• Provide adequate light. Natural light is best.
• Feet should rest flat on the floor. If a chair is too high, create a footrest by duct-taping telephone books together. Dangling feet decrease stability for desk work.

• When your child is sitting apply the 90° rule (right angle) for hips, knees, and ankles.
• Height of the desk should come to 2 inches above the elbow when the child is sitting.

• Promote proper pencil grip. Tri-pod grip is best. Pointer finger and thumb pinch the pencil. Side of middle finger provides pencil support. A nice little story to help children remember these fingers: The mama finger(pointer), daddy finger(tall finger), and grandma finger(thumb) do the work. The kids don't work. Short pencils can help proper grasp.

• Pencil grips can be purchased.

• Experiment with different types of writing utensils. Erasable pens, mechanical pencils, felt tip pens, crayons, etc., may help a child who is having difficulty with a standard pencil.

• Lessons should be 15 minutes or less.
• Give positive direction and praise!

Ideas to Inspire Namewriting

Most kindergarten curriculums want their students to be able to write their formal name correctly using proper upper and lower case letters. However, using all upper case letters may be easier for the child who is developmentally younger or who has difficulty with fine motor skills. The namesheets are intended for children who are near the age of five. To secure learning your child should write ther name at least once a day. According to the latest brain research "practice makes permanent."

Doing hand writing warm-ups is a fun way to stretch out and get ready to write. Some favorites are:

"Novelty stimulates attention" and attention is critical to learning. Writing in different locations with different colors and textures can enhance the learning process. Copy Namesheets on different colors of paper. You can cover the Namesheet with laminant, clear contact paper or a sheet protector and trace with a crayon. Further practice by writing names in sand, shaving cream, finger paint, or on a steamy window. Black or white boards and magna-doodles are excellent and fun.

Writing on a vertical surface helps to promote proper pencil grip, particularly for "lefties" who hook their wrist and smudge their writing. The "tricky letters", such as s, d, b, j, k, m, x, y and z, due to their form or directionality are better modeled and practiced on the larger, vertical surfaces. You can create a slant board by turning a 2 or 3 inch binder sideways to write on.

Cut up the letters of their namesheet for them to put/paste in order. Cut out their name and label something of theirs. Display completed namesheets in a prominent place at home that is eye level to your child to provide visual review. Show or give to relatives, friends, teachers and accept their kudos. After all, it is a valuable work of art and an accomplishment - a gift for life!