Incorrect or non traditional pencil grasps are often a popular handwriting concern for teachers and parents.
Research tells us that pencil grasp is often not the correct focus for concern. The older a child is the harder it is for them to adapt to a new grasp. If a grasp is not causing the child pain, if it is not slowing down their writing speed (based on age average norms) a grasp is classified as functional. Other areas of writing should be reviewed instead. Areas such as letter formation (where is the child starting and finishing their letters), letter spacing, word spacing, letter placement (where on the line should the letters be placed) should be a focus instead.
Gross motor skills are equally important in addressing pencil grasp. Often non traditional grasps occur when a child has poor gross motor strength in an area of the body and then will compensate for this through a modified grasp.
Gross motor activities such as the warm ups listed under the Gross Motor section of this blog are some suitable activity options to increase motor strength and processes.
If you feel that your child’s pencil grasp is not functional and is causing them pain, discomfort, fatigue or slowing down their writing speed please refer to the PowerPoint presentation below that has some simple strategies to help remediate the grasp. Please also remember that a change in grasp will take time and that going through that change for a child can increase their writing fatigue and maybe even cause pain and discomfort in their hand and forearm. It is recommended that hand warm ups be incorporated as part of any modified activity. Please refer to these activities in the Fine Motor section of this blog.