How to teach children to hold a pencil
How to teach children to hold the pencil correctly? To learn to write it is not enough to be able to recognize and reproduce letters and numbers. To draw it is not enough to put eyes, feet or windows in the right place. You have to do it well, correctly, starting with the handle. But to hold pencils and felt-tip pens in the right way you have to pay attention to what you put in the pen holder: every age has an adequate support and pay attention to the shape and size of the products, so that they are preparatory for each phase and graphic and motor skills.
How to teach children to hold a pencil
We start talking about grip with primary school and the first writing. In reality we should pay attention to it from an early age, with the grip of the scissors, the glue, and the first pencils. Around the age of three, children switch from palm grip (with the whole hand) to digital grip (with the fingers) and already starting from this age it is necessary to provide the appropriate graphic tools corresponding to the grapho-motor age. In fact, the correct grip is essential and decisive to allow the child to write and draw effortlessly, managing movements, fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination with precision. In a highly digital age, children have lost much of their dexterity and awareness of gestures: several brands such as Cariocahave developed products suitable for different age groups
When to teach children to hold a pencil
Around the age of two and a half, children develop curiosity about handwriting; but some experience color beforehand. Their little hands, however, are not able to hold felt-tip pens or fine pencils, and the grip should not be forced at all. The first tools must be short and thick, to gradually become longer and thinner. In general, however, pencils, crayons and markers must have a large diameter, be short and with a soft tip, easy to hold even for small children who have not refined their grip .
What pencils to choose for first graders
For the beginning of school, the case is usually chosen on the basis of aesthetic tastes or passions for superheroes, idols and cartoons. But it’s what’s inside that you have to watch out for! Round surface pencils should be avoided; the jumbo ones with a triangular surface are definitely better , because they are more comfortable, able to relieve muscle tension and instinctively and physiologically suggest the correct position of the three fingers on the pencils. I feel better if soft . Much attention should be paid to the diameter, which must be thick for the first writing. Pencils and fine felt-tip pens, the classic ones, are to be used when the grip is already refined , between primary and secondary school, and only if you are ready.
The wrong grip must be prevented by providing the child with suitable support material and obviously by setting a good example. A dysfunctional grip can make writing tiring and annoying, with consequences on both graphic-motor skills and posture. There are some situations to monitor, such as if the child after the age of four still has a palmar grip; if the fingers are too close to the tip, if they cross each other or if they exert too much pressure on the surface. In these cases it is advisable to check the contents of the pen holder and, if necessary, consult an expert. Needless to say, all school supplies must be of quality, comfortable, functional to each person’s skills and age.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.