Pencil Grasp

Pencil grasp is a motor habit that develops over time. Kids should be taught to hold the pencil with a 3-4 fingered grasp. After age 6, pencil grasp is difficult to change. Pencil grasp should be changed when pain or fatigue are impacting writing. These 2 videos below are helpful for teaching the correct pencil grip.

The short answer is maybe. First try practicing fine motor tasks like pinching clothespins, cutting, using tongs, squeezing playdough and playing with legos to strengthen your child's hands. The best pencil grip is the one your child will use. You can also try short primary pencils to help. The large the diameter of the pencil the less grip strength is needed to control the pencil. Primary pencils are great for kindergarten and first grade students. You can cut pencils with garden shears. Other grips that might help are shown below.