Gross Motor Skills Needed For Page Stabilization During Writing!

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Put your left hand on the page and have your right hand do the "writing".

Hold the page not your head.

Don't let your page wiggle!

Do these phrases sound familiar to you?  There are some kids who can't seem to hold their page still on the table.  The paper flies off the table, moves as it is being written on or even gets crumpled under their hand.

This makes drawing and writing really tricky!

Ideally at the table, children use their dominant hand to hold a writing implement and use their non-dominant hand to stabilize the page they are working on.   They provide just enough pressure so that the page does not move.  The dominant forearm also rests on the page with their fingers and hands controlling the pencil.

Did you know that the ability to stabilize a page on the table may be due to core muscle weakness, poor bilateral coordination and poor shoulder stability? 

How???

Core Muscle Weakness
Core muscles can be considered "as the sturdy central link in the chain connecting your upper and lower body".*    Core muscles describe both the muscles which assist with stability as well as those which enable trunk movement. **

What you might see in the classroom:

• A child with core muscle weakness may slump over their page so that they cover up what they are supposed to be working on.
• A child with core muscle weakness may use their non-dominant hand and arm to prop up their head.
• A child with core muscle weakness may fidget and constantly readjust their seated position.
• A child with core muscle weakness may have difficulty with fine motor control and handwriting. 
  
• A child with core muscle weakness may have difficulty with balance and coordination. 
  
• A child with core muscle weakness may sit with a "c" curvature on the floor on furniture. 
• A child with core muscle weakness may "w-sit" and have difficulty sitting cross-legged. 
• A child with core muscle weakness may have difficulty standing without leaning on furniture or others. 
• A child with core muscle weakness may have difficulty with gross motor activities such as kicking a ball, climbing, swinging, using a bat. 

Core muscle strength can be developed through a wide range of activities.  Organized sports such as swimming, basketball, gymnastics etc will assist with fitness and regular strengthening activities.  Children can also develop core muscle strength through traditional exercises such as sit ups, push ups, holding a plank position,  squats to stands, etc.  Through play activities, children can build core strength without realising it.  These might include using a hula hoop, pushing heavy wagons, crawling through tunnels, climbing on ropes, jumping on a trampoline, pulling a sibling on a towel, an obstacle course of pillows, relays in the yard picking up various objects to carry, riding a bike, etc. 

Bilateral coordination
Bilateral coordination/integration is the ability to use both sides of the body at the same time in a coordinated way.

What you might see in the classroom:

• A child with poor bilateral coordination may neglect to use one side of the body allowing the paper to move rather than stabilizing it.
• A child with poor bilateral coordination may try holding their pencil with two hands rather than one and therefore can't use one hand to hold the page.
• A child with poor bilateral coordination may start writing with their left hand on their left side and then pass their pencil to the right hand when they reach the midline.   This makes holding the page difficult.
• A child with poor bilateral coordination may not have established their handedness so they may pass the pencil back and forth between hands.

Read more aboutbilateral coordination HERE or obtain a copy of the bilateral integration reference sheet with over 50 activity suggestions HERE !  

Shoulder Stability
Shoulder stability refers to the ability to contract (pull together) the muscles on either side of the shoulder joint to hold the shoulder steady.  This allows the arm to be held in different positions while the forearm and hand do an activity. ***

What you might see in the classroom:
A child with poor shoulder stability may use their whole arm to control their pencil rather than using their fingers. 

• This may mean that their forearm is lifted off the page during writing and not supporting the page. 
• This may mean that they have difficulty with the separation of the two sides of the hand (read more about this here).

Shoulder stability can be developed with tummy time and crawling (for all ages)! Read more about this HERE!  For further activity ideas to assist shoulder stability have a look at OT MOM LEARNING ACTIVITIES SHOULDER GIRDLE EXERCISES FOR KIDS!


Do you have a child who struggles to stabilize the page on the table during writing?
Do they have difficulties with any of these gross motor skills?

Cindy  Chuan is a registered Occupational Therapist practising in Sydney Australia.  She has two young children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun.

Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.

Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this article to promote products that I recommend. This means that if you follow through with a purchase from these links, Your Kids OT will receive a percentage of the sale.   Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion; and deemed worthy of such endorsement. The opinions shared in sponsored content will always be my own and not that of the advertising company or brand.

References:
* Publications, H. H. (n.d.). The real-world benefits of strengthening your core. Retrieved February 07, 2017, from http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-real-world-benefits-of-strengthening-your-core
** Khadir, S. A., Knight, K., Bras, S., Rhule, V., & Pagare, V. Core stability - Physiopedia, universal access to physiotherapy knowledge. Retrieved February 7, 2017, from http://www.physio-pedia.com/Core_stability
*** Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, 2005. Occupational Therapy Kids Health Information: Shoulder Stability and Control. Retrieved February 07, 2017, (n.d.) from http://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/ot/InfoSheet_F.pdf

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