Handwriting is a valuable skill that doesn’t have to be taught and practiced strictly with pencil and paper! A multisensory approach to handwriting can help take away fear, pressure and the rigidness of typical handwriting practice. But what does multisensory mean? A multisensory approach to handwriting provides children with the opportunity to use their various senses (touch, visual, auditory, smell, and muscle movement) to engage in handwriting activities. How much more fun learning can be when we can incorporate a variety of textures, sounds, sights and movements to writing activities!
Check out some examples of multisensory activities for handwriting below!
- Finger Writing in Shaving cream
- Painting
- Building letters with popsicle sticks, playdoh, clay, pipe cleaners, stickers
- Finger Writing in Salt, Sand, Rice or Glitter trays
- Finger painting
- Finger writing on
- Dry Erase markers on a window
- Writing with Smelly Markers
- Acting out the letters/big arm movements
- Singing letter formation during writing
- Writing letters in the air
- Chalk
- Writing on Bright paper, textured paper
- Writing to music
- Trace letters with a favorite toy (ex: cars, animals, small blocks, dot paint)
A multisensory approach to handwriting can be helpful for all children as they all have different learning styles. Reach out to your therapist today to explore more sensory-rich experiences for your child as they practice their handwriting skills!
Woodward, S., & Swinth, Y. (2002). Multisensory approach to handwriting remediation: Perceptions of school-based occupational therapists. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56, 305–312.
