Spotting Hidden Roadblocks to Learning: what handwriting can tell us

If your child has practiced handwriting but it still seems harder than expected, it may be time to look beyond what is happening on the page. In this episode of The OT is IN, Sarah is joined by fellow occupational therapist, homeschool mom, and OT is INsiders cohost Tiffany Parsons. Together, they explore handwriting from an OT perspective, looking at the many motor and cognitive skills that work together when a child writes. Sarah and Tiffany talk about what parents can observe during handwriting, including posture, pencil control, effort, coordination, and body positioning. They also discuss why it can be helpful to look for patterns beyond writing. How does your child manage utensils, fasteners, stairs, playground equipment, or activities that require both sides of the body to work together? The goal isn't to turn homeschool parents into occupational therapists. It's to help you become a curious observer of your child, recognize patterns across everyday activities, and know when bringing another professional onto your team might be helpful. In This Episode You'll Hear About • Why handwriting requires both motor and cognitive skills • Why the skills involved in handwriting don't always develop at the same rate • What Sarah and Tiffany observe when a child is having difficulty with handwriting • How posture, balance, bilateral coordination, visual skills, and movement patterns can affect participation • Why it's helpful to notice patterns across handwriting, self care, play, and other daily activities • Everyday activities that can give parents clues about coordination and motor skills • Simple ways to incorporate whole body movement into your homeschool day • When it may be helpful to seek support from an occupational therapist • Why building a team doesn't take away from your role as the expert on your child Links and Resources From Today's Show Resources from HomeschoolOT Join The OT Insiders Membership Get The Primitive Reflexes Resource Guide How To Think About Handwriting Guide Making Sense Of The Handwriting Puzzle Course Connect with Our Guest and Sponsor Check Out Our Title Sponsor CTC Math for 50% off CTC Math Free Trial Tiffany Parsons on Facebook Related episodes of the OT is IN Episode 8: Beyond the Pencil: Exploring Vision's Impact on Homeschool Handwriting Success Episode 21: Exploring Primitive Reflexes: From Birth to Integration Episode 22: Supporting Children Through Play-Based Reflex Integration Episode 23: Blending Sensory Integration and Fitness for Better Handwriting Episode 24: Understanding the Handwriting Journey: Tools and Techniques for Homeschoolers Episode 38: Practical Learning Tools from a Homeschool Graduate: Sensory Kits for Homeschool Success Episode 55: Understanding Dysgraphia: Tools and Strategies for Homeschoolers Episode 56: Unlocking Writing Confidence in Children: The Role of Personal Expression Episode 77: Turning Letters Into Play: How Doodling Builds Handwriting Skills with Sarah Muldoon Episode 78: How Movement Influences Learning: OT Insights for Parents Thank you to our title sponsor for this episode, CTC Math. You can check out their FREE trial here. Connect With Our Guest, Tiffany Parsons Tiffany is a pastors wife, bonus mom, twin mom, homeschool mom and pediatric occupational therapist. She is a 2014 graduate from West Virginia University. She is passionate about educating others on what occupational therapy is and how it can benefit the lives of not only children but the family as a whole.