Teaching kids how to hold a pencil correctly - prep teachers help please!

[Curly]

This is a subject close to my heart because I don't hold my pen correctly. It wasn't until I was in Year 3 at school when one teacher said to me one day "Curly hold your pen properly!" that I realised I wasn't doing it right. I can't believe it didn't get picked up earlier...but even then the teacher didn't show me how, I think she just thought I was being silly.

I looked at the other kids and tried to copy them but even though I managed to modify my pencil grip it still isn't right - it was too late for me to relearn. I always used to have trouble copying large amounts from the blackboard because my hand would get sore.

So....I really want DS to learn to hold his pencil correctly but because I don't do it properly myself I am not sure how to teach him.

Do you teach kids to hold their pencil with thumb and index finger, resting the pencil on the middle finger?

Or do they grip the pencil with thumb, index and middle fingers? I have bought DS some triangular pencils and that seems to be the way those pencils encourage him to grip, is that right?

[maz]

N was terrible at holding the pen right. His kinder teacher told him to 'pinch' the nib on the pencil with this thumb and pointing finger on the end then flip the pencil back onto the back of his hand whilst holding the end. It helped him heaps and now he has perfect grip

[AliBaby]

Hmm this is hard to explain online but i'll do my best.

You grip the pencil with your thumb and index finger and your third finger rests underneath the pencil and is supporting the pencil. The rest of the fingers just curl underneath your hand.

There is a pencil grip story that helps children remember, I have it at work so I am no help right now.

Also the triangular pencils are good to help with grip.

[BrightSparkles]

Also the triangular pencils are good to help with grip.

I think there are little things you can get that slip onto the pencil to help kids get the idea of holding there pencil properly too??? There are triangular and from the newsagency??

[maz]

Pencil grip their called hon

[AliBaby]

Yep Sunshine you are right and Maz is right that they are called pencil grips.

I am not really a fan of the little pencil grips that you put on pencils. They can be helpful for some kids but they are big and weighty and can actually make it harder to hold the pencil.

I would recommend them to children if they still haven't got the correct pencil grip after midway through kindergarten when they have already been exposed to alot of direction on how to write.

The triangle shaped pencils are good for the meantime. Given that he is only three years old I wouldnt expect him to be holding it properly yet but he will get lots of exposure in kindergarten and preschool.

Also just wanted to add that Curly I am so sorry that you were let down at school and someone didn't offer you help with writing a lot sooner

[Curly]

Also just wanted to add that Curly I am so sorry that you were let down at school and someone didn't offer you help with writing a lot sooner

LOL thanks! I'm more cross about it now than I was then, I was so perplexed at the time, I had no idea what I was doing wrong. I do occasionally get a comment on the funny way I hold my pen...but usually it's just compliments on my handwriting which is really nice despite my weird grip...but I still wouldn't be able to write for ages without getting a sore hand.

Thanks girls...I have been teaching DS the wrong way, I taught him to hold the pencil with a thumb and 2 fingers, ie not resting the pencil on the middle finger. Poor kid, I'm going to have to unteach him. DH told me it was wrong but I didn't believe him because he has horrible handwriting LOL.