hometips.html

Home Survival Tips
Homework

Make homework a part of a daily routine. When deciding on a schedule, keep in mind the child's likes, dislikes, and their best time of day.
Break homework up into small, manageable pieces. Schedule small breaks when they complete part of the task.
Allow children the support they need to complete their homework. Many children like to have something to eat or drink while they are working. A sports water bottle with a straw, chewing gum or sucking on hard candy, or crunchy snacks can be helpful while completing their work.

Handwriting Tips

Awkward pencil grasp

Have the child play with clay, pinching and pulling it.
Have the child do frequent, simple, writing/drawing activities while lying on their stomach on the floor wtih their forearms resting on the floor.
Mark the child's pencil with a dot/sticker on each side of the pencil barrel, one inch above where the paint begins at the sharpened end, across from another

You may want to use a "stetro" pencil grip if the child is still having difficulty. Crooked, flexed wrist as they write

Have the child write on a vertical surface, such as a chalkboard, three-ringed binder, or hold their paper on the wall and stand while writing.
Have the child angle the paper so that bottom left hand corner of the paper is pointing at their stomach. Their writing arm will be parallel with the paper. Reverse this procedure for left-handed students.

The child who writes too lightly

To keep the pencil from slipping, start them off with a larger pencil or have them use the pencils with indentations in them for the fingers (Yikees).
Clothes pin activities where the child puts clothes pins on and off a ruler or dowel are good for developing finger strength.
Encourage the child to form his fingers in an "O" with all finger joints bent outward as they are doing this activity.
Include weighbearing activities on the arms such as wheelbarrow walks and various animal walks.
Set up a reward program. Give points for every letter that is written darker with more appropriate pressure on the paper.

The child who presses too hard when writing

Try a mechanical pencil (0.7mm or thicker). This allows the child to self-regulate the amount of pressure (because the lead breaks), without you having to constantly remind them.

Movement

Children need to move to learn! Movement helps us organize and use the information we receive. Movement reduces stress.
Sitting on a therapy ball while doing their homework. Insisting that the child finish their homework in one sitting is usually counter-productive. Frequent breaks are beneficial!
Children usually love to jump, and jumping can be quite helpful for many children. A mini-trampoline, jump rope, or jumping games, such as hopscotch, may be useful for some children.
It is usually not a good idea to take away outdoor play privileges as a disciplinary measure. Scrubbing the kitchen floor may be as useful as playing on the monkey bars!