When I think about educating my son at home, the area I am most concerned about is handwriting. I’m not looking for gorgeous cursive or anything like that. You see, my son has sensory processing disorder, which, for him, effects his awareness of his body. Imagine trying to write letters when you can’t really tell what your hand and fingers are up to!
A while back, I wrote about how an orphaned sock can help your child keep their fingers in a proper writing position. Well, occasionally, even that sock will go missing (you’d think that that sock would have learned its lesson from its pair who got permanently lost, but NO!) So here’s a second little tool we use to help develop a better pencil grasp when our trusty sock goes missing.
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Loopy likes to hold his pencil in all sorts of creative ways. His bottom three fingers typically get in the way by trying to support the writing utensil. Even when he starts out holding everything correctly, those three little guys find a way to sneak back into the picture.
What can you do to train those guys to behave???
Find a tiny object and have your child hold it to their palm with just those three fingers.
We typically use a small Lego. But you can use anything, like a coin, a small rock, a bottle cap…. whatever you have on hand.
It’s so simple, but it keeps those three pesky fingers occupied so only the thumb and forefinger are pinching the pencil. It works like a charm. And who doesn’t have random objects strewn about their home? I know we sure do!
When you take this quiz, you'll receive a free report that outlines what your child's sensory needs are and what sensory activity will help them thrive, based on your unique situation.
Looking for a great writing utencil to promote a great pencil grasp? These FLIP Crayons
are the bomb diggity!
Child still struggling? Try making one of THESE!
For more handwriting development, check out this series!
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Julie is a frazzled mom of three tornadoes. As a dorky second-generation homeschooler, she writes about learning and play, natural living, special needs parenting and matters of the heart. She serves an astounding God that radically saved her.
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April says
Oh my, I still write with all four fingers on the pencil, pinky guiding from the bottom up. It can be frustrating, for the little ones and the one teaching. Looks like you are doing a good job though- tell him to hang in there!
Julie says
I don’t hold it quite right myself (I tend to loop my index finger over the top.) Thanks for stopping by! 😉 We need all the encouragement we can get and I sure need to remember to be patient!
Ellen says
An OT at a school I taught at once told me to use the marker cap. It is a good place to store the marker while using it and it helps to create a better grip. 🙂
Julie says
Love it!
Ashlee Farris says
An OT that I once worked with also recommended using a hair tie/scrunchie — put the hair tie around the wrist, like a bracelet. Stretch the “bracelet” towards the thumb and forefinger, and twist so it makes a figure eight. Put the pencil or crayon in the other loop created by the figure eight, and it’s perfectly positioned to hold the item in place!
I love gathering these little tips to help my students be more successful! Thanks!
Julie says
I’ve seen that idea too but have yet to try it! I’m sure we will when he gets past the crayon stage. Thank you for all your efforts for students!
LAksmi mahardika says
Great
Kati says
As a kindergarten teacher I was supposed to teach and train children how to hold a pencil with the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. The forefinger and thumb pinch the pencil and the middle finger goes under for support, holding it on 3 sides. That’s also why trainer pencils and crayons are triangular, they should be held on all 3 sides…
Julie says
I believe that is the ideal way to hold it. But from my research, this is an ok alternative until a more sophisticated grasp can be mastered.