How to Hold a Pencil Properly

Teaching your children how to hold a pencil properly is an important step in their fine motor skills development. Using the proper grip helps the child learn better handwriting, while preventing physical ailments like carpal tunnel syndrome. Many children are easily discouraged, so make sure to take your time teaching your child each step, and offer a lot of praise throughout the process.

1. First: Model the grip

   The first thing you do before teaching a child how to hold the pencil himself is to model the proper grip. Hold the pencil with your thumb and pointer finger, while using your middle finger as a rest for the pencil. This helps show your child the proper form that they then try to copy.

2. Second: Give the pencil to your child

   Have your child extend his pointer finger and thumb, while curling the other fingers in toward the hand. Have your child pinch the pencil with his thumb and pointer finger when you put the pencil in his hand, and have him rest the pencil on his middle finger for added support. Make sure that your child has a relaxed grip on the pencil, since a strong grip usually causes writer's cramp and other difficulties later.

3. Third: Use a small pencil or pencil grip

   Some children have difficulty learning how to write with a standard-sized pencil. Consider giving your child a golf pencil, which is about half the size of a regular pencil, to practice his grip. Placing a pencil grip on the pencil is also a great way to teach your child how to hold a pencil properly. Pencil grips help both children and adults place their fingers properly every time.