Pressure problems in handwriting
Writing Time 26/11/20
On one side of the classroom, you may have a student with dark, smudged writing and punctured paper. On the other side, you may have a student with writing so faint it’s almost impossible to read. The former happens when students apply too much pressure with their pencil, while the latter occurs when students don’t apply enough pressure.
Students rely on an in-built system known as the ‘proprioceptive system’ to inform how much pressure is needed to complete a task. Just like we use our proprioceptive system to recognise that more effort is required to move a backpack than a pencil, students rely on this system to identify what pressure is needed to achieve fluid handwriting movements.1
If you’re seeing pressure problems in your students’ handwriting, try these ideas.
Set the scene for success
Provide your students with the right tools before you begin your handwriting lessons to ensure they have every chance to apply appropriate pressure.
Consider changing pencils:
Identify which students may benefit from different pencils and encourage them to use softer (2B) or harder (HB) pencils, depending on their needs. 2B pencils are better suited to students with faint handwriting that is difficult to read as the lead is thicker and darker. HB pencils are a better choice for students who apply too much pressure as the lead is harder and lighter, making it more difficult to smudge.
Model ‘too light’, ‘too dark’ and ‘just right’ handwriting:
Place a handwriting sample of ‘too light’, ‘too dark’ and ‘just right’ on each student’s desk or display the samples on the classroom walls. Encourage your students to compare their handwriting to the samples to find areas for improvement.2 As well as comparing samples, it’s a good idea to demonstrate the different pressure types to your students. Talk through what you’re doing and correct yourself aloud so students can identify your ‘mistakes’.
Ensure that poor pencil grip is not the underlying cause of your students’ handwriting pressure issues. Incorrect pencil grip not only affects the quality of students’ handwriting, but can also lead to fatigue or discomfort, making writing an unpleasant experience. Before students begin writing, encourage them to think about how they hold their pencil. Start your handwriting lessons, or an extended writing task, by projecting and discussing the 3Ps (posture, paper position and pencil grip) from Writing Time Online. As students write, walk around the room and correct any pencil grip issues one on one.
Have students explore different pressures
Provide students with opportunities to explore different pencil pressures so they can better identify an appropriate pressure to apply when handwriting.
Practise shading:
Use the fine motor activities in the Writing Time Student Practice Books to practise shading. Ask students to adjust the pressure they apply to their pencil to shade different shapes light, medium or dark grey.
Swap students’ paper for corrugated cardboard:
If you have a student who constantly uses excess pressure, try swapping their paper for corrugated cardboard. This way, if they puncture holes in the cardboard, they know they’re using too much pressure.
Try ghost writing:
Ask your students to write very lightly on paper and then carefully erase the words without leaving any marks. Have students exchange paper and if the erased words are illegible, the writer wins the game.1
Experiment with different pressures:
Ask students to write a sentence that’s ‘too light’, ‘too dark’ and ‘just right’. Discuss how the writing looks and how their hands feel after writing each sentence.2
References
- Beck, C 2019, Pencil pressure when writing, 23 September, viewed 16 October 2020, https://www.theottoolbox.com/pressing-too-hard-when-writing-tips/↩
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Royal Children’s Hospital 2005, Occupational Therapy - Kids health information: Pencil pressure, viewed 16 October 2020, https://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/ot/InfoSheet_I.pdf↩
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FAQs
If you have a student who constantly uses excess pressure, try swapping their paper for corrugated cardboard. This way, if they puncture holes in the cardboard, they know they're using too much pressure.
What does pressure mean in handwriting? ›
Handwriting with heavy pressure: Where the writing appears dark, or shows through to the back of the paper indicates high levels of energy. A light pressure indicates a lack of energy or tiredness.
How do you increase handwriting pressure? ›
Heavy Pressure: Regularly undertake a series of exercises whereby pressure is placed through the upper limbs, ie crawling games, wheelbarrows, ladies press-ups, elephant walks etc. these should ideally be incorporated into a daily schedule. Provide a light-up pen which can be bought cheaply from stationery shops.
