A sensorimotor program for improving writing readiness skills in elementary-age children

Abstract

This article discusses a writing readiness program used with three groups of children aged 5 to 7 years. The program combines occupational therapy treatment with a supplementary program implemented by school personnel or parents. The Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration-Revised (Beery, 1982) was used to measure the developmental level of the children's writing readiness skills before and after treatment. The group of children with a significant verbal performance IQ discrepancy (greater than 15 points) showed a 17-month growth in readiness skills within 1 year. The group of children with mental retardation (IQ less than 80) showed a significant sex effect: The boys showed more gains than the girls. Implications of these findings are discussed.