Many parents and teachers that I have met have been surprised to hear that there is a proper way to form letters. Letters have a proper formation, that when followed, may assist with enhancing the quality, rate and organization of printing. Letters should be formed from Top to Bottom and Left to Right (left handed individuals may go Right to Left). We have more control going towards our bodies than away from our bodies therefore when forming letters, we will have more control when letters are formed starting from the top. This doesn’t necessarily mean that anyone who tends to form some letters from the bottom have messy writing, or individuals who form letters from the top have neat writing. Many other factors and skills play a role with letter legibility. However, letter formation is definitely a key factor. Improper letter formation may not be seen as much of an issue when children are quite young, because their writing demands are minimal. The issues begin to arise when writing demands begin to increase and children have to write multiple sentences and paragraphs. Despite it being best to address poor printing habits sooner rather than later, it is never too late to work on these skills. Speak to an Occupational Therapist to gather more information about proper letter formation.
Lucille Shenouda – Occupational Therapist
