Education & Training
Training Aid for Pre-Writing Skills
WiSys: T230029US02
Inventors: Madalyn Kawleski, Sydney Bruce, Paul Jacobson, Cameron Uselding, Harold Evensen, Lindsey Rowley
WiSys is currently seeking a strategic partner in the child development or educational toy industry that is interested in co-development opportunities and would ultimately provide a route to market for commercialization of this novel writing training aid.
Overview
According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 6 children in the United States, or 17%, experience at least one developmental delay. Developmental delay occurs when a child takes longer than expected to reach one or more developmental milestones compared to their peers. One common developmental milestone where delays arise is with fine and gross motor skills, which include sitting up, walking, holding objects, coloring, and writing. With early intervention and support, many children with developmental delays can make significant progress and catch up with their peers. These interventions often require specialized tools and toys that are developed to track and engage the child’s learning. These tools are necessary as writing-related tasks can remain particularly challenging and discouraging for those with motor skill impairments. As such, there is an increased demand for smart toys especially in the motor skills segment according to a 2025 report on the Educational Toy Market by Fortune Business Insights.
The Invention
The present invention aims to address this issue by providing positive reinforcement as children practice a range of different movement types that are foundational for developing writing skills. It was developed by inventors at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in conjunction with a Speech-Language Pathologist. The device is a holder for writing utensils that can monitor movement and will emit sounds and light up when a predefined writing goal is achieved. These goals can be adjusted to include general writing-related motions or specific patterns such as loops or straight lines. The device is designed to be easy for children to grip and is equipped with a spring-loaded mechanism that allows it to be used with a variety of different writing utensils such as pencils, markers, or jumbo crayons. The device can serve as a therapeutic tool in clinical settings or as an engaging, educational toy for use at school or home.
Applications
- Small, portable and rechargeable therapy tool
- Provides measurement of writing skills
- Can be used with a variety of writing utensils
Key Benefits
- Allows children with developmental delays to be rewarded with light and sound while practicing writing skills
- Plays music when pressure and writing motion are detected
- Music and sounds can be customized by the user
Stage of Development
Continued development, optimization, and testing are ongoing for the pre-writing tool.
Tech Fields
For current licensing status, please contact Allee Marti at [javascript protected email address] or 608-316-4037