Early handwriting and Visual-Motor Coordination

Children approach writing by looking closely at letter shapes while moving the hand. Through tracing, copying, and producing simple strokes, they learn to link how a letter looks with how to form it. This is visual motor integration. Early in learning they rely heavily on vision, checking the form as they move. As knowledge of letters increases, the need for checking decreases and movements become smoother. Knowledge and motor control improve together.

Relevant Publication

How beginning handwriting is influenced by letter knowledge: Visual–motor coordination during children’s form copying.
Fears, N. E., & Lockman, J. J. (2018).
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 171, 55–70. [DOI]