Practice spelling without a pencil!

With children in Grade 1-3, quite a bit of the pencil-and-paper work they do is repetitive drill – to practice spelling words, maths concepts etc.

Although they are expected to write the answer, the emphasis is actually on knowing how to spell the word, or how to work out the sum. If poor fine motor skills are causing messy writing, then it is tough for them to have to use a pencil just to practice spelling.

Most kids love the chance to write on a blackboard. If you draw lines or columns on the board ahead of time, it will help them to keep their work neat.

Hint: fat “sidewalk chalk” is best for kids with poor fine motor skills.

Graffiti appeals to most kids! Using fat sidewalk chalk on a vibracrete wall (or a sidewalk) works well, and getting to scrub the chalk off with a scrubbing brush and water on a warm day is half the fun!

Use a whiteboard marker on a mirror. (This usually wipes off easily with a DRY cloth, but test your mirror first)

A whiteboard marker is fatter than a pencil and easier to control, and working on an vertical surface develops wrist stability

Using a stick to write in the sand is appealing to most kids!

Use “Scrabble” tiles or make your own using thick card. Use lower case letters if that is what your child is using in school.

Adult “Scrabble” uses capital letters (upper case letters), but Junior Scrabble has great lower case letters to use, as well as being a fun game to enhance visual perceptual and spelling skills.

Most kids find “Magnadoodle” type boards great fun, even though the “magnet stick” is very like a pencil. The only drawback is that it is hard to erase just one little letter, as you have to erase the whole board in one go.

If you have magnet letters, do some spelling on a magnetic board or on your fridge. Lower case letters are ideal, if you can find them.

Ok, this one is really messy, but loads of fun. Stick your child in the shower cubicle with a handful of shaving cream to smear and write in. A great motivation to round off a term of hard work!

The view from the outside as Jamie spells his “shape” sight words. Caution: shaving cream can irritate sensitive skins, so use the sensitive skin variants, and don’t let your kids get it all over their bodies. Jamie keeps his clothes on and we just wash his arms and hands well afterwards. Use a window cleaning sponge and warm soapy water to wash the shower glass afterwards.