02/09/2026
❤️ Parents, here’s the gentle reminder we all need:
Handwriting isn’t just about learning letters — it’s about having the hand strength, coordination, and developmental readiness to use a pencil with confidence.
Those X‑rays show exactly why preschoolers struggle with writing… their little hands simply aren’t finished developing yet. And that’s okay. They’re not behind — they’re growing.
What helps them most right now? Play.
Play builds the muscles, motor skills, and coordination that make writing easier later. Activities like Play‑Doh, cutting, coloring, beading, climbing, throwing balls, and sensory play are actually preparing their hands for school success.
This is also where Occupational Therapy can make a huge difference.
OT helps children build:
• Strong, stable fingers and hands
• Better pencil control
• Eye‑hand coordination
• Attention and regulation
• Confidence with early academic tasks
When these foundational skills grow, children thrive academically — not just in handwriting, but in reading, school participation, and overall learning.
“Look at the differences between a typical preschool child’s hand (left) and a typical 7 year old hand (right). Want to know why a preschool aged child isn’t able to write yet? This is why! Their hands are still developing and are not fully formed. So what should they be doing to support this? PLAY!! Play dough, coloring, cutting, gluing, playing outside, digging in dirt, sensory play, dress up play, science experiments, beading, puzzles, throwing balls, etc.
All of these things help their hands develop. When they are physically ready to write, they will! No need to rush them, they will show you when they are ready.” ❤️
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