To enable a child to write letters, words, short sentences, and texts proficiently from the start, they must first master a variety of gross and fine motor skill movements. Both simple and complex movement sequences must be practised and learned until they can be executed automatically.
Children develop body control from the core outward and from the top downward. Essentially, babies strengthen their neck muscles to support their heads, then their trunk muscles to sit, and finally the overall body control and balance necessary for walking. The progression of arm and finger control is similar: initially, a child can move the arm from the shoulder joint, then they learn to manipulate the hands, and eventually they acquire the fine finger movements essential for writing. In addition to enhancing gross motor skills, children must also cultivate the fine motor control needed to grasp and manoeuvre a writing instrument. They must build strength in their wrists and hands, as well as achieve a high level of finger control. Key actions include grip strength, pinch strength, and eye-hand coordination.
To write effectively, children must coordinate both sides of their bodies, with one hand holding the paper while the other guides the pen. This ability to synchronise the two sides of the body while performing different tasks is referred to as 'bilateral integration,' enabling activities like tying knots or kicking a football. Furthermore, children must learn to control their movements across the body's mid-line, a crucial skill for tasks such as writing that demands a high level of dexterity.
Initially, children typically adopt a fist grip when holding a pencil or pen, which later evolves into a finger grasp. The ultimate objective is for them to acquire the skill of using a 'dynamic tripod grasp', where the pen or pencil is held between the thumb, index, and middle fingers. This ability should ideally develop by the age of three or four. The child forms a tripod shape with their thumb and fingers, with the pencil resting on the soft area between the thumb and forefinger.
Children also require a significant level of core strength to engage in writing activities, as they need to maintain stability and support their body, neck, and head while remaining in a relaxed state.
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