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Most adults give up on improving handwriting once they leave school. Looking at your handwriting; it’s as if those hours of scribbling and scratching didn’t help at all. Having a boss or coworker call you to decipher a note or letter is just plain embarrassing but using a keyboard isn’t always an option. If you’d like to have better handwriting there are some things you can do. Writing is a learned behavior that you can correct with some practice and focus.
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Most adults give up on improving handwriting once they leave school. Looking at your handwriting; it’s as if those hours of scribbling and scratching didn’t help at all. Having a boss or coworker call you to decipher a note or letter is just plain embarrassing but using a keyboard isn’t always an option. If you’d like to have better handwriting there are some things you can do. Writing is a learned behavior that you can correct with some practice and focus.
Understanding the Mechanics of Writing • Nice handwriting is a result of good cooperation from your mind and body. They have to work together to give you the perfect “John Hancock.” You need a steady shoulder, a steady pen movement and you must keep your eyes on your task. On top of that, your brain needs to predict or “see” the text before you write it. Needless to say, if this is difficult for you, you could have an undiagnosed medical problem. (People with ADD or ADHD have a difficult time with handwriting but it is not impossible to improve writing.)
What You Need to Practice Handwriting • Pick up a pen or pencil and look at how you hold it naturally. The utensil should be held with your thumb, index and middle fingers. When writing, you should be apply equal pressure on each of these digits. Now practice with lined paper keeping the letter proportions in mind. A lower case letter should take up half the line; the uppercase letter should take up the whole line. Rely on those lines to lead you! If you have to write without lined paper, use a ruler as a guide. Improve your handwriting by slowing down and thinking about what you write before you write it. Practice writing daily in 5 to 15 minute spurts to strengthen your hand muscles. Turn the paper a ¼ turn to the left before you begin writing to get the perfect slant.
Activities that Improve Handwriting • Besides actually writing, there are some activities that do improve your handwriting. Play games (not online games) that require your to draw or write like Draw Something. Play games that require you to draw pictures or words. Other games that help improve handwriting are games like Jenga or Pick Up Sticks. You can also strengthen your fingers by using chopsticks instead of a fork. Get in the habit of writing a note every day to someone you love. Practice makes perfect!