

Writing forces associated with four pencil grasp patterns in grade 4 children. DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2013.005538 Effect of pencil grasp on the speed and legibility of handwriting in children. DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2012.004515 uploadedFiles/Main/Content/ot/InfoSheet_A.pdf How are pencil grips used To use a pencil grip, simply slip it.

Basic and supplementary sensory feedback in handwriting. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00169 You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Occupational therapists specialize in life skills training, and one who works with children can help retrain any patterns or habits that are making handwriting harder. Your child’s doctor can do a neurological exam to see whether there’s a medical basis for the difficulty. Some are trained in testing for learning disabilities, and if your child goes to a public school, this testing may be free. If you’re concerned, you can find help here:

But, sometimes trouble with writing signals an underlying condition like ADHD or dyspraxia. Often, kids naturally outgrow gripping and handwriting issues. Next steps if a child is having trouble writing Most of these devices are meant for short-term use while a child is learning, but adults with arthritis may also find them useful. Some chunky, ergonomic varieties slide onto the barrel of the pencil and are notched where your fingers should be placed.Īnd still others offer elastic bands in a figure-eight shape, where the small end of the band wraps around the pencil tip and the larger end loops around your wrist. Some grips are flexible, containing one, two, or three pockets for your fingertips. If your child is having a difficult time establishing a mature pencil grasp or is using an inefficient grip - for example, one where the pencil extends up through the web between first and second fingers - a commercial pencil grip may help train the fingers into the desired position. Having to keep those fingers bent will encourage the dynamic tripod stance. You could also tuck a folded tissue under the fourth and fifth fingers, asking your child to hold it there while they pick up a pencil to write or draw. If you’re moving your child away from a primitive palmar grip and toward a mature grip, you could try using a short pencil, which isn’t conducive to a palmar grip.
