I prefer to use the term 'functional grip' rather than 'correct grip' with a functional grip being one which will allow the child to move their fingers independently to form marks enabling neat writing without getting easily tired or suffering discomfort. The child will start to hold the pencil between the thumb and index finger with the pe ncil supported on the middle finger. The ring and little fingers are gently curled inwards. This gives an open wide web space which means the movement comes from the fingers. In this grip, all 4 fingers and the thumb are used to grip the pencil with the palm of the hand facing downwards towards the paper and also the fingers pointing downwards. Your child has nearly adopted the most efficient grip. They are using their index and middle finger along with their thumb to grip the pencil however the webspace is much smaller in this stage.

There is no need to force them to hold their pencil in a certain way. You'll find that they develop and progress through these stages as their muscles and posture get stronger. You can help children develop their pencil grip and fine motor control skills with a range of activities. Creative play is a great way to encourage children to engage with skill development activities so providing them with a range of stimulus to choose from can be really beneficial: First, let me begin by saying that pencil grips are NOT a miracle cure for pencil grasp. They can help in certain circumstances based on the child’s individual needs. Pencil control activities require a more controlled hand. Try these simple cards to encourage your child to perfect their pencil grip.Why We Like It: Fingers can help kids remember proper spacing… two fingers for larger writing, one for smaller. This set of translucent guides is easy to slide along as you write, keeping spacing consistent. It is easy to achieve, and I often use it if I am writing a lot. My husband uses it all of the time, and has since grade school.

Before we get into the various types of pencil grips you may see an occupational therapy practitioner recommend, it’s important to cover functional pencil grip. Real Review: “My son is in 4th grade and was struggling with good penmanship. Most of his stuff you couldn’t read. Not sure how his teacher graded half his papers! We got him these pencil grips and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY!” To meet the needs of the individual student, a pencil grip may be supplied as a tool to support those individual needs. Find out about the process children follow to develop a secure and strong pencil grip for writing and drawing. Why We Like It: Spacing words properly is another key part of improving handwriting. A “spaceman” helps kids measure the proper amount of distance between each word. You get 30 in a set, so you should have enough for every student.Why We Like It: This set is designed to improve writing grips in stages. In the early stages, the tripod grips hold fingers firmly in position. As kids improve, they step down to simpler aids. The pencil buddies add a fun touch! For those struggling to manipulate, use, position, and write with a pencil grip during written output, sometimes an alternative grip is the answer. Explore the other blog posts we have here at The OT Toolbox regarding pencil grasps by reviewing the convenient list of these just for you: Here is an OT tip just for you! Create a pencil grip kit as pictured below. This will serve you coordinate an approach to determining the best pencil grip for any learner. You will have children that the typical grip will not work for, and you’ll need that one rarely used grip just for them! Have it on hand!