Handwriting Without Tears 1st Grade Printing Bundle

Learning Without Tears is perfect for early learners—preschool to late elementary—who benefit from short, hands-on lessons and engage well with multisensory materials. It’s especially effective for children who may have fine motor challenges, have struggled with traditional copying-based handwriting programs, or need clear, structured guidance to develop consistent habits in writing, reading, and typing.

It’s not a great fit for older students past elementary grades, those seeking accelerated or cursive-first instruction, or families preferring unstructured, natural handwriting development. Students who already have legible writing skills or who resist explicit, rules-based instruction may find the program too prescriptive.

Learning Without Tears is widely praised by families and occupational therapists for supporting children with fine motor disabilities, dysgraphia, ADHD, and other learning differences. The multisensory, developmentally informed sequence enables learners with special needs to progress comfortably and build skills without frustration.

Excellent for gifted children with fine motor challenges or dysgraphia who need strong foundational handwriting and keyboarding, though the pacing may be slow for profoundly gifted learners.

While there are no specific prerequisites, it's designed to build upon the Handwriting Without Tears 1st Grade program. Consider doing the HWT Cursive Kickoff before starting this program.

Policies vary by product type and vendor, but many materials are eligible for return or refund through the company or retailers; digital subscriptions may be refundable if canceled before renewal.

Families recommend using the built-in multisensory materials—like slates, wooden shapes, sand trays, and song cues—to make lessons engaging and tactile. They suggest following the pacing ladder mapped out in the teacher’s manuals while pairing digital upgrades (like interactive whiteboards or apps) with physical manipulatives for a blended approach. Keeping basic tools on hand each school day simplifies lesson delivery, and celebrating small milestones (like completing a handwriting level or mastering touch typing) helps build confidence and motivation.