Why is my child holding the pencil wrong😳?
All you need to know about..
How To Train Your Child's Pencil Grip
Some kids are born pros when it comes to holding a pencil and this phase may pass with little or no trouble at all, but if you are a mom struggling with your child's pencil holding this post will help you you figure out and better understand the science behind it and some tools that can make it a breeze.
Pencil Grip Development:
First, understand that a child's hand is different from an adult's fully developed hand see the picture below for comparison.
Age 2 on left vs Age 18 on the right.
Expecting this little hand to perform all the tasks an adult can in a short period is unreasonable, the development happens with time naturally and refines with the exercise of motor skills the child will learn along the way as he grows and as many gentle opportunities come his way.
The above picture explains perfectly that it takes from 10 months onwards to 4 to 7years later that a child's hand is completely ready for the dynamic tripod grasp.
Age 1-2 years Motor Skills:
Let them run free scribble and draw... ( but not on your walls please!😁 )
The pincer grasp is the coordination of the index finger and thumb to hold an item. Each time you hold a pen or button your shirt, you're using the pincer grasp. While it may seem like second nature to an adult, to a baby this is an important milestone in fine motor development.
At this stage give kids jumbo brushes, chalks, Crayons, and color pencils...
But why Jumbo?
Because they don't work without applying pressure, At this stage we train kids to apply pressure on their writing tools for them to work.
Paint and color with jumbo crayons chalk brushes and pens for firm grip and control.
Age 2 to 4 Motor skills :
Coloring, scribbling, and playing with arts and craft supplies is a big part of being a child. Children engage in the extensive creative play of all kinds. While most of us consider this play to be fun and creative, the truth is that these activities also play a fundamental role in the development of your child’s literacy and fine motor skills. Around this age you will be certain of your child preferred hand of choice, is he a lefty? or a righty?
The tripod grip consisting of the 3 fingers above needs to be exercised regularly some activities are shared below inspired by Montessori and Sensory integration methods.
Some tricks you can try at home without spending a penny.
Training the tripod grip by putting laundry pegs on a basket..click the link to watch.
Besides these...
Cutting paper with safety scissors.
Using a tweezer for picking and placing objects.
Beading a necklace.
Picking small pieces of fruits and vegetables to eat are all exercises of practical life that help the child develop and refine his pencil grip and develop better hand and eye coordination.
Some tools below that will help you along the way and make this process fun because at
FUNversity that's what we are all about.
Ooooh.... check out the colors!
there are so many to choose from for those after 4 years still struggling ..I recommend you buy 2 or 3 different designs until 1 works for you. Therapist usually discourage these until after 5 years of trying everything.
We share tracing practice worksheets regularly on FUNversity Whatsapp for easy printing.
And don't forget to teach kids the etiquettes of passing and holding their pencils. This harmless writing tool is the cause of most common classroom accidents so remember this song:
"Pointy side towards the ground,
when you pass it, turn it around"
Please comment below if you think this link was helpful and share your own fun tips and tricks in the comments.
Session 31.8.2020 by Mrs.F on Funversity
Very informative... Pegging was quite useful activity, when i was training my toddler "how to grip/hold pencil". The other activity which helped me alot, was sponging... In this activity give your child one empty bowl and one bowl filled with water... And ask your child to transfer water in the empty bowl with the help of spong. This activity strengthen child's finger muscles.
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