When Handwriting Isn’t Clicking (And What Really Matters)
Homeschool Better Together
Emily Brown
4.8 • 697 Ratings
🗓️ 21 October 2025
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What’s the real story behind “bad” handwriting? Is it just a phase, or a red flag? And what should you actually do when your kid melts down every time you pull out a pencil?
In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Collins, a homeschool mom, licensed occupational therapist, and founder of Homeschool OT, to debunk some common OT myths and offer practical, encouraging advice for homeschool parents concerned about handwriting, motor skills, and when to seek extra help.
You’ll hear:
- How Sarah pivoted from OT homeschool skeptic to trailblazer serving families worldwide
- The #1 question every parent should ask if their child struggles with handwriting (hint: function > form)
- Simple ways to support reluctant writers (think: core strength before cursive!)
- What really matters for writing readiness, warning signs to watch for, and when it’s time to seek professional support (without guilt or shame)
- Lots of fun, judgment-free encouragement for new and veteran homeschoolers
Resources Mentioned:
- Sarah’s site, resources & podcast
- Instagram: @homeschoolot
- Improving Handwriting Without Actually Writing
- A Chameleon Tale (Sarah’s sensory-regulation picture book)
- Free Homeschool Community
For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt49
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Are you ready for homeschooling to feel joyful again? |
| 0:05.4 | Do you long for support as you learn alongside your kids? |
| 0:10.3 | Welcome to Home School Better Together, a podcast about building a homeschool experience that works for your family. |
| 0:18.2 | I'm Pam Barnhill, and it's time to step out of the overwhelm and |
| 0:22.0 | in to the wonder. Let's do this. Sarah Collins is an occupational therapist and |
| 0:31.9 | homeschooling parent dedicated to helping parents align homeschooling with their children's unique needs. Through homeschool |
| 0:38.7 | OT, she provides personalized consultations, teaches courses for parents and teachers, |
| 0:44.7 | fosters community through group and individual coaching, and she speaks at national conferences, |
| 0:49.2 | and inspires through her new picture book, A Camellion Tale. Her work empowers parents to build learning environments that support their children's |
| 0:58.7 | development and passions. |
| 1:00.0 | You can find Sarah on her website at homeschool.ot.com. |
| 1:05.2 | Her podcast, The Homeschool OT, is in, or on Instagram at Home School underscore OT. |
| 1:14.3 | Sarah, welcome to the podcast. |
| 1:16.6 | How are you doing? |
| 1:17.9 | Oh, I'm doing great. |
| 1:18.9 | Thank you so much for having me. |
| 1:20.3 | I love to do this. |
| 1:21.6 | I have been wanting to have you on the podcast for probably almost two years now. |
| 1:27.3 | I stumbled across, I don't know, it was your Facebook group |
| 1:30.2 | or your newsletter or something like that. And I was like, oh, my goodness. Like she, like, what she does |
| 1:37.0 | is so needed in the homeschool community. And you've kind of been on my list. And sometimes it |
| 1:43.1 | just takes me a while. |
... |
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