The day finally came when I was no longer amazed by my daughter's writing skills. I remember being so thrilled when she discovered how to write a capital A that was the size of her coloring book and a bit wavy. The lack of constant improvement came as a shock when her homework writing assignment looked like a Doctors note pad, it was not legible. Instead of getting worried or blaming the school system, I got creative. My daughter loves art, a small amount of structure for guidelines and being creative. The trick was to get her to care as much about her writing as she did the artwork that made it to the Fridge of Fame.
Calligraphy was my answer. The idea inspired me to take a trip to our local Barnes & Noble to see what my affordable options were. Luck was on my side when I found a starter kit for $15. It had the pen, extra ink, paper, and a beginners book. I presented this kit as a fun art project. I told my daughter "let's get creative and use letters to make art". The light sparkled in her eyes and she was hooked. The first week was pure joy, but the newness wore off. My next step was purchasing ink wells and old school pens. My mother found a set with a glass and wood pen from Amazon, then made it a Christmas present. The difference in penmanship is amazing, I can see the effort and ease that goes into each sentence she writes. Even the teacher's at her Elementary notice the difference.
Constant challenge but tangible results has held the interest of a 9 year old and corrected lazy writing. Free worksheets found on Pinterest and Google Images have been key in maintaining interest and improvements. The process is very messy, ink is not for the faint of heart. When you stick with it, you will see pride and a lot of personality in your child's writing. I never force Calligraphy practice, I try to make it sound like an fun project and let the creativity flow. I even join in on the fun to make it Family Time because why not. Sometimes the process includes a sketch of randomness or ink spot tree, but swirls and whirls soon become beautifully crafted letters. I'm constantly looking for fun calligraphy work books for new inspiration. My daughter's favorite though, is to look at instructions for the basics then have free reign with her imagination. There is a light in every child, but rigorous homework seems to leach the joy out of learning. I'm hoping inspiration keeps coming so that I can ease the struggles my daughter's go through.
Calligraphy was my answer. The idea inspired me to take a trip to our local Barnes & Noble to see what my affordable options were. Luck was on my side when I found a starter kit for $15. It had the pen, extra ink, paper, and a beginners book. I presented this kit as a fun art project. I told my daughter "let's get creative and use letters to make art". The light sparkled in her eyes and she was hooked. The first week was pure joy, but the newness wore off. My next step was purchasing ink wells and old school pens. My mother found a set with a glass and wood pen from Amazon, then made it a Christmas present. The difference in penmanship is amazing, I can see the effort and ease that goes into each sentence she writes. Even the teacher's at her Elementary notice the difference.
Constant challenge but tangible results has held the interest of a 9 year old and corrected lazy writing. Free worksheets found on Pinterest and Google Images have been key in maintaining interest and improvements. The process is very messy, ink is not for the faint of heart. When you stick with it, you will see pride and a lot of personality in your child's writing. I never force Calligraphy practice, I try to make it sound like an fun project and let the creativity flow. I even join in on the fun to make it Family Time because why not. Sometimes the process includes a sketch of randomness or ink spot tree, but swirls and whirls soon become beautifully crafted letters. I'm constantly looking for fun calligraphy work books for new inspiration. My daughter's favorite though, is to look at instructions for the basics then have free reign with her imagination. There is a light in every child, but rigorous homework seems to leach the joy out of learning. I'm hoping inspiration keeps coming so that I can ease the struggles my daughter's go through.
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