Using excessive key pressure when typing is not uncommon in learners who struggle with motor skills, low muscle tone, and/or heightened anxiety. The goal in supporting these students is to help them build awareness of their typing habits and reduce any frustrations they may experience when learning to type.
Pre-Typing Exercises
Before a student begins typing you may want to have them do some small exercises to warm up their hands and fingers.
Hand squeezes with putty or a stress ball can be helpful
Also try gentle shaking of the hands, wrists, and shoulders
These activities reduce the need for excessive force to gain sensory feedback.
Call Their Attention To How Much Pressure They're Using
Help the learner consciously explore pressure:
Encourage typing as if “not waking a sleeping kitten”
Practice tapping keys so the sound is barely audible
Use verbal cues and imagery such as: soft fingers, quiet keys, floating hands
Ensure Correct Posture
While not all learners with special needs will be able to follow these guidelines, when possible, ensure:
Feet are flat on the floor
Elbows are bent at approximately 90 degrees
The keyboard is positioned slightly below elbow height
Explore Different Devices
Different keyboards require different amounts of pressure to register a key press. For example, laptops typically need far less pressure than the stiff, boxy style keyboards used with PCs. Bluetooth keyboards and those attached to tablets may be even quicker to register a key press.
When possible, explore low-resistance keyboards with your student.
Adapt TTRS Typing Sessions To Meet Their Needs
Begin with shorter sessions of 5–10 minutes and build stamina gradually
Pause lessons if the student becomes anxious or stressed
Adjust the student's correction settings so the backspace key is not read aloud
Encourage them to focus on calm breathing, accuracy and establishing a slow and steady rhythm
Post-Typing Reflection
After a typing session, ask the learner:
“Did your hands feel tired or relaxed?”
“Were the keys loud or quiet?”
“Which fingers worked too hard?”
This supports internal awareness and long-term self-regulation.
Keep in mind, when used correctly, typing instruction can even function as motor therapy for some learners. However, it works best when accuracy, relaxation, and regulation are prioritized before speed.