Helping Struggling Writers: Free OT Resources to Build Handwriting Skills

By Peggy Ployhar As the air turns crisp and the world around us takes on a golden hue, it's the perfect time to infuse your homeschool routine with the joys of fall. Pumpkins, apple orchards, corn mazes—these seasonal delights are not only fun but can also be educational. Routine is crucial, especially for our special education homeschooled kids, but a touch of seasonal flair can make learning even more engaging. If you're looking to sprinkle some autumn magic into your homeschool lessons, here are 20 fantastic fall-themed activities. 20 Fall Special Education Homeschooling Activities Fall Candy Science: Explore STEM activities using candy corn. 10 Fall Movement & Sensory Activities: Enjoy a mix of indoor and outdoor sensory activities. Pumpkin Craft for Speech Activities: Engage in crafts that support speech goals. Fall Themed OT Activities: Choose from 30 activities to integrate a fall theme into your home-based occupational therapy. Fall & Thanksgiving Themed Unit Study: Dive into books, crafts, activities, studies, writing projects, and games. Why Do Leaves Change Color Science Project: Teach this simple science lesson with items from your yard and house. Autumn Sensory Story: Create sensory storytelling experiences for children with multiple learning delays or visual impairments. Halloween Social Stories: Access 16 stories and 2 videos to help children navigate Halloween social situations. Fall Lego Building Challenges: Tackle 20 Lego challenges centered around fall. Fall Tree Luminaries Craft: Turn jars into glowing works of art with this easy craft project. Leaf Preservation Ideas: Learn three different methods to preserve beautiful fall leaves. Fall Sight Word Scavenger Hunt: Make reading active with this sight-word scavenger hunt. Scarecrow Alphabet Activity: Enhance letter recognition with a fun scarecrow activity using felt, a die, and stickers. 20 Fall Speech and Language Activities: Discover numerous resources to work on speech and language goals. Fall Leaf I Spy Game: Enjoy a free printable game of Leaf I Spy. 30+ Pumpkin Learning Activities: Utilize pumpkins to teach various learning concepts. 40 Fall Fine Motor Activities: Incorporate the fall theme into fine motor skills practice with this extensive list. Fall Books for Speech Therapy: Use four popular fall books to support speech goals. 41 Pumpkin Writing Prompts: Encourage writing with these pumpkin prompts for your student. Fall Unit Study: Integrate the fall theme into literature, language, art, math, science, and history lessons. For more fall SPED homeschooling ideas, be sure to check out our SPED Homeschool Fall Pinterest Board.  Embrace the season and make your homeschooling experience both educational and enjoyable with these fall-themed activities!

Limited public access until 2/10/25 - Get a Navigator Membership for just pennies a day to open searchable content in hundreds of articles just like this one, so you can access expert advice any time day or night during on your homeschooling journey. By Amy Vickrey, MSE As a parent, you may be wondering whether your child is struggling with writing due to confusion about which hand to use. Is it a learning setback, or just part of the natural development process? While I’m not a handwriting expert or an occupational therapist, my experience as a PreK teacher and homeschooling parent has given me insight into how children develop handedness and what parents can do to support them. When Do Children Choose a Dominant Hand? Most children establish a dominant hand between the ages of 4 and 6. However, some take longer, and a small percentage remain ambidextrous or switch hands for different tasks. If your child is still experimenting with both hands, that’s okay. The best approach is to let them determine what feels most natural rather than forcing a choice. To encourage natural development, I always place objects—crayons, utensils, and toys—directly in front of my child, allowing them to reach with whichever hand they prefer. This helps them build a sense of comfort and coordination. My own son, now 6½, is still undecided. He shows right-eye and right-foot dominance, but he frequently switches hands when writing or cutting. Since we have a family history of left-handed and ambidextrous individuals, I decided to work with him on left-handed skills, as he seemed slightly more proficient. However, I quickly realized that being left-handed in a right-handed world requires adjustments. Simple Adjustments That Make a Big Difference Once I started supporting my son’s left-handed tendencies, I had to rethink how I structured his learning environment. Here are a few small but impactful changes I made: Checklist Placement: Initially, I placed checkboxes on the right side of his to-do list, which made sense to me as a right-handed person. However, for my son, it was uncomfortable. When I tried switching it to the left, he resisted the change because it looked "wrong" to him. Eventually, we worked together to design a new checklist with input from him—letting children have a say in these adjustments can make transitions smoother. Notebook Binding: Many left-handed children struggle with traditional spiral notebooks because the binding gets in the way of their hand. Using top-bound or right-bound notebooks allows them to write without obstruction. Adjusting Worksheets: If a worksheet has instructions or a word list on the left, my son finds it difficult to copy them while writing with his left hand. Instead, I cut out the words and tape them to the right side of the paper, making it easier for him to reference while writing. Writing Tools Matter: Not all crayons, pencils, and pens are designed for left-handed users. I once bought a set of rock crayons designed by an occupational therapist, only to find that they were shaped in a way that favored right-handed grip. This experience taught me to be more mindful of tool design. Left-handed scissors, for example, made a world of difference in my son’s cutting accuracy. Fiskars offers ambidextrous options, but true left-handed scissors are even better. Seating Arrangement: When we work together, I always sit on my son’s right side. This prevents his left arm from bumping into me while he writes, making the process more comfortable for him. How to Help Your Child Develop Hand Preference If you’re unsure whether your child is right- or left-handed, you can observe them during daily activities: Which hand do they use to pick up small objects? Which hand do they instinctively use to hold a spoon? Which foot do they use to kick a ball? Which eye do they use to look through a tube or telescope? Engaging in play-based activities can help solidify handedness naturally. Encourage your child to try: Play-dough manipulation Tearing paper Using stickers Pouring sand or water Scribbling with different writing tools These activities build fine motor skills and help children develop confidence in their chosen hand. Final Thoughts The most important thing is ensuring that your child feels comfortable and confident with their tools. Rather than rushing them to choose a hand, give them time to explore and develop naturally. Every child’s journey is different, and with small adaptations, you can make their learning experience smoother and more enjoyable. Have fun exploring handedness with your child! Looking for more content like this? Get a Navigator Membership for just pennies a day to open searchable content in hundreds of articles just like this one, so you can access expert advice like that offered in this article any time day or night during on your homeschooling journey.