Article Outline
1. Is there a correct pencil grasp?2. Why is correct pencil grasp important?
3. What does a good pencil grip look like? (Photos & Descriptions)
4. How do I help my child develop a good writing grip?
Not everyone is born with the right writing skills. Some kids need help to develop the correct pencil grip. To ensure correct hand position for writing, go through this article in which we will teach you more about the correct writing grip and correct pencil grasp. Learn more about the Tripod grip and Quadrupod grip. Help your students and kids to acquire the correct pencil grasp for handwriting.
Good handwriting has been a blessing for many while many struggles to have it. There are many children in the world who don’t have any idea about the correct pencil grip. There are many reasons behind the lack of skills regarding correct knowledge about the development of writing skills. The major aim of this article is to highlight the importance of correct writing grasp and correct hand position for writing in children at the most basic level. Similar is the case with the elderly who lose motor control with age. Children who are suffering from any disorder like dysgraphia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, arthritis, poor motor skills, and occupational therapy need to learn the correct ways to hold a pencil and write in an effective manner.
1. Is there a correct pencil grasp?
Writing is an art. We need to understand that. It is important to understand that not every child is capable to understand the process of handwriting. It is a complex process. From the grasping of the pencil or a crayon to writing, the process needs proper skill and training. Many children who suffer from dysgraphia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, arthritis, poor motor skills, and occupational therapy need a helping hand in order to develop the correct pencil grasp. There is a correct method that is needed to be developed in children in order to make sure that they write in the correct manner. If the writing position is not correct, the hand gets tired and fatigued a lot quicker. This ends in messy handwriting which gives a bad impression. There is a correct technique to develop a good style of grasp. 
In case if you see your kid has bad writing, the first thing that you should consider is the writing style. The way the child is holding a pencil shows his writing style. A bad style depicts that the child has some issues mentally or physically. The visual-motor integration in children is sometimes slow and needs to undergo therapy. Occupational therapy is one of the best measures to take if you find your child with such issues. Similar is the case with the elderly who need better guidance and help in writing.
There is always a better method. Correct pencil grasp for handwriting has to be taught to the children at an early age. There are instances when the fingers and hand movement is not possible due to the wrong grip. The wrong grip leads to fatigue of the hand which results in bad handwriting. Anyone who has bad handwriting should consider getting some advice. A better functional grip for handwriting allows the hand and the finger muscles to be relaxed in a better position which allows the writing action to be smoother.
2. Why is correct pencil grasp important?
It is important to develop good handwriting. Handwriting that is efficient and attractive attracts a lot of attention. Therefore, one needs to develop a style that allows the hand to be in a position which allows smooth and flexible handwriting. There is a need to develop a correct pencil grasp. If you don’t have one, you will feel more tired at the end of the day. A student has to write a lot in exams. But if he has a troubled style of writing, he might end up messing the whole work since he would get tired and his hand muscles will start to cramp. Therefore, it is important to consider the way you grasp the pencil.
The major dilemma is that this thing is not noted by the teachers or the parents of the child at a young age. They think that the child is doing his best while writing, although he needs assistance and guidance. There are many ways to hold the pencil correctly. Children need to learn those ways. In order to make sure that the child is well aware of his writing style, a teacher or a parent can easily guide him to develop it in a better way. No matter if it is the tripod style or the Quadrupod style, the major aim is to bring comfort and stability in the writing of the child. Children who are suffering from disorders like dysgraphia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, arthritis, poor motor skills, and occupational therapy need more care and guidance.
3. What does a good pencil grip look like? (Photos & Descriptions)
There are tons of pencil grips out there and they vary from person to person. But no one can justify the correct pencil grasp and how to use a pencil correctly, although attempts have been made. The methods to grip a pencil are given below. Do have a look at them to ensure that your child develops the best techniques. The methods vary due to the number of fingers grasping the pencil and the position of the thumb on the pencil.
The major technique used in the past incorporated the “dynamic tripod” grasp. In that case, the thumb, index and middle fingers hold the pencil.
The distal transverse metacarpal arch is an integral component of a good writing style as it provides support and stability to the joints and muscles of the hands. It also reduces the fatigue of the tripod fingers during handwriting thus allowing them to move freely.
