Question from Dena Rich in Albany, NY
“Hi, Miss Jaime! Love, love your articles!!!! My daughter Emilia still struggles with her pencil grip (using the whole hand instead of the proper 2 fingers). I’m having trouble finding a pencil gripper. Do I have to go to a parent-teacher store? Love the tweezer separating sprinkles idea. Do u think this will be too hard for her? She turns five in March. “
Hi Dena! Thanks for the compliment! You don’t need to go to a teacher store; you can buy anything online!
Children who are four are often still developing a comfortable pencil grip. It can be hard for children to develop separation of the two sides of the hand, but a pencil grip can help. I usually try not to use a grip until I’m sure that the child is physically having difficulty.
That means that I have taught them many times where their fingers should go and where the pencil should sit in their hands. When I ask them to hold the pencil correctly, they try to and they know what I mean. The problem is that, due to weak strength and endurance, they can’t maintain a proper grasp. So, then I use a pencil grip. My favorite “go-to” grip for preschoolers is called “the pencil grip”. I like it because it’s “fatter” towards the back which helps kids to open up their web-space. This is the area between the thumb and the index finger. There are specific spots for each finger, but even if they hold it wrong, it’s still ok. Here is what it looks like.
Another good one that I like for kids Emilia’s age is the “writing claw.”
This one can be a little tricky to learn how to use, but once a child gets the hang of it, it’s great. There are spots for the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Pencil grips can be uncomfortable for children at first. That’s ok; it’s uncomfortable because the child is now using the correct muscles, and they aren’t used to doing this work. Keep encouraging them and use it consistently. It will pay off! Also, you can help your child to “tuck in” the ring and pinky finger by having them hold a pom pom or a cotton ball in those fingers. It helps to keep the pinky side of the hand separate from the thumb part.
Another way to make it easier for your child is to play games and work with toys that require the separation of the two sides of their hands. Classic games like Bed Bugs, Lite Brite, Operation, etc. are examples of toys that encourage this.
Good Luck, Dena! Keep us posted!
~Miss Jaime
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