✍️ Handwriting Without Tears: A Parent's Guide to the Kindergarten Curriculum

OPK uses this approach in small groups or one-on-one with students who require extra support.

🎯 Core Goals for Kindergarten

• Fine motor & readiness development
  Activities like wood pieces, clay, chalkboards, songs, and games help build pencil grip, body awareness, and hand-eye coordination.
  
  

• Letter & number formation
  Step-by-step, multisensory instruction teaches correct formation, sizing, spacing, and placement—starting with capital letters, then lowercase and numbers.
  
  

• Paper familiarity
  Double-line paper helps children understand letter size and placement.
  
  

• Basic composition skills
  Kids begin writing simple sentences and learn fundamentals like word spacing, capitalization, and punctuation.
  
  

🧩 Teachable Methods

1. Wet-Dry-Try technique
   Kids trace with a wet sponge, dry cloth, then chalk—helping muscle memory.
   
   

2. Hands-on learning
   Manipulatives like wood letters, chalkboards, and Mat Man™ keep learning fun.
   
   

3. Developmentally smart sequence
   Starts with easy-to-write capital letters before moving to lowercase and numbers.
   
   

4. Simple language
   Instructions use playful phrases kids understand (e.g., “Big line down, frog jump”).
   
   

📘 What a Typical Lesson Looks Like

• Length: 10–15 minutes a day
  
  

• Activities: Modeling, tracing, writing, singing, and sensory play
  
  

• Support: Parents use scripted guides with clear, step-by-step instructions
  
  

👍 Why It Works

• Built by occupational therapists
  Designed to develop coordination, grip, and confidence
  
  

• Engaging and low-stress
  Short, hands-on lessons reduce frustration
  
  

• Adaptable for all learners
  Works for right/left-handed children and those with motor skill delays
  
  

🧭 What You Can Do at Home

• Use wood pieces or chalkboards for practice
  
  

• Try Wet-Dry-Try with your child
  
  

• Encourage short, fun writing sessions
  
  

• Reinforce spacing and letter formation in everyday activities
  
  

📚 Helpful Tools

• Teacher’s guide: Includes pacing, scripts, and differentiation tips
  
  

• Workbooks & paper: Use lined paper designed for early learners
  
  

• Digital tools: Apps and online games support letter learning
  
  

• Assessments: Built-in checks help track your child’s progress
  
  

✅ Bottom Line for Parents

Handwriting Without Tears makes handwriting fun and frustration-free. With just a few minutes a day, your child will build strong writing habits in a playful, confidence-building way.