Handwriting Without Tears Reviews (2026): What Parents Say, Pros & Cons
- Price
- $13.50 one-time
- Grades
- Pre-K–6
- Type
- Curriculum, Books
Updated · By Edulist · 9 sources
Handwriting Without Tears review summary
A developmental, multisensory handwriting curriculum created by occupational therapist Jan Olsen in 1977. It teaches print from pre-K to 2nd grade and a simple vertical cursive from 2nd grade up, using short workbook lessons, double-line paper and hands-on tools.
Handwriting Without Tears pros and cons
Pros
- Created by an occupational therapist and widely used by OTs
- Short lessons of 15 minutes or less
- Inexpensive student workbooks
- Simple two-line paper reduces line confusion
- Hands-on tools for tactile learners
Cons
- Vertical cursive looks different from traditional cursive
- Teacher's guides are detailed but dense
- Capitals-first order doesn't match every phonics sequence
- Mixing editions can cause mismatched pages
Who Handwriting Without Tears is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Preschoolers and kindergarteners just starting to form letters
- Kids with fine-motor struggles or who get frustrated by handwriting
- Families who want short, low-prep daily lessons
- Left-handed writers, who benefit from the simple strokes
Look elsewhere if
- Families who want traditional slanted cursive
- Parents who want handwriting built into a phonics program
- Older students needing only a quick cursive refresher
What parents say about Handwriting Without Tears
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Homeschool parents on The Curriculum Choice describe Handwriting Without Tears as easy to teach, with short lessons that suited children with special needs and left-handed kids. Some found the teacher's guide overwhelming at first, and a few disagree with teaching capitals before lowercase.
Common praise
- Short, easy lessons that young kids can do almost alone
- Worked for kids with special needs and for lefties
- Student books are affordable
Common complaints
- Teacher's guide holds a lot of information to absorb
- Some parents dislike capitals-first instruction
- Some prefer a slanted cursive style
Sources: thecurriculumchoice.com · handwriting without tears
Handwriting Without Tears family reviews
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Is Handwriting Without Tears worth the price?
As of October 2026, the official Learning Without Tears store lists the 2025 student editions of Letters and Numbers for Me (kindergarten) and My Printing Book (1st grade) at $13.50 each.
Can a scholarship pay for Handwriting Without Tears?
Handwriting workbooks and teacher materials are curriculum, which is commonly an allowable expense in ESA programs such as Arizona ESA and Florida FES-UA; each program decides.
No program on Edulist lists Handwriting Without Tears yet. Save it to your wishlist and we’ll tell you when one does. Many state ESAs let families buy products like this directly; each program decides.
Handwriting Without Tears alternatives
A traditional K–6 handwriting program that teaches manuscript in grades K–2 and cursive from grade 2C, using short three-step lessons and four Keys to Legibility: shape, size, spacing and slant.
Zaner-Bloser vs Handwriting Without Tears: Which Handwriting Program Fits? →Colorful, open-and-go homeschool curriculum for preschool through high school, best known for language arts courses that combine phonics, reading, spelling, grammar, writing, geography and art.
A rules-based reading, spelling and grammar curriculum with two lines: Foundations (levels A–D, ages 4–7) for beginning readers and Essentials (30 units, ages 8 and up) for older and striving readers.
Sources
Questions
How much does Handwriting Without Tears cost for homeschool?
As of October 2026, the official store lists 2025 student workbooks for kindergarten and 1st grade at $13.50 each. A teacher's guide and manipulatives such as the slate chalkboard cost extra, and many homeschoolers buy only the student book after the first year.
Is Handwriting Without Tears good for kids with dysgraphia or fine-motor delays?
It was created by an occupational therapist and Learning Without Tears says about 80% of OTs use its materials. Its simple strokes and two-line paper help many struggling writers, but talk with your child's OT about specific needs.
Can I make free Handwriting Without Tears worksheets?
Yes. The A+ Worksheet Maker Lite on lwtears.com creates free print and cursive practice pages in the HWT font with grade-appropriate double lines. The company says it's meant for teachers, parents and homeschoolers.
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