Common Problems




We’ve got some reassuring news for you! Most parents share similar concerns and questions about their kids’ development and school readiness. That’s why we’ve put together some common questions that parents have in the lead-up to their kiddlywink starting school or during their early school experience.






 

What is the correct pencil grip?

The preferred pencil grip for school-aged children is the dynamic tripod (three-fingered) pencil grip. It involves the pencil being held between the thumb and the middle (3rd) finger with the pointer (2nd) finger on top of the pencil. The dynamic tripod is considered the most functional pencil grip because it allows kids to hold the pencil stably while also being able to move across the page with speed and ease.

My child seems to be behind their friends with their handwriting. What can I do?

There’s actually a lot you can do and thanks to PlayBiz we’ve got some fun methods for you to use!

There are many different reasons why little miss or mister might be having a bit of trouble with their handwriting. For example, they might need help strengthening their posture or the small muscles in their hands. Or perhaps they need a few visual or verbal cues to help them form their letters or know where to place them on the line. By developing these foundation skills through our easy and enjoyable activities, you can help junior on their way to handwriting success!!

I’ve been told my child has poor fine motor skills. What does it mean?

Fine motor skills are the ones that allow your whippersnapper to draw, clean their teeth, write their name and eat with a fork. Basically, they’re small, precise hand and arm movements. In order to perform these precise movements, the small finger and hand muscles need to work together. Fine motor skills include things such as the strength of the hand muscles, using a dominant or preferred hand and being able to isolate the fingers in individual movement. Fine Motor Skills are super important for your little one being able to complete school-based tasks such as writing, drawing and being able to open their lunch box.

Visit our Fine Motor Skills page to find out more!

I’m worried my child will struggle with bad attention and concentration skills. How can I help?

Being able to concentrate and pay attention is really important for your youngster’s ability to learn and complete school-based tasks. Developing their age-appropriate concentration skills will help little miss or mister persist with tasks, avoid distractions, follow instructions and absorb all of the information they need to.

We’ve put together some basic tips and specific techniques that will encourage your child’s concentration skills. Head over to the Concentration page in the Foundation Skills section to find out more. Not only will they help junior’s school life, they may also be useful for your everyday life. Huzzah!

Is my child ready for school?

This is an extremely personal question because each and every child is different, including yours. Therefore, it’s important that you consider little miss or mister’s own individual capabilities and skills.

There are a range of ways to get more information about whether your youngster is school ready including:

  • Completing our School Readiness Checklist to see how they’re progressing in terms of average developmental milestones
  • Being aware of school readiness requirements in general
  • Chatting with your child’s pre-school or kindergarten teacher to get their thoughts and opinions on junior’s progress outside the home environment