I screened DD's fine motor skills on March 3rd.
She did a variety of tasks for me. A fine motor evaluation is not warranted as she demonstrates the necessary foundational fine motor skills.
The following observations were made during the screen:
* DD is left hand dominant and holds her pencil with a functional grasping pattern. She stated, "It seems like I'm left-handed. But I brush my hair with my right hand."
* She accurately cut out a star on a thin guideline. She demonstrated good bilateral coordination as she controlled the scissors with her left hand and turned the paper with her right hand. She positioned both hands in a mature thumbs-up fashion and cut in an efficient clockwise direction.
* She drew a very detailed picture of a person and demonstrated distal finger-tip control as she colored within a small space.
* She copied a sentence with 100% letter legibility in manuscript. She forms some letters inefficiently. But it would be difficult to change at this point as the motor plan for letters if firmly locked by this age.
* She maintained consistent spaces between and within words.
* She copied the same sentence in cursive handwriting with 23 out of 26 correct letter formations and connections. Her cursive handwriting was very fluid.
* A review of her classroom work reveals less legible manuscript handwriting. The assignment required her to write on paper with a single guideline. 3-lined paper provides more visual cues and usually results in increased legibility.
It might be beneficial to provide 3 -lined paper when possible.
A self-edit checklist would also help her attend to the details of handwriting legibility. (I have several samples if you would like a copy).
Encourage her to continue practicing cursive handwriting. As her speed improves, this may be a more efficient mode of written communication for her.
Let me know if you have any questions.