3.1.1 Adapted tripod (D'Nealian) pencil grip
If your child has any issue with his bones or joints, he might need to use this style of grip to correct his writing. In this case, the tips of the thumb, index and middle fingers stabilize the pencil. A child had to place the pencil between the index and middle fingers. The use of thumb is reduced in this style.
3.1.2 Lateral Tripod Pencil Grip
This is the widely popular style as well. In this case, the lateral tripod utilizes the thumb, index and middle fingers to hold the pencil tip. Thumb also provides stability to the grip of the pencil.
3.1.3 Dynamic tripod pencil grip
This grip is not as popular as it may seem as it tires the hand way more easily than any other grip. The lateral Quadrupod works the same way as the lateral tripod. In it, the ring finger holds the pencil. This adds more stability support to the hand which is gripping the pencil.
3.2.1 Dynamic Quadrupod Pencil Grip
This style is used widely as well. In this case, tips of the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers are responsible for the movement of a pencil. Thumb and little finger offer support to the hand.
3.2.2 Lateral Quadrupod Pencil Grip
In this case, tips of the index, middle and the fourth finger are responsible for the movement of a pencil. Thumb finger offers support to the hand.
4. How do I help my child develop a good writing grip?
Correct pencil grip for drawing and correct pencil grasp for handwriting is the need of the times. Children need some help in order to get better in their writing skills. Elderly and children who need occupational therapy can be easily accustomed to many skills which can be used to better and enhance the writing skills. The major things that a teacher and a parent can do to teach the child how to hold a pencil correctly are to ensure that he has some day to day activities which he can carry every day. These activities allow him to develop the strength, grip and the skills to have good handwriting. If you have a child who has some issues with his writing techniques, do try the ones listed below to have a correct pencil grasp and good writing grip. A child only needs care and comfort while developing a correct hand position for writing. The following activities are discussed in detail to allow the child to have a better time at school:
✔ Scissor cutting activities
✔ Playdough playing activities
✔ Whole-hand activities
✔ Strengthening the hand muscles
4.1 Scissor cutting activities
Children need to have an activity which allows them to use their motor reflexes in an efficient matter. The scissors allow the children to activate their motor skills with their fingers. Allow them to cut shapes out of paper. This would allow the child to develop control over his hands. The finger movement in scissor cutting is pretty identical to using a pencil so a child can easily develop the kind of movement and the control that is needed for correct pencil grasp for handwriting and drawing. Control is the major issue with many children since they know how to hold a pencil but don’t know how to control it while writing anything. The hand muscles will be coordinated in a better way which will allow the child to overcome his writing disability.
4.2 Playdough playing activities
Playdough seems to have no link to the correct pencil grip for handwriting but it is known to strengthen the muscles of the hands and maximize the motor reflexes. In case of children who suffer from dysgraphia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, arthritis, and poor motor skills, play dough is a fun activity as they learn to get something creative out of it while using their hands. Although, it does not seems to be a great exercise but it does wonders for the children facing writing difficulties.
4.3 Whole-hand activities
There are tons of whole hand activities that involve each and every muscle of the hand and ensure that your hand muscles gain the control and the rhythm. Activities like sponge squeezing, water spray use and paper crumpling allow a kid to have a swift grab and allows his muscles to get adapted to that fast action. The muscles need more support in such cases so they start adapting to the new actions. Children suffering from dysgraphia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, arthritis, and poor motor skills will definitely feel better with the passage of time. Children will also carry out activities which will incorporate the Dynamic tripod pencil grip and Lateral tripod pencil grip activities which will allow them to get accustomed to the tripod style of writing.
4.4 Strengthening the hand muscles
Hand muscles need strength and proper control in order to function in a better way. If your child had issues with his motor skills make sure that he carries out all the activities given above on a daily basis. These activities will ensure that his hands get accustomed to the basic forces that his muscles can produce. For further motor skills development, climbing on the walls and jungle gyms is a good exercise and activity. It allows the child to use his hands for strength development which is quite handy since the child learns how to control the force on his hand and how to utilize it in a better way. Correct pencil grip will be developed by the useful exercise over the passage of time.
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