I prefer to use the term 'functional grip' rather than 'correct grip' with a functional grip being one which will allow the child to move their fingers independently to form marks enabling neat writing without getting easily tired or suffering discomfort.

Now, without further ado, let’s proceed to types of pencil grips that most OTs recommend, what their purpose is, and why they are recommended! To meet the needs of the individual student, a pencil grip may be supplied as a tool to support those individual needs. There is no need to force them to hold their pencil in a certain way. You'll find that they develop and progress through these stages as their muscles and posture get stronger.

Adjustable Therapy Benches

The child will start to hold the pencil between the thumb and index finger with the pe ncil supported on the middle finger. The ring and little fingers are gently curled inwards. This gives an open wide web space which means the movement comes from the fingers.

Before we get into the various types of pencil grips you may see an occupational therapy practitioner recommend, it’s important to cover functional pencil grip. Find themed pencil grip challenges which feature your child's favourite characters such as Elmer, Humpty Dumpty or Mr Twig. One final note on the use of pencil grips, they WILL be uncomfortable to use at first. Learners are having to utilize the correct finger and hand muscles. In the adaptive tripod grasp, the child places the pencil between the index and middle fingers rather than within the traditional web space. They grasp the pencil shaft with the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The placement of the pencil between the index and middle fingers provides ample support and stability allowing for good pencil control, and less hand and finger fatigue. Here is an OT tip just for you! Create a pencil grip kit as pictured below. This will serve you coordinate an approach to determining the best pencil grip for any learner. You will have children that the typical grip will not work for, and you’ll need that one rarely used grip just for them! Have it on hand!Real Review: “My 9 year old son has dysgraphia and he dreads writing. I dread reading it. The difference with his handwriting is night and day with these pencils. They fit well in his hand and helps make his writing more legible. We still have issues with spacing and sizing, but we can practice now. Great product!”

There are 6 developmental stages of a maturing pencil grip but it is important to remember that while these stages are 'typical 'every child is different and will develop in their own way and at their own speed. STAGE 1 - PINCER GRIPIf your child is developmentally ready to be able to adopt a functional/mature pencil grip and is still experiencing discomfort, fatigue and/or untidy handwriting then it would be advisable to see a professional opinion preferably in the form of an occupational therapy assessment. This grip is typically seen from 8-9 months when the child will start to use the pads of their index finger and thumb and later advance into using the tips of these digits (typically between the ages of 10-12 months). It is easy to achieve, and I often use it if I am writing a lot. My husband uses it all of the time, and has since grade school. Rest assured, the use of the right pencil grip, when coupled with the activities you are using to get to the root of the problem, will help.

Information is king as they say and knowing what your child's pencil grip should typically look like for their age will ensure that you are not trying to push your child into adopting a certain style of pencil grip before they are developmentally ready. Pushing little hands before they are developmentally ready can be detrimental. It is very important to develop their gross and fine motor muscles (upper body muscles, shoulder and wrist muscles as well as the small muscles of their fingers). This is best achieved through play with activities such as outdoor play, jumping climbing but also by encouraging drawing, craft activities and threading. Lateral tripod grip - The use of 3 fingers; index, middle and thumb (or 4 for a lateral quadrupod grip) but in this grip the thumb crosses over the shaft of the pencil often resting against the index finger instead of the pencil. Real Review: “I bought these to help a couple of my kindergarten students to remember spaces between their words. It is very helpful to them for that as well as keeping them on the lines! I love them and would get them again!” Sometimes the easiest way to ensure a better grip on a pencil is by getting a smaller pencil into those hands. Golf pencils are some of the best tools for smaller hands, as they are the right size. The use of larger pencils and crayons leads to compensatory grasping patterns, as they are too long and too heavy for little hands to grasp and hold for long periods of time. A typical sized pencil in the hands of a child, is the equivalent of an adult trying to use a 12 inch pencil! Real Review: “I absolutely love this product! My child has Autism and really struggles with his fine motor skills. This product has worked wonders in helping him hold his pencil properly and I couldn’t be more excited about how much he’s improved since he started using this!”

SKM 100 Easystore Therapy Table

Think of pencil grips as a supplemental tool to aid a child as they continue to work on building the hand and finger skills needed to achieve an independent and efficient grasp. Why We Like It: Fingers can help kids remember proper spacing… two fingers for larger writing, one for smaller. This set of translucent guides is easy to slide along as you write, keeping spacing consistent. In this grip, all 4 fingers and the thumb are used to grip the pencil with the palm of the hand facing downwards towards the paper and also the fingers pointing downwards. Real Review: “I use these consistently with children who cannot form or sustain a tripod grasp (after trying other techniques). The Pencil Grip is easy to use….on each grip, an ‘R’ and ‘L’ are printed on the sides. The thumb of the writing hand goes on the side the letter is printed on. So, if you’re a righty, your thumb would go under the ‘R.’ They get a bit gummy after sustained use, as the oils from the fingers will wear down the material. But one grip should last an academic year.” Explore the other blog posts we have here at The OT Toolbox regarding pencil grasps by reviewing the convenient list of these just for you: