Consider the following:

1. Sitting position

A secure and stable sitting position is essential if a child is to be able to concentrate
on fine motor skills and learn controlled movements for greater manual dexterity and
handwriting.

For optimum functioning check:

Chair Height and Size - The feet should be flat on the floor with the bottom well
back on the chair, the things well supported and the body weight forward.

Table Height - The elbows and forearms should rest comfortably on the surface.
There should be no excessive hunching of the shoulders. The table height should
approximately reach or be slightly higher than the elbow when the elbows are bent
(flexed). If a child constantly lifts their hands off the table they will not achieve the
control of fixation for fine motor skills, such as writing. The forearm should always be
supported when writing and the writer should move the page up as necessary.

Head Position - The head should be in midline, at a reasonable distance from work
(12''). Excessive leaning over desk is caused by too low a desk or poor trunk tone.

2. Position of Paper

The Paper should be positioned to the same side as the dominant hand. The paper
should be tilted to an angle that is comfortable for the writer and allows him to clearly
see his writing. This will prevent the development of unnatural pencil grips.

Left Hander: Paper tilts in a clockwise direction

Right Hander: Paper titles in an anti clockwise direction

Use of Non-dominant Hand: This hand should always be used to effectively stabilise the paper once it is positioned correctly. It also assists in supporting the upper part of the body, allowing the writing arm to move freely.

Tip: If a child has difficulty positioning the paper a diagram or masking tape could be used.