Handwriting

Legible and fluent handwriting is a gift that will last your child a lifetime but it's very tricky to master. In this section of the site you'll find lots of information about how your child learns to write, handwriting activities and steps to better handwriting, as well as advice on how to help your child through each of the handwriting stages – from patterning to printing to joined-up (cursive).
You'll also find lots of handwriting worksheets for your child to practise with and we'd also recommend you look at the unique Handwriting Learning Journey for a complete programme of worksheets.
Worksheets

The Handwriting Learning Journey
The Handwriting Learning Journey is a course of over 200 worksheets that will take your child from the first stages of writing – known as patterning – right through to being able to write in a fluent, joined-up style.
Handwriting is an essential skill, but we all have to learn it, and it’s a very complex task. Legible, neat handwriting takes lots of practice and it isn’t just learning the alphabet – fine motor skills, hand eye co-ordination and an interest in putting pen to paper are essential as your child develops their skills. The final goal is for handwriting to become an automatic skill, so your child can concentrate on what, and not how, they are writing.
Handwriting advice videos for parents
Working with the National Handwriting Association, TheSchoolRun has produced 21 videos to offer advice on different aspects of handwriting development and learning. Whether you need to help your child hold their pencil correctly or want to check the correct formation for every letter of the alphabet, watch our experts to find out what you need to know.
- Video: correct wrist position for handwriting
- Video: Right-handed handwriting tips and expert advice
- Video: Correcting pencil grip
- Video: The dynamic tripod grasp for better handwriting
- Video: The dynamic tripod grasp explained
- Video: Left-handed handwriting tips and expert advice
- Video: correct handwriting grip and positioning for new writers
- Video: Pre-writing activities to support handwriting
- Video: Pre-writing activities using scissors
- Video: Handwriting posture and seating advice
- Video: Tripod grasp quick trick
- Video: Handwriting aids for children
- Video: Handwriting development stages explained for parents
- Video: Pencil grasp development
- Video: Handwriting letter families
- Video: Letter formation, Long ladder letter family
- Video: Letter formation, Curly caterpillar letter family
- Video: Letter formation, One-armed robot letter family
- Video: Letter formation, Zig-zag monster letter family
- Video: Correct letter formation
Cursive / joined-up writing: everything parents need to know
Joined-up or cursive writing is encouraged in schools; from parent information about cusive writing to techniques to help develop a fluent joined-up style and free handwriting worksheets, we offer advice and suggestions to help you help your child with handwriting at home.

Handwriting patterns playbook
Before children are able to start writing letters and words their hands and muscles need to get used to producing marks on paper. Our Patterns playbook offers your child the opportunity to practise common writing patterns in preparation for handwriting letters at age 4 or 5. It's also a fun way to encourage an older child has trouble writing particular letters. Can they make some waves, draw some curly baby hair and decorate a birthday cake with Smarties, all while doing some vital handwriting practice?

Improve your child's handwriting in 8 weeks
Handwriting is a crucial life skill, but how can you help your child write neatly and legibly? Our eight-week handwriting learning pack is packed with information and tips from handwriting experts, as well as fun and practical steps you can take to help your child put theory into practice.