8 tools for kids with dysgraphia

If your child has dysgraphia, these tools and apps can make writing easier. Your child may already use some of them at school, but it can help to have them at home, too. Most tools are sold in online catalogs for occupational therapists.

Pencil grip

A pencil grip fits over the pencil to position the thumb, index, and middle finger correctly. Grasping the pencil properly lets your child write more neatly and more quickly without their hand muscles getting so tired.

There are many types of pencil grips, so it’s important to know what your child’s specific needs are. If your grade-schooler wraps their thumb around their index finger, for instance, there’s one with built-in guards. The guards may make it easier for your child’s fingers to remain in the correct position.

You can find pencil grips at office supply stores, but they may not provide enough finger support for kids with dysgraphia. To find the right pencil grip for your child, you may need to look in online catalogs aimed at occupational therapists.

Slant board

Writing on a slanted surface allows your child’s wrist to extend while the fingers flex and naturally fall into a better writing position. Instead of using a slant board, your child can use a three-inch three-ring binder turned sideways. A rubber band can keep papers from slipping off.

Raised paper

This paper has a rough surface along the lines to provide tactile cues that can help your child stay within the lines. The physical “bump” gives sensory information on how big to make the letters.

Highlighted paper

The lower half of the writing area (below the dotted line) is highlighted, indicating how high the lowercase letters should go. This can help kids learn how to form letters of the correct size. You can order the paper from a catalog in a variety of colors. Or you can make your own with a highlighter.

Graphic organizer

A graphic organizer is a visual way of breaking writing projects down into smaller steps. It lets your child note key details for almost any kind of writing assignment without worrying about paragraphs, topic sentences, or transitions. As kids brainstorm, they can jot down ideas in the visual framework. Then, when they go to write, they’ll have a starting point.

Graphic organizers come in many types. They can look like a Venn diagram, a flow chart, or an ice cream cone (for younger kids). You can find many free templates online.

Handwriting without tears

This writing program gives explicit instruction on how to form letters using multisensory strategies. Letters are grouped by similar strokes using top-to-bottom, left-to-right sequencing. For example, kids learn the six “magic c” letters (c, a, d, g, q, o) as a group. That way they get lots of practice doing the same beginning movement, which builds muscle memory.

Wet-Dry-Try

This iPad app for beginning writers comes from Handwriting Without Tears. Kids use their fingers to practice forming letters and numbers on the screen. When your child is ready, your child can switch to using a stylus.

With Wet-Dry-Try, your child can use a virtual slate chalkboard for writing capital and lowercase letters and numbers. The app also has personalized audio coaching. An Android version of the app is currently in development.

Apps to make worksheets less tedious

There are a number of free iPad apps that let kids complete paper worksheets on a tablet. Two examples are PaperPort Notes and SnapType (developed by an occupational therapist).

Here’s how these apps work: Kids take a photo of their worksheet. They tap on the screen where they want to add text and type in their answers. If the worksheet is multiple choice or fill-in-the blank, they can use their finger to write in words or circle the answer. When they’re finished, they can print out the photo of the worksheet.

Android users can try Samsung Galaxy Note5, which allows you to do similar things. You can upload an image of a worksheet from your camera roll and then, using a text box, write on it with your finger or a stylus.

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