Types of Handwriting Grips for Children

In a 2003 study on pencil grip, researcher Ann-Sofie Selin points out that to be efficient, handwriting must be fluent for the writer and legible for the reader. The writer must be able to quickly and easily put her thoughts down on paper, while the reader must be able to focus on the story rather than being distracted by the difficulty of reading the words. Some handwriting grips accomplish these tasks better than others.

  1. Mature Handwriting Grips

    • Selin points out that the ̶0;dynamic tripod̶1; is popularly considered the best handwriting grip. It places the thumb, middle finger and forefinger in control of the pencil, while providing stability and flexibility through the rest of the hand and arm. She notes, however, that the lateral tripod, which uses the third finger to further stabilize the pencil, is also an acceptable and mature grip.

    Basic Motor Skills

    • OT-Mom.com notes that it is impossible for children to develop a mature handwriting grip until they have mastered four basic motor skills. Postural control refers to the ability of the shoulders and torso to support the arm and hand, allowing the fingers to move freely. Tactile perception is the brain̵7;s ability to properly interpret input from the nerves in the fingers and hand. Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body simultaneously, while hand function is the ability to control the small muscles of the hand, wrist and forearm. If any of these skills are not yet developed, your child̵7;s handwriting grip will be shaky or incorrect.

    Handwriting Grip Development

    • Handwriting grips develop as a child matures. Selin categorizes immature pencil grips as primitive and transitional, according to the point in development at which they typically occur. OT-Mom.com lays out four basic grips that most children go through as they mature. In the fisted grasp, a toddler clenches his fist around a writing implement and uses the shoulder muscles to move it around. The next stage is the palmar grasp, in which the child lays the object across his palm, sticks his elbow out, and controls it with the arm muscles. The five-finger grasp moves control of the pencil to the fingers and the muscles in the wrist. Children next move to a more mature three-finger grip, but continue to use the wrist muscles until they develop fine motor dexterity in the fingers.

    Distorted Handwriting Grips

    • OT-Mom.com warns that if children are pushed to write too soon, they might develop a distorted grip that is difficult to unlearn. Common problems include wrapping or tucking the thumb around the pencil, balancing the pencil in an unnatural position, lifting the hand off the table, using a tight grasp, and placing the stabilizing fingers in an uncomfortable position. If your child displays any of these habits, gently explain a more comfortable grip.

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