Kids grow and with that, they like to explore each and everything. While playing they hold things, throw them. Sometimes kids start to naturally hold the crayons or chalks or pencils. But the way they hold it is not the correct way. It shows that they are still not ready to write or color and their shoulder muscles are not yet strong. Hence children have to go through a lot of stages to finally hold the pencil or crayons correctly.
What Do You Mean By Pencil Grasp Development?
Children in their growing stage are trying to learn each and everything. It is natural for them to hold crayons and pencils in different ways. In the initial stages, it might not be the correct way to hold pencils and crayons. The way generally depends on how their shoulders and arms muscles. So it is very important for kids to go through all the stages of holding a pencil to learn the perfect way.
So we would be discussing various stages of pencil grip which will help kids to write properly.
1. The First Stage Is – Dynamic Tripod Pencil Grip
It is an easy technique of holding a pencil with the tips of the thumb, index, and middle finger. The thumb will be on the opposite side of the fingers. In the process, the ring finger and little finger will get curled. This simple curling of fingers will help to provide stability to the fingers above it. This also enables kids to form letters smoothly.
2. Adapted Tripod: also called a D’Nealian Pencil Grasp
This is the next stage of pencil grasp after dynamic tripod grasp. This might be a somewhat unusual but very effective technique for children. In this technique, the tip of the thumb, index finger and middle finger hold the pencil with proper grip and the little finger will provide support and stability. This technique proves good for kids because it will be a good exercise for the joints and knuckles. This method would require more pressure from the thumb rather than from fingers.
3. Dynamic Quadruped Pencil Grip
With the technique of dynamic quadrupod, kids can generally learn the pencil gripping. It involves the use of the thumb, index finger, middle finger and ring finger. The thumb will be in the opposite direction to the fingers and the little finger will be curled to provide stability to hand. With the presence of the fourth finger the shaft can tend to limit the range of the movement. Kids will find little stability with the little finger being curled on its side.
4. Lateral Tripod Pencil Grip In The Finger
This technique is quite similar to the quadruped. In this technique, all the fingers will be used except the ring finger. The ring finger will provide stability in holding the pencil but the stable arch is very reduced. Here the pad of the thumb is used but instead of the tip of the thumb. When kids make use of the pencil it will increase the grip. It might tire while working for long hours. It can be possible that kids might owe to reduced stability on the side. It will help them to form letters while writing.
5. Perfect Pencil Grasp
In this stage, kids can hold the pencil in the correct manner. It helps them to draw, color and write easily.
All these stages will help in developing a pencil grip. It might take a bit of time to develop the grip properly. Help kids by making the learning process interesting and fun. EnglishBix will keep focussing on new concepts that will help kids to perform better writing skills.