A pencil grip is only a problem if a child has difficulty writing legibly, at a reasonable speed, or complains of a sore or tired hand when writing. If an awkward grip pattern becomes a habit it is more difficult to change later. Pencil grips are easier to change in kinder and the early school years.
The answer is YES, it does matter!
How you hold your pencil really does make a difference—and it will also impact your writing. Your pencil grasp is directly related to handwriting speed and legibility, as having a mature grasp is more efficient and less tiring on your hands (Schwellnus, et al., 2012).
There's no "right" way to hold a pencil, but the dynamic tripod grasp is considered to be the standard, most common way to do it. Children are typically taught to hold a pencil using the dynamic-tripod-grasp method.
Most children do not have the fine motor control or strength to hold a pencil using a finger grip until they are 4 years of age. When children begin to use a finger grip, they will usually use all five fingers to grip a pencil (known as an “immature” or five-finger grip).
By the age of 8 / 9 years old it can be very difficult to get a child to change their pencil grip especially if the old grip, like the quadrupod grip (Stage 4), is very similar to the new grip the dynamic tripod grip.
Pre-Kindergarten and the beginning of Kindergarten are the perfect times to help correct a child's grip, typically because they are still learning how. If your child is older, it's important to look at other factors that may be affecting their pencil grasp, such as hand strength, writing speed, and legibility.
I've found that one of the best and most natural ways to discourage a fisted grip and encourage a more functional pencil grasp is to offer a short writing tool such as a broken crayon or short pencil. It's just too small for a palmar grip, but just right for fitting between his fingers.
Pencil grip isn't just about being able to hold a pencil in the correct way for writing, it sets up posture, core strength and muscle tone. An incorrect pencil grip can lead to learning difficulties, pain and other issues.
General guidelines for a good pencil grip, as shown in figure 2, include: ◗ the pencil is held in a stable position between the thumb, index and middle fingers ◗ the ring and little fingers are bent and rest comfortably on the table ◗ the index finger and thumb form an open space ◗ the wrist is bent back slightly, and ...
Get a Grip
There are firm pencil grips, called Stetro grips, that help the fingers stay in position. The Stetro grip fits near the tip of the pencil and has indentations for the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Fine motor weakness, in particular weak finger muscles, often results in an awkward grip. When the finger muscles are underdeveloped, it leads to a lack of coordination. You will see kids try to hold the pencil any way they can in order to stabilize it.
shaft being supported between the thumb and middle. finger, the forefinger resting on the top of the pencil. shaft, and the ring and little finger resting lightly in the. palm of the hand.
A sure sign of a poor pencil grip is the easily identifiable red or white finger tips and joints when writing. Gripping too tightly or hyperextending the delicate joints in the hands, adds unnecessary pressure to the fingers and hand muscles, which could be harmful to the development of growing muscles and joints.
Children 3 to 4 years of age begin to hold pencils with their five fingers, which is why this stage is known as the Five Finger Pencil Grasp. Take note that some children may not experience this stage and would go straight to the next one, and that is okay too!
A poor pencil grip can affect the quality of a child's handwriting as well as putting unnecessary strain on the hand muscles and ligaments. This causes the hand to tense or cramp and tire quickly, making the handwriting process hard work.
Fine Motor Strength
Having strong wrists, hands and fingers helps children hold their pencil functionally, as well as helping them write with endurance and fluency.
posturing – holding hands or fingers out at an angle or arching the back while sitting. visual stimulation – looking at something sideways, watching an object spin or fluttering fingers near the eyes. repetitive behaviour like opening and closing doors or flicking switches. chewing or mouthing objects.
Hyperlexia is advanced and unexpected reading skills and abilities in children way beyond their chronological age. It is a fairly recently named condition (1967) although earlier descriptions of precocious reading do exist.
Strong fine motor skills: Many children and adults on the autism spectrum have difficulty with fine motor skills. This compromises their ability to draw, use scissors, or play an instrument. While most children with autism can learn these skills over time, they won't learn at the same speed as their typical peers.
He needs to build up the muscles in his hands. Use playdough or modelling clay and get him following things, squeezing, squashing. Then he'll be more comfortable holding a pencil. Just doing more pencil practice is going to put him off more if his hand hurts doing it.
By age 5-6, or even a bit later with some children, they should be comfortable using a tripod pencil grip, where the thumb, middle and index fingers are grasping the pencil or crayon.
All young kids have some difficulty when it comes to writing or perfecting penmanship. But if your child's handwriting is consistently distorted or unclear, that may be caused by a learning disability called dysgraphia. This is a nervous system problem that affects the fine motor skills needed to write.
Some of the most common immature pencil grip include:
Thumb tuck (Thumb is tucked under index finger with no web space) Thumb wrap (Thumb is wrapped around the pencil and fingers) Bent wrist position. Lack of wrist stability on desk. Pencil shaft pointing away from the hand.