Teaching how to hold a pencil

[HipGal]

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this? My son seems to want to start writing letters. He can write a few, but doesn't have much control when holding the pencil with his fist! He is 3 1/2, so it is kinda early, but I'm hoping he will be less frustrated if he has more success with writing (and I want to take advantage of his current interest!). I tried to kind of show him how I hold it and talk about it, but he wasn't too interested. Any fun/easier ways for him to learn?

[amey]

The Handwriting without Tears program was written by an OT, and it talks about how to correctly hold a pencil (wrist on the table, index finger and thumb make an "owl eye", pencil should rest in the webbing, etc). My elder son is seeing an OT for an assortment of things and his hand strength and handwriting is one of them. Those are the things she concentrates on right now - his open fingers, wrist down, etc. Writing/painting on a easel is also supposed to help build wrist strength and we need to do more of that.

i'm willing to bet there might be a youtube video of correct hand position for writing too

[Momily]

Lots of opportunities to draw and write with little things -- broken crayons, tiny pieces of chalk, pencil stubs. The only way to hold these things is with the tips of the fingers.

Also, other activities that encourage the use of the finger tips -- tearing tissue paper and making it into little balls, sponge painting with little pieces of sponge, tearing tape (get that blue painter's tape and let him decorate your walls) eye droppers (give him clear containers with red, yellow and blue water, and an empty ice cube tray to mix his own colors in).

Have him write/draw on an easel or a piece of paper taped to the wall (tape down a big brightly colored piece first and then a piece of white paper in the middle of that -- the brightly colored piece will keep him from going off the paper onto the wall itself. The position of the wrist opens us their hands and stops them from using their fist.

Basically, don't teach him at all, but give him lots of opportunities to explore with materials that can only be used the "right" way and he'll develop the skill on his own.

[aishy]

Thanks for the info, momily! I was going to post a similar question, I am at the same place with my 4.5 year old and wasn't sure where to start.

[Momily]

You're welcome Aishy!

One other thought is while you're waiting for the pencil grip to come together, try other ways of writing -- finger paint/shaving cream/sand and mud all make great surfaces for writing with just one finger. Making letters out of playdough snakes is lots of fun too. HWT has some great letter pieces you can make or order and use to build letters like a puzzle.

[smeisnotapirate]

Also, at your local school supply store, they have these fun pencil grippers that go on pens, pencils, crayons, anything! They have it shaped so he'll know exactly where to put his fingers, and he can choose from a bunch of his favourite colors. Besides, they're about $0.25.

Good luck!

[HipGal]

Wow!!! Awesome ideas!

I love the writing with small things idea. I see what you mean about having to use your fingers. And without an annoying mama trying to demonstrate.

THANK YOU!!!