6 years ago
Is your handwriting hard to read? Can other people even decipher your signature? If not, you may have not had the right handwriting teacher when you were a kid.
Now 9 News reporter Jan Fox says some of your kids may not be "getting the point" when putting pencil to paper.
Jan Carlson, an occupational therapist, dreamed up the "Handwriting Without Tears" program to help her son many years ago.
And for 5-year-old Cecelia learning how to write is "fun", without going through the old drills many of us remember so fondly.
To make the lessons of handwriting easier, Carlson uses tricks and tools she invented, such as "sticks" and "sponges." As a result her students have a good time learning a tedious task.
Carlson also uses a "smiley face" to show kids how the letters start.
To correct 9-year-old Carl's handwriting, Carlson first straightened out his printing and now one can actually read his own handwriting now, which hasn't always been the case. Now Carlson is making an attempt to tackle the lefthander's cursive writing.
Carl is very bright, very verbal, but his fine motor skills were lagging a little. His mom sees a big difference not only in her son's handwriting but also in his confidence level.
And because of Carlson's efforts kids are echoing words no parent ever expects to hear from children learning about handwriting class.
Carlson says more than two million kids are now using "Handwriting without Tears."
If you'd like to know more about the materials and the methods, Handwriting Without Tears.
Written by Jan Fox
