N2 but still can't recognise numbers and letters

[mummy so kiasu]

missk:

By the way he holds his pencils, crayons and markers with immature grip... Sometime even palmar grip!!!

Focus on motor skills first & not writing. Activities such as beads & thread (get the bigger ones), play dough, cut & paste & using crayons to trace the dotted pictures willbe fun & helpful. My P2 girl had motor & speech issues till K2. Give your kid more time & do not push him too much. Every child development is different. He should be ready for P1 as long as his writing is readable.

[Lavina]

missk:

By the way he holds his pencils, crayons and markers with immature grip... Sometime even palmar grip!!!

Have you tried pencil grippers? I bought mine many years ago from Kinokuniya orchard. It is made in Japan and the package came with an orange gripper (more effective) and a green one.

[Lavina]

Double post…

[ammonite]

Yup, time and crafts will help. Forcing him to write more may backfire as it may reinforce the wrong grip. Ds1 started off with the correct grip naturally, but all the coloring in school turned it into the wrong grip as it pushed him beyond his natural limits. He could write neatly but very slowly and with cramps. He went for handwriting therapy finally at 8 and it has helped a lot. The OT gave him very specific exercises to do and helped him adjust his tension. My wallet is much slimmer now, but homework time is no longer a torture and he is a lot more comfortable.

[sharonkhoo]

ammonite:

Yup, time and crafts will help. Forcing him to write more may backfire as it may reinforce the wrong grip. Ds1 started off with the correct grip naturally, but all the coloring in school turned it into the wrong grip as it pushed him beyond his natural limits. He could write neatly but very slowly and with cramps. He went for handwriting therapy finally at 8 and it has helped a lot. The OT gave him very specific exercises to do and helped him adjust his tension. My wallet is much slimmer now, but homework time is no longer a torture and he is a lot more comfortable.

How old is your son now? Do you know whether using a computer for written work and exams is acceptable in Singapore? My daughter will be going to JC1 in 2014, and I'm seriously considering asking for her to be allowed to use a computer. She is currently educated using an internet school system while we live overseas so she doesn't need to write much, and I can't imagine how she will cope with 'A' levels in Singapore. An educational psychologist who tested her a couple of years ago said that I might be able to request it, but I've not heard of anyone who has.

[ammonite]

He will be turning 9 this year. I also asked about this (computer) but no one is sure. I have relatives teaching at other primary schools and polytechnics, and so far, none has seen any student with such accommodations. At the most they get extra time for written exams. For written assignments, it depends on the teacher (ds' teacher last yr allowed him to type up unimportant some holiday work).


I recalled reading about a student with serious visual impairment who was given extra time for exams and someone to help read it out to her. But even she had to write it out. It was some years back (she is totally blind now), but when I read that, I was like :stupid:

Hopefully things will change in time to come. MOE is becoming quite open and informed about accommodations. But handwriting therapy has helped my son, I am pretty thankful for that because the amount of writing is seriously...

[sharonkhoo]

Well, I will appeal to the school and MOE when we enrol her in 2014. Hopefully since the ed. psych. did mention in her report that her muscle strength was low which hampers her writing, we can make a case for using a computer for writing essays during exams. Extra time will help a bit but she has other issues too, and if we can relieve her of the writing fatigue, we would like to. She will be taking humanities subjects, which means a lot of essays!

[missk]

I also don't wish to push him too much. In fact most factsheets on child development says some children can grip pencils correctly at age 3, but some cannot. In other countries if you force 3-4 year olds to do worksheets, you might be taken to be crazy pushy mum. But the fact that his behaviour during worksheet time in school is unmanageable, I have no choice but to get him started. He develops on his own schedule I suspect

But I guess can't be rushed. I like the bead threading idea... Will try get bigger ones. I tried grips on slim pencils... But does't fit on fatter crayons that he likes. He loves dot to dot drawing, art and playdoh. I am comforted by the fact that at least his visual and verbal skills seem ok.

I am still unable myself to grip a pen properly till this age. Sighz. I totally understand cramps and tiredness when writing! I used to get cramps doing penmanship exercises after 1 line in P1 *cry* but being perfectionistic I still had slo but neat handwriting

[ammonite]

slmkhoo:

Well, I will appeal to the school and MOE when we enrol her in 2014. Hopefully since the ed. psych. did mention in her report that her muscle strength was low which hampers her writing, we can make a case for using a computer for writing essays during exams. Extra time will help a bit but she has other issues too, and if we can relieve her of the writing fatigue, we would like to. She will be taking humanities subjects, which means a lot of essays!

Yes, do appeal. There is always a first for everything. I know there are other kids struggling with this as well. It is a shame to let handwriting difficulties stand in their way, especially when working adults - esp writers! - are using computer all day now.

[ammonite]

missk:

I also don't wish to push him too much. In fact most factsheets on child development says some children can grip pencils correctly at age 3, but some cannot. In other countries if you force 3-4 year olds to do worksheets, you might be taken to be crazy pushy mum. But the fact that his behaviour during worksheet time in school is unmanageable, I have no choice but to get him started. He develops on his own schedule I suspect

But I guess can't be rushed. I like the bead threading idea... Will try get bigger ones. I tried grips on slim pencils... But does't fit on fatter crayons that he likes. He loves dot to dot drawing, art and playdoh. I am comforted by the fact that at least his visual and verbal skills seem ok.

I am still unable myself to grip a pen properly till this age. Sighz. I totally understand cramps and tiredness when writing! I used to get cramps doing penmanship exercises after 1 line in P1 *cry* but being perfectionistic I still had slo but neat handwriting

If his behavior during worksheet time is unmanageable, you can talk to the teacher on alternatives. If everything else is good with the school, you can provide other things for him to do during worksheet time, and tell the teacher you will work with him at his pace at home. He may need a lot of encouragement while doing it. If heis getting frustrated doing it in school, only getting scolded and then acting up, it is only aggravating his learning attitude.

He is lucky that you understand the frustrations and discomfort. 3-4 yr is really young to me. No need to let it be a big deal.