Multisensory Handwriting: Activities That Teach Letter Formation
Multisensory handwriting activities teach letter formation through movement, touch, sight and sound, such as sky writing, sand trays and playdough letters. Filter the activities below by sense and preparation time, or start sky-writing mode on your whiteboard.
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Sky Writing On The Whiteboard
Sky Writing: Follow The Giant Letter
What Is Multisensory Handwriting?
Multisensory handwriting is a way of teaching letter formation that uses more than one sense at a time, such as saying the movement while tracing a letter in sand. An NHS children's therapy leaflet from Sandwell and West Birmingham describes it as using varied media to increase a child's interest in handwriting, and notes that putting away pencils and worksheets for a while takes the pressure off children who find writing hard.
Which Multisensory Handwriting Activities Work Best?
Choose one activity from a different sense each session. These come from the NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham multi-sensory leaflet and other NHS occupational therapy advice.
| Activity | Sense | Prep | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky writing | Movement | None | Write giant letters in the air with a straight arm |
| Scarf circles | Movement | Low | Make big anticlockwise circles with a scarf |
| Sand or salt tray | Touch | Low | Write the letter with one finger |
| Shaving foam | Touch | Low | Spread foam on a table and write in it |
| Playdough worms | Touch | Low | Roll long worms and bend them into letters |
| Sandpaper letters | Touch | Medium | Trace the letter with a finger, the way it is written |
| Pipe cleaners and string | Touch | Medium | Bend them into letters and stick them on card |
| Paint or gel bags | Sight and touch | Medium | Draw on a sealed bag of paint with a finger or cotton bud |
| Squeezy bottle | Movement | Low | Squeeze water from a washing-up bottle to make letters outside |
| Chalk outside | Movement and sight | None | Write big letters on the playground |
| Letter lacing cards | Touch | High | Thread a lace through holes punched round a letter |
| Say it as you write | Sound | None | Say the movement aloud, such as "down, up and over" |
Teach letters that start the same way together, such as o, c, a, g, d and q. See letter families, pre-writing patterns and letter formation rhymes.
How Do You Do Sky Writing?
Sky writing means drawing a letter in the air with big arm movements before writing it small.
- Straight arm. Stand up and point two fingers, with the elbow straight.
- Follow the giant letter. Trace it in the air as it plays on the board.
- Say the movement. Use the same words every time.
- Then write it small. Move straight to a pencil and paper, or a whiteboard.
The NHS leaflet suggests the same order for a session: one or two warm-ups, big letters, a sensory activity, then letter practice. See warm-ups.
Why Does Multisensory Teaching Help Handwriting?
Multisensory teaching gives children several routes to remember a letter's movement, and NHS occupational therapists recommend it especially for children who find handwriting hard. Big movements use the whole arm and shoulder, which an NHS Solihull leaflet says helps fix the mental picture of a shape. See fine motor skills and dyspraxia and writing.
Questions About Multisensory Handwriting
Is Multisensory Teaching Only For SEN Pupils?
No. Sky writing and sand trays suit whole classes in Reception and Year 1, and they give extra practice to children who need it.
Can I Do These At Home?
Yes. Most need only flour, foam, playdough or chalk. See improve your child's handwriting.
What Materials Do I Need?
A tray of sand or salt, shaving foam, playdough, chalk and a few pipe cleaners cover most activities.