Pencil grip

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old still prefers to color and draw gripping his crayons and markers in a fist. I’ve encouraged him to use the pencil grip, but he reverts right back to fist. Should I keep correcting? How often? Will he just move on naturally?

He is interested in writing letters and often says it’s too hard to draw, so he scribbles, draws rainbows and circle smiley faces.

[Anonymous]

Meant to say he is interested in writing letters, but obviously it’s hard with his grip. He wants to work on tracing and writing.

[Anonymous]

Try adding one of those long triangular pencil grips. It will be easier for him to grip properly (once you show him how), and harder to grip it incorrectly.

There are smaller ones that are better for finger positioning, but they’re too easy to ignore and work around if his instinct is for the fist grip. Maybe you can work up to those.

[Anonymous]

Mine does this too and has done it forever. It's an immature grasp pattern by this point (she is almost 5). If he is open to correction then definitely try. Mine isn't. I bought a pencil grip from Amazon and she fists that too, gah! I will be doing OT soon.

[Anonymous]

Obv keep working on the pencil grip if he wants to trace, but he may be able to practice letters without it, if he wants. Are you giving him tracing sheets for letters? Those are harder than free hand. Ask him what letter he's interested in, draw it at the top of a blank computer paper, and let him try. Learning doesn't have to be linear.

[Anonymous]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RclxBdiuvOM

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old learned how to hold her pencil at preschool.

[Anonymous]

I'm an adult and still don't have proper pencil grip. I use a modified fist grip. Good thing we have computers and phones and almost never have to handwrite in public anymore.