Pencil grips are designed to support the most functional and efficient pencil grasp a child can achieve. Static tripod grasp: The pencil is held with the thumb, the index finger, and the long finger, but there is no movement of the fingertips during writing. Teachers will love the Centers activities to incorporate into learning to impact carryover of handwriting skills.

When developing our list of recommended ergonomic writing tools, we consulted with two occupational therapists, a rheumatologist, and an orthopaedic surgeon to determine what to look for when selecting a product. We also asked about different types of pens, as well as which pens are best for specific conditions like arthritis, essential tremors, and Parkinson’s.Designed with a wide barrel that boasts an ergonomic, latex-free cushioned grip, this pen reduces writing stress. In fact, Meredith Warner, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and founder of Well Theory indicates that she opts for this pen when she gets writer’s cramp and finds it extremely helpful. In occupational therapy sessions, the OT practitioner is striving to achieve the most effective and functional pencil grasp for each individual. A therapist may have 40, 50, or even 70 students on their school-based OT caseload…and each student will be completely different when it comes to grasp patterns, pencil pressure, positioning of the fingers, preferences, letter formation strokes, executive functioning skills, self-regulation, visual motor skills, sensory preferences, and handwriting considerations. All of these areas play into handwriting. You struggle with kids who work on skills but can’t carryover handwriting and pencil grasp into the classroom.

Lateral Quadrupod Grasp-Grasp is similar to the lateral tripod grasp, with its thumb wrapped positioning of the thumb, but uses the pointer, middle, and ring fingers are on the pencil shaft and manipulate the pencil. Quadrupod Grasp That said, gel ink does require slightly more pressure to extract from the pen—even with a rolling ball. So, if you have extremely painful fingers or wrists you may want to opt for the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity pen, which is a more traditional ballpoint pen. Be patient, encouraging, and rewarding to your learners, as they work on these skills. A good grasping pattern will be essential later in school, as handwriting tasks become longer and more complex. You are supporting their present AND future success! Pencil Grip Kit

This is based on many factors including; their current skill level, motivation, and understanding that the pencil grasp should be efficient and effective, but NOT perfect. Unfortunately, some people develop an awkward static grasp pattern, which can impact handwriting and speed since the motion primarily comes from the wrist. There are three types of immature grasp: 1 Being forced to use a lot of pressure to make a pen function can cause pain and discomfort when writing. But an ergonomically-designed writing tool really doesn’t require a lot of pressure on the paper to get the ink to run smoothly. Look for pens that use the weight of your hand while writing rather than those that require a tight-fisted grip.