Pencil Grip Stages: What to Expect & How to Help Your Kids

Pencil grip is an important part of developing the ability to write successfully. Here are the different developmental stages of a child’s pencil gasp and how you can help kids at each stage.

Why is Pencil Grip Important?

Pencil grip is important because it helps kids to have the proper amount of control over the pencil. A proper pencil grasp will help your child to eventually write more neatly, efficiently, and with less fatigue in their hand muscles. Let’s learn more about pencil grip stages.

It’s important to remember that developing a grip is a process that should not be rushed. Many kids need to build their fine motor skills and hand strength before they are ready to tackle using a crayon or pencil. Also, each child will develop at their own pace, so it’s important to be patient and provide plenty of opportunities for practice.

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What are the Stages of Pencil Grip Development?

There are many types of pencil grasps that kids use, and they go by a variety of names. Generally, kids will move through these developmental grasp stages, but you will also find that some kids (like me) might develop their own unique grip. Here are some of the most common grasp patterns that kids use as they develop a mature pencil grasp.

Fisted Grip or Palmar Supinate Grasp

When it comes to pencil grip stages, this is the most basic grip and is often seen in very young children. By the way, supinate means that the palm of the hand is facing up or forward. The child wraps their whole fist around the pencil and grasps it tightly. With this whole hand grasp, kids move their writing utensils with a whole arm movement. Kids often prefer to work on a vertical surface when using this grasp.

digital pronate Grasp or Palmar grasp

The next development stage of the grip is the palmer or digital-pronate grasp. In this stage, a child holds the pencil in their palm but starts to use their thumb and all their fingers as well. Pronate means that the palm is facing down or backward. Again, the whole arm moves when using this grasp, so a vertical surface is preferred.

Static Three-Fingered or Static Four-Fingered Grasp

Many preschoolers will use the three (static tripod grasp) or four-fingered grasp. When using the next preschool pencil grip stage, kids hold the pencil or crayon with the pads of their fingers. This is called static because the individual fingers do not move in this grasp. Kids use their wrists and forearms for pencil movement.

Quadrupod grasp or Dynamic Tripod grip

As their grip matures, kids will start using a quadrupod grasp dynamic tripod grasp. In this quadrupod stage, the pencil is held with the tips of the fingers between the thumb and the first two fingers, the pencil rests on the middle finger, and the ring finger is tucked behind. I never developed a tripod grasp, so I use a dynamic quadruped grasp today. Dynamic means that the movement comes from the fingers rather than the arm muscles.

With a dynamic tripod grip, a child holds the writing utensil with the tips of the fingers between the thumb and the first two fingers, and the pencil rests on the middle finger. With this mature tripod grip, the movement comes from their fingers with minimal wrist movement, and their arm rests on the table. Because movement is coming from the fingers, kids have an open wide web space between the thumb and the index finger.

Pencil Grip Stages – When Should a Child Have a Correct Grasp?

Many kids will develop and use a dynamic pencil grasp by the time they reach first grade. However, if you are concerned about your child’s pencil grip or if he or she is having difficulty with writing tasks such as coloring within the lines, you may want to consult an occupational therapist or other educational professionals.

What Tools Should I Use to Encourage Proper Grasp?

There is no need to use pencil grips at an early age but here are some tools that may help your child as they develop their pencil grasp.

• Broken Crayons
• Pebble Crayons
• Small Pieces of Chalk
• Golf Pencils

So, I JUST LOVE a fresh new box of crayons. Can you smell them right now as you read this? Why in the world would I want to BREAK them into small pieces?

Many occupational therapists recommend short writing instruments. When crayons, pencils, chalk, etc. are short, this encourages kids to use three fingers.

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Activities to Build Strength for Pencil Grasp Development

Building hand and finger strength is an important stepping stone to holding a pencil. Here are some different ways you can help your kids develop their pincer grasp and build strength in their little fingers. Your kids are will have lots of fun with these fine motor skills activities.

Playdough: Playing with playdough is a great way to build hand and finger strength. Invite your kids to mix, knead, and squish the dough. You can also hide small objects in the playdough for them to find.

Clothespins: Clothespins are great for building finger and hand strength. Encourage your child to clip the clothespins onto a piece of paper or fabric. You can also challenge them to move the clothespins from one bowl to another using only their fingers. Use count and clip cards for a math and fine motor activity. You can also use clothespins to make your own paintbrushes.

Bead Activities: There are lots of craft activities that you can do with beads. You lace beads to make beaded necklaces, or beaded snowflakes. Placing beads on an images is also a fun fine motor activity.

Spray bottles: Let your child help with watering plants, watering flowers, or washing pumpkins. You can also paint with spray bottles.

Squirt guns: I don’t love using guns wtih kids, but you can find some animal squirt guns to use for some amazing squirt gun process art projects.

Tweezers and tongs: You can easily find fun fine motor tools in your kitchen drawer or at the dollar store. Tweezers and tongs are great for developing the muscles in the fingers. Encourage your child to use tweezers to pick up small objects or tongs to transfer objects from one container to another.

Eyedroppers: eyedroppers are a great way to build hand and finger muscles. Let your child use an eyedropper to transfer water from one container to another. Mixing colors makes this an extra fun activity. You can also use eyedroppers for fun fine motor painting activities.

Building with blocks: Building towers with blocks or other items is a great way to develop hand and finger muscles.

Painting: It’s easy to combine a finger strengthening activity with an art activity. Painting is a great way to build hand and finger muscles. Encourage your child to use different painting techniques such as eye dropper painting, dot marker painting, squeeze bottle painting and more. You can also experiment with DIY paintbrushes.

Tearing Paper: Tearing paper is a great way to build hand strength. Encourage your child to tear strips of paper or whole sheets into smaller pieces. They can then use it to make torn paper art.

Pop bubble wrap : Encourage your child to pop the bubbles with their fingers. Not only is this a motivating and satisfying activity, but it also builds finger strength.

Hole Punch Activities: Kids love doing hole punch activities. I don’t know why it’s so exciting to punch holes in paper….but it is.

Printable Fine Motor Craft Activities: These printable fine motor craft activities were designed to support fine motor development. Each craft includes opportunities for kids to trace dotted lines to help them develop their pencil grip.

Finally, remember to be patient as your child develops and moves through the different pencil grip stages. Each child is unique and will develop at their own pace. Provide plenty of opportunities to build finger strength and practice.

Fine Motor Activities from The Store

Are you looking for printable fine motor activities for your kids? Check out the following items from the store that will promote building those fine motor muscles that will develop more mature pencil grip stages and pencil control.