Handwriting isn’t just learning the alphabet – fine motor skills, hand eye co-ordination and an interest in putting pen to paper are essential as your child develops their handwriting skills. The final goal is for handwriting to become an automatic skill, so your child can concentrate on what, and not how, they are writing.
How handwriting develops by age
All children learn to write at a slightly different pace, but as a general guide research suggests that handwriting skills develop in these stages:
Child's age | Handwriting level |
1 year | Can scribble on paper |
2 years | Can make horizontal, circular and vertical marks on paper |
3 years | Can copy horizontal, circular and vertical lines |
4-5 years (Reception) | Can use a pencil and hold it effectively to form recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed |
5-6 years (Year 1) | Can form lower case and capital letters |
6-7 years (Year 2) | Can use the strokes needed to join letters |
7-9 years (Years 3 and 4) | Can use the strokes needed to join letters |
9 to 11 years (Years 5 and 6) | Can write legibly, fluently and with increasing speed |