I also use tweezers a lot. I also have a crayon maker that makes small shapes kids have to grasp with their finger tips. One of them is a car so we use those to drive roads on paper (on the table or wall). One issue with traditional pens is that they often force your hand and fingers into a specific position when you are writing. But if you have a condition like arthritis or carpal tunnel this can cause pain and discomfort. For this reason, you want to find a writing tool that allows you to write at any angle, Dr. Warner says. Being thrown into teletherapy like most therapists this spring was a challenge. This blog was a lifesaver for ideas and information! Parent coaching and creating simple sensory break ideas using home materials was my go to for teletherapy! A creative challenge! Rest assured, the use of the right pencil grip, when coupled with the activities you are using to get to the root of the problem, will help. Lateral Quadrupod Grasp-Grasp is similar to the lateral tripod grasp, with its thumb wrapped positioning of the thumb, but uses the pointer, middle, and ring fingers are on the pencil shaft and manipulate the pencil. Quadrupod Grasp

Hadders-Algra, M. (2013). Typical and atypical development of reaching and postural control in infancy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 55(Suppl 4): 5–8. Some activities I like to use to work on pencil grasp skills are active movement and pressure based activities which can help when holding a writing instrument. For example: a fun game of tough/war with a rope that resembles the width/length of the preferred writing instrument, playing with a “magical” wand with its handle closely related to the writing instrument and holding it in a variety of ways/positions, and so on.

Then we spent hours researching the different types of pens on the market, evaluating everything from their weight and sizing to their ease of use and grip design. The end result was a comprehensive list of ergonomic pens designed to assist with writing depending on your specific condition. First I use weight bearing activities, such as wheelbarrow walks, to build proximal stability. Then I use activities to build distal mobility and strengthen the intrinsic muscles of the hand, such as searching for small items in theraputty. Plus, the weight of this pen is just enough to quell hand tremors by allowing the pen to do all the work for you. In fact, the design encourages support from your larger muscles while reducing the load on your smaller hand muscles. This is exactly what you need if you struggle with hand tremors while attempting to write. I love MedBridge because it allows me to browse different education programs at my own pace and to learn about other subjects other than my primary focus of pelvic health. This allows me to keep abreast of current research in various areas of PT.” Dynamic Quadrupod Grasp-Grasp is similar to the dynamic tripod grasp, but opposition includes the thumb, pointer finger, middle finger on the pencil shaft.

Pens like the Fisher Space Pen are known for being able to write no matter what position they are placed in. They can even write upside down and at zero gravity! That said, look for a writing tool that gives you a lot of flexibility when you hold it. You want to be able to use the pen or pencil in a way that is most comfortable for you. Weight (or Pressure Needed) Be patient, encouraging, and rewarding to your learners, as they work on these skills. A good grasping pattern will be essential later in school, as handwriting tasks become longer and more complex. You are supporting their present AND future success! Pencil Grip Kit I usually start with heavy work activities involving weight bearing on hands as prep, then move on to removing/burying small items in putty, clothespin and tong games, and using manipulative like small stamps, sorry game pieces or mini bowling pins to promote tripod grasp Ho, E. S. (2010). Measuring hand function in the young child. Journal of Hand Therapy, 23(3): 323–8. Dynamic tripod: The pencil is held in the tips of the thumb, index finger, and long finger, resting in the webspace. Writing is done by moving the fingertips.Personalized Quality Wood Pen With Gripper- Engraved Pen- Employee Gifts- Comes in a Pouch- Free engraving Dynamic Tripod Grasp-(4-6/7 years) Thumb and pointer finger hold the pencil as it rests on the last joint of the middle finger. Pencil movements occurvia manipulation of the fingers and hand. Note that a true dynamic tripod grasp may not be established up until around 14 years of age. It is easy to achieve, and I often use it if I am writing a lot. My husband uses it all of the time, and has since grade school. Schwellnus, H., Carnahan, H., Kushki, A., Polatajko, H., Missiuna, C., & Chau, T. (2012). Effect of pencil grasp on the speed and legibility of handwriting in children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66: 718–726.