print, then move onto cursive if you want to from 7/8 onwards. We use Christopher Jarman's 'The Development of Handwriting Skills' text (see Preparatory Level, English ages 5-6 and 6-7 for more details). A cheap, consumable workbook such as Lett's Hilarious Handwriting is much less thorough but might provide some light relief (though it's not hilarious I'm afraid...). It makes sense to stick to one style, as otherwise the child can become confused (Lett's for example, puts a loop on the 'k' which most other styles do not). I think legibility should be the main aim, which is why I like Jarman - it provides a simple yet elegant style. Some of the American styles we used at first were far to fancy and complicated. Your child can always branch off into copperplate or calligraphy later on!