Handwriting: Graded Pressure w/ Balloons!

Graded pressure is a common handwriting goal in my experience. More often than not, my little ones press down way too hard and rip their paper when writing.

TIP: I always like to keep a bag of balloons handy. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to store away in your therapy bag. Most of my kids light up just at the mention of balloons. Blow up the balloon, tie a knot, and provide the child with a fine-point expo marker. Ask them to write/draw on the balloon and to try not to pop it so that we can play with it afterwards. This will force them to think about how much pressure they put into their writing in order to avoid popping the balloon. To ensure generalization and carry-over to writing on paper, have them write their name (or something age-appropriate) on paper immediately after the activity to observe its effectiveness during this trial.