how do you teach a toddler how to hold and write with a pencil?

Question

I am trying to get my Pre-Preschooler to write better but he has a lot of trouble because he still makes a fist around the pencil so he has no control of the pencil. Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Answer 1

The way your Pre-Preschooler is holding his pencils is actually developmentally appropriate for his age, so please do not panic too much. As others have mentioned focusing generally on his fine motor skills is the best way to start.

It is about strengthening his hand/finger muscles first. Activities that can help with this include:

Lots of Playdough use, whether that be manipulating with his hands, or using hammers or scissors to cut/pound on it.

Let him play with sponges and water, getting him to squeeze the water out of the sponges.

Set up a mini clothes line, encouraging him to squeeze the pegs to attach them to the clothes line (this encourages a pincer grasp - using the thumb and forefinger).

Do collage activities where he has to pick up small pieces (under supervision) such as confetti, coloured matchsticks etc.

Use spray water bottles with him, where he has to squeeze the trigger to get the water out (can be done outside - get him to spray the garden).

When doing drawing/colouring etc, ensure that he uses thicker implements - get thick pencils and textas. Contrary to popular belief crayons are not the best option at this point as they require a lot more pressure to be applied to be able to make markings on the paper. Get your child to draw on an easel as the change in the slope of the surface encourages a different grip from your child.

These are just a few ideas, if you would like more, please feel free to email me. Good luck!

Answer 2

You could start off with just crayons..get the chubbier ones..they seem to be easier for the child to hold.. to get an idea of how to hold. You will have to position their fingers on the pencil, either in a 2 finger grip, with pointer finger and thumb holding pencil, or what may be easier for a very young one, (also an accepted way of holding a pencil) is between thumb and pointer and middle finger.. and then resting against the 4th finger. Also recommended are triangular pencil grips ( you can find them at teacher supply stores), they will help the child know where to hold their pencil, and its better than a circular one for holding their pencil steady. It will just take a while of doing, and getting used to it. Just have plenty of patience, it will work out :)

Answer 3

Toddlers are not ready to use a pencil but there are a lot of things he or she should do to prepare. Playdough, fat crayons, sidewalk chalk and paper to tear are all simple and inexpensive. Any messy play that encourages the child to use his hands is fine. Cooking offers many opportunities. Also provide toys like bead trackers and stringing beads. Don't push the proper pencil grip or he'll get frustrated and lose interest.

Answer 4

You Don't. A toddler really cannot hold a pencil to write because their fine motor skills are not developed enough to hold the pencil properly and he should not begin printing until he can hold the penil properly. They can hold the crayon in their fist and scribble. It would be better to improve his fine motor skills first. Activities such as simple puzzles, playdough. picking up small toys holding small balls playing with large legos anything that requires him to use his fingers and grip. This will help him when he is ready to write because he will have the fine motor skills to make the writing movements. Please don't try to get him to print, you are asking him to do somethng that he is not ready to do.

Answer 5

For most preschoolers, and virtually all toddlers, it's not a matter of just not knowing the correct way to do it. They don't have the fine motor skills to hold a pencil or crayon correctly nor to have full control over it to write correctly. Most four-year-olds are doing pretty good to learn how to write. If your child isn't even in preschool yet, expecting him to actually write, where he has control of the pencil and what he does is legible, is a little unrealistic.

You would be spending your time and efforts better by doing activities that can help with the fine motor skills, and most of those are not really related to writing. Get some Play-Doh, and squish uncooked corn kernels or dried beans in it. With EXTREME supervision, encourage your son to pick the bits out of the Play-Doh.

Play games and sing songs that encourage him to use fine motor skills. Playing with Legos, singing Little Bunny Foo-Foo (with hand motions) or Itsy Bitsy Spider (with hand motions) can help. Attempt to teach him some sign language (learning the letters and numbers can be difficult, but will help with fine motor skills, and it's just a good skill to have). Encourage coloring and writing -- his way -- as much as possible. The more comfortable he is with crayons or pencils, the more he'll attempt to use them correctly.

But pushing this issue is likely to be unsuccessful and a waste of time and energy. Take the small steps. He'll learn to write in good time.

Answer 6

Its normal for your preschooler to start off holding the pencil using his whole hand. As a preschool teacher, this observation would lead me to set up activities that require him to use his pincher grasp (puting his thumb , pointer, and tall man finger together like you would when you are picking something up). Your child needs to work his fine motor muscles by playing with playdough, building with blocks, lacing beeds or noodles, tinker toys, legoes and other fine motor activities before he can hold a pencil the right way. there are more activities that will prepare and stengthen his fine motor muscles and will eventually help him for when he will eventually write his name in kindergarten. For now help him strengthen his muscles. Don't pressure him to write letters if he is not ready. You can expose him to the letters by making it fun spong painting letters. Reading and singing the alphabet. If you push him when he is not ready than you can turn him off to writing too soon.

Answer 7

If your child is having trouble with fine motor skills, You can start by letting them hold a big paint brush and a large size piece of paper. After they have takled that project, then move on to a smaller piece of paper and a smaller utensil to write with or color with, for instance move on to a marker and a smaller size piece of paper. Just remember don't force them to do something they are not comfortable with. They will evetually get the concept of how to hold a pencil. Don't make yourself crazy with it, that is why it is so fun to watch children grow on their own and watch them learn why they do it, who knows you will learn something to by just watching them.

Answer 8

You know, let him alone with pencil and paper, he will hold it in a fist, from time to time, say 'try holding it like this' and show him. He may revert to the fist, but with time, he'll learn the right way. These things take time, parents have to be patient

Answer 9

At any teaching store or maybe even a place like target they have a specific grip for pencils that when you place your fingers on it places them perfectly. I use this in my pre k class all the time.

Answer 10

A reward system based on repetition is the best way... but please, please, please - do not give up! I have students in fourth grade who still cannot hold their pencils correctly and now they can't transition to script.

Most important, don't make too big an issue out of it or, worse case scenario, turn him off from trying anymore.

good luck!