Why does my child press so hard when writing? ›
Fine motor: Children who haven't developed wrist stability have trouble keeping their wrist stable while moving their fingers and thumb. This immature development can lead to clenched grips, increased pressure, and white knuckles.
How to stop pressing hard when writing? ›
Try using a pencil grip, tubing or commercially available thicker pencils. ◗ Try different pen types such as gel pens or fine liners. Ask your child if it feels easier to write with the new pen and if his hand gets tired or sore. ◗ Place a piece of writing paper on a soft mouse pad or woven dishcloth.
How do you reduce pressure on your hand when writing? ›
Use your wrist and forearm to move the pen or pencil rather than your fingers. Re-orient your writing paper or use an inclined surface to keep your wrist relaxed, especially for left-handed writing. If writing hurts your thumb, try holding the pen in the web space between your index and middle fingers.
How can I improve my writing under pressure? ›
Reread the topic more carefully, underlining the verbs (describe,explain, analyze, etc.). Begin to write: if you don't have an introduction in mind, don't labor over one. Just begin with the general point. Don't write too slowly or too quickly--just at a nice even pace.
What activities reduce pencil pressure? ›
Warm up by squeezing a stress ball or upper extremity weight bearing activities such as wheelbarrow walking, Proprioceptive Poems, animal walks or wall push ups. Fine tune the fingers and grip with clothespin activities. Try the free Ninja Clothes Pin activity. Play some visual perceptual clothes pin games.
How can ADHD improve handwriting? ›
The stimulant drugs often used to treat ADHD might also help to improve handwriting. We need more studies on this. But some research has found that these medications, together with movement training, could boost the motor skills needed for good handwriting.
What is pen pressure in writing? ›
Pen pressure is the force applied by the fingers in the process of writing and it is one of the many characteristics which the forensic experts use for comparison.
The harder they press the more pressure they exert on the surface which indicates the pressures they feel pressing upon themselves. Children just learning to write may press hard because they enjoy the feeling of bearing down with the writing instrument and seeing the marks they make get thicker and deeper.
What is dyspraxia handwriting? ›
Difficulty with typing, handwriting and drawing. May have a poor pen grip, press too hard when writing and have difficulty when writing along a line. Inadequate grasp. Difficulty using tools and domestic implements, locks and keys.
Does ADHD make writing hard? ›
Students with ADHD have a hard time writing to length and often produce essays that are too short and lacking in details. Explain how the use of adjectives and adverbs can enhance their composition. Show them how to use a thesaurus, too.
How to write without pressing hard? ›
Ensure you allow the fleshy underside edge of your palm to lightly take some of the weight of your hand. This will stop tension forming further up the arm. Balance your pencil in your fingers, and only use a light grip - light enough to gently pull the pencil through with your other hand.
How do you fix stiff writing? ›
Try to find ways to make your style more alive:
- Use active verbs (rather than passive) whenever you can. ...
- Look for run-on sentences. ...
- Look for phrases that sound awkward, too formal, or stiff. ...
- Don't use a longer word if a shorter word will do the job. ...
- You can spice up your writing with exclamations now and then.
Pressure while writing
People who exert a lot of pressure when they are writing have an emotional and very expressive side attached to them. On the other hand, people who exert light pressure, are not very entangled in their emotions, are practical and not very emotionally expressive.
What is the average writing pressure? ›
Mean measurement values in the writing pressure and writing speed tasks
| Measurement index | Writing pressure task | Writing speed task |
|---|
| Writing surface pressure (g) | 506 ± 114 | 248 ± 87 |
| Hand pressure (g) | 787 ± 259 | 432 ± 179 |
| Forearm pressure (g) | 1,881 ± 730 | 1,747 ± 639 |
13 more rowsJul 24, 2018
Tight writing aims for brevity, so combine sentences to remove repetition and to make your writing dense and compact. Look especially for the word "the" and remove as many as possible. In finding a way to remove them, you will necessarily tighten the rest.
Students rely on an in-built system known as the ‘proprioceptive system’ to inform how much pressure is needed to complete a task. Just like we use our proprioceptive system to recognise that more effort is required to move a backpack than a pencil, students rely on this system to identify what pressure is needed to achieve fluid handwriting movements.1