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"At first, my son said that the pencil with the pencil grip was uncomfortable, so I explained that it was uncomfortable because he was familiar with the other way of holding a pencil. I told him that the more he practiced the new way, the sooner it would feel good. After practicing six weeks, I noticed him holding his regular pencil correctly while he was drawing independently. I said, "Look how you are holding your pencil." He looked down at his hand and said, "I didn't mean to do it!" We practiced together with the pencil grip a few more weeks, then he told me, "Mom, I don't need this any more. I hold my pencil like this all the time."
— Kim Stitzer, coauthor, Draw Write Now series
"The first grade teacher did a good job of teaching basic pencil skills. When her class moved on to my second grade class, most of the children had good skills. Of course, there were always some who needed more time and practice, but everyone got it eventually. Occasionally, I'd have a student who had bigger problems with their grip, which required regular one-on-one time. With one girl, before the time when we had classroom aids, I went so far as to enlist the help of the school secretary so that she would get some individual attention."
— Marie Hablitzel, coauthor, Draw Write Now series
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How to Hold a Pencil
Show children how to hold a pencil in the tripod position, and check to see that they use this grip while they draw and write with you. I worked with my five year-old son to help him develop this classic pencil grip. The first few days were challenging, because the new grip felt funny and he had less pencil control, but it wasn't long before we saw improvement. Whatever the age of the child, they can change to the tripod grip, just remember that it may take longer to change the habits of an older child. I corrected my grip at the age of 35, and it took more than a year before I consistently used the tripod grip. Now, I use it all the time.
The Tripod Grip
The pencil should be positioned so that there is equal pressure between the thumb, the side of the middle finger and the tip of the index finger. All fingers are bent slightly. This is called a "tripod grip" or "tripod pencil grasp".
We recommend slipping a pencil grip onto the child's pencil. A pencil grip positions the fingers correctly and helps the fingers stay in the position as they write. Pencil grips come in several styles and are available through our store, or you can find them at parent/teacher stores and stationary stores with prices ranging between $ .35 to $1.79, depending on the style.
Explain the Reason
Some children respond well when they are given the reason for using the tripod grip:
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The tripod grip allows a person to write more quickly and easily, while a tight or awkward grip can slow writing.
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The tripod grip avoids physical problems to the hand and wrist. I share my own experience with carpal tunnel syndrome, which became a problem at the age of 35. The continual aggravation of clenching my pencil –– a habit I had formed in childhood — caused the ligaments in the wrist of my hand to become inflamed. At times, I woke up with numb fingers and at worst, my arm hurt. The symptoms stopped after I changed the way I grip the pencil.
Tension in Fingers and Hands
Is the first knuckle of the pointer finger hyper-extended? Is the index finger red and the knuckle white from too much pressure? There should be no sign of pressure in the knuckle or the finger tip. The index finger rests on top of the pencil.
Is the tripod grip too tight? The three fingers should gently grip the pencil and keep the pencil stable while writing. Have the entire class go through this simple exercise: Have the children pretend to tightly hold a small stone in their fingertips as you count to ten. Discuss how their hand feels. Next, have the children pretend to gently hold a feather in their fingertips, and count to ten. Discuss how their hands feel. Help the children understand that they can write more quickly and for a longer time when their hand is relaxed.
Is the hand a tight fist? Have the child pretend they have a round ball inside their hand as they write, or have them hold a wadded paper towel as they write.
Tension indicates weak fine-motor skills. Work with manipulatives to improve these skills: cut with scissors, play with finger puppets, play with modeling clay, stretch Silly Putty, play games that require a pinching motion (Pick-Up-Sticks), and string beads. We like the ideas for developing fine motor skills shown on the website of the Beal Early Childhood Center and at Jean Warren's Preschool Express.
We like using pyramid-shaped crayons to help children get the feel for the tripod grip.
Bearing Down?
Is a child bearing-down on their pencil? Are the lines and marks they make VERY dark? They want to see the lines they are making. Give them a soft-lead pencil. The pencil mark goes onto the paper easily, so they won't feel the need to bear-down. Ask for soft-lead drawing pencils at an art supply or stationary store, or see our pencils.
Position of the Wrist
The eraser end of the pencil should point toward the shoulder. Some children prefer to position the pencil vertically, so that the eraser end is pointing up. It is not the classic grip, but it is fine as long as the hand is relaxed.
The underside of the forearm to the thumb should be a straight line. The hand does not hook back toward the body.
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Be Consistent,
 Keep It Short
Practice daily, if possible, or three times a week, and keep the lessons short. Five minutes of writing is enough for a child who is five years-old, and ten to fifteen minutes is plenty for a nine year-old. Add drawing instruction to your practice for a fun way to gain even more time using the tripod grip.
 "It was hard to hold my pencil like this at first, but I kept trying. Now I do it all the time."
— Sarah, first-grade student
The Writing CLAW
Tips for Teachers
Focus on the tripod grip and correct posture during the drawing and writing lessons. Explain to the children that at other times of the day your attention will be focused on other things, like math or writing composition skills, so you may not notice their grip or posture throughout the school day. This gives your students a break –– the fun drawing lesson (with a little writing) will be the only time of the school day where the teacher will correct and challenge them on how they are holding their pencil.
Changing to a tripod grip feels awkward to many children, since it requires changing established habits.
Seat the children who need help with the tripod grip near each other. When you point out something to one individual, the others will benefit, too, and grouping them together keeps you from running all over the classroom when you think about checking on the tripod grip.
Keep the writing lesson short — five to fifteen minutes is plenty of time for practice. Stretch the amount of pencil time by incorporating drawing instruction.
"It was really easy. My
daughter changed her grip
within two weeks."
— Carol, mother of a five year-old
Tips for Parents
Stress the tripod grip while you do the drawing and writing lesson together, but be patient. This is the only time of the day that you will remind them to hold their pencil correctly. It takes time to establish new habits.
What can you do to help your child naturally use the tripod grip? Instead of sitting at a table to draw, have the child draw and play with a fat crayon on a vertical surface — an easel, a large piece of paper taped to the wall, a wall-mounted white board (see white board crayons), or a chalkboard. We've found that a fat crayon works better than a felt-tip marker or pencil, so we highly recommend the use of crayon.
When should you check to see if your child uses the tripod pencil grip? When the child wants to learn to write their name, around the age of five. Some