Special Therapies, Inc. Waukesha, Wisconsin - Handwriting without Tears Therapy

Handwriting without Tears

Handwriting Without Tears is a specialized curriculum developed by Occupational Therapist, Jan Z. Olsen. It is a guide for promoting readiness skills for writing and remediating when there are problems.

Often times writing difficulties are a consequence of the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and touch senses not working together properly. We use unique materials to help eliminate problems with letter formation, reversals, legibility, spacing, and cursive writing.

This curriculum encourages a fun and easy development of handwriting skills that becomes automatic for children of all abilities and ages.

Candidates often:

• have chronic writing problems at school
• stress out over writing activities
• cannot hold the paper still
• cannot form fingers around writing tools

• cannot stay with writing for very long;
fatigues early or gives up
• written work is immature for age or is difficult
to read
• respond best if school aged

Readiness Skills Are:

• Fine and gross motor skill development,
especially of trunk, shoulders, and arms
• Shape and letter recognition

• Correct habits from the beginning
• No reversals
• Forming numbers without difficulty

The Printing Program Works On:

• Double lines-no size confusion
• Size is just right for child's natural movement
• Lefty friendly

• Letters taught in groups by formation
• Word and sentence spacing

The Cursive Program Works On:

• Simple vertical style
• Smooth, easy connections

• Fun illustrations
• Fun review to develop fluency

"Children who write well perform better in school, enjoy their classes, and feel proud of their work!"