Improving Pencil Grasp Development Through Play
Before children are developmentally ready to grasp a pencil correctly, there are milestones they must complete in order to build the necessary strength and fine motor control for proper handwriting. Pre-school age children need to be able to stack blocks, grasp small items, and engage in messy play without difficulty. It is not typical for preschool children to copy words or grasp a pencil without first going through these stages.
Typical Progression of Pencil Grasp Development:
| Age | Grasp pattern |
| 1-1.5 years old |
Supinate or whole hand grasp
|
| 2-3 years old |
Digital pronate grasp or palm down grasp
|
| 3-4 years old |
Static Tripod or Quadrupod grasp or 3 or 4 fingertips around the pencil; movement comes from the shoulder and elbow
|
|
4-7 years old
|
Dynamic Tripod or Quadrupod grasps; 3 or 4 fingertips around the pencil; pencil movements are more refined, using mobil
|
ity of the fingers and hand
Strategies for improving strength for grasping skills through play activities:
Weight bearing activities
-
- Crawling forward with open palms
- Working on activities on their stomach
- Activities where they hold their body weight like a trapeze bar or monkey bars
Heavy work (pushing and pulling activities): helping carry grocery bags, carrying a weighted backpack, pushing a shopping cart or laundry basket loaded with toys, playground equipment with assistance as needed (monkey bars, climbing walls)
Squeezing activities: rolling play-doh, using squirt bottle during water play, using games with tongs to grasp/release small toys, engaging in messy play for arch development (touching and manipulating sand, shaving cream, mixing and rolling dough in the kitchen), lacing cards, stacking blocks
Other activities:
-
- Drawing on vertical surfaces like an easel or taping paper on the wall for placing the wrist and hand at a functional position for pre/handwriting/coloring
- Breaking crayons in half to assist with progressing to a tripod or quadrupod grasp
- Painting with cotton swabs, pom-poms, or cotton balls
If you are concerned about your child’s grasping skills or other fine motor skills, Kids Place Pediatric Therapy is here to help.
References
The OT Toolbox: Pencil Grasp Development
Growing Hands-on Kids: Pencil Grasp Activities: 20 fun ideas for kids
