Many parents wonder: why teach a child to write in capital letters, if the future of keyboards and touch screens?
The answer is simple: handwriting in children is directly related to the development of fine motor skills, which stimulates the speech centers of the brain and improves concentration.
When a child prints a letter, their brain is simultaneously working on symbol image formation, motor coordination and spatial reasoning. It's a complex workout that doesn't to replace any gadget. Teaching writing to children is not a tribute to tradition, but a tool for harmonious development.
Teaching handwriting to your child can even be done online. It is convenient for parents and children. But there are a few nuances.
Features of the online format of writing instruction
Writing caps online has its own features that turn into advantages when properly organized.
The main problem is that the child is not sitting at the same table with an educator who can correct the hand position.
We solve this problem through a camera. The student places the device so that the teacher can see his hand and notebook in real time. Every movement is corrected immediately.
The lessons are based on the principle «show - repeat - reinforce». First, the teacher demonstrates letter writing on his tablet with magnification, saying each step. Then the child repeats it under the teacher's supervision.
The final is self-writing with immediate feedback.
How does an online writing class work in an online format
A typical session lasts 25-30 minutes - enough time for a 6-8 year old child to concentrate. We don't start with a pen, but with a warm-up for the fingers. Simple exercises prepare the hand for the load. Then - graphic dictations without letters. We draw waves, staircases, spirals to work out the smoothness of the lines.
The transition to letters is gradual. First we work with elements: sticks, hooks, curls. Only when the hand has mastered the basic movements, we assemble them into letters.
We do not demand perfect writing on the first try. How to teach uppercase writing is a matter of patience. One child learns the letter in 2 lessons, another - in 5.
The online format allows the pace to be tailored to each student without the pressure of classmates.
Benefits of online writing instruction
Online handwriting for kids has unexpected pros over offline lessons.
First, the child learns in a familiar home environment where there is less stress and more confidence.
Second, parents see the whole process and understand what to work on between lessons.
Third, digital tools allow you to record the educator's demonstrations - the child can review how to write the letter «e» correctly as many times as needed.
Calligraphy for children in online format is especially effective when working on mistakes. If a child constantly «rolls» a letter to the right, the teacher takes a screenshot of his/her notebook, overlays the correct sample and shows the difference visually.
Such visualization speeds up correction by 2-3 times compared to verbal explanations.
Remember that a child who by the end of the first grade writes a little scraggly, but with pleasure, will overtake the one who was forced to write letters through tears. The main thing is to keep interest and confidence in their abilities. And for complex preparation of the hand for writing it is also useful to develop general motor skills and coordination - more about this in the materials on the development of children of primary school age.
