The relevance of motor sequence and visual perception skills in learning Chinese handwriting

This study explored visual perception skills and the ability to write according to standard stroke order and their links to the learning of Chinese handwriting. Thirty-seven children (aged 6-8) (15 boys and 22 girls) participated in a handwriting test and visual perception evaluation (Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-3rd Edition, TVPS-3). A computerized system was used to evaluate the stroke order accuracy, legibility, and automation of stroke movements. The stroke order accuracy was found to positively correlate with the scores of TVPS-3 (r = .498, p < .05) and to significantly correlate with handwriting legibility (r = .435, p < .05) as well as the automation of stroke movements (r = .494, p < .01). This study revealed that visual perception skill is related to stroke order accuracy and provides directions to assist students who encounter difficulties in learning Chinese handwriting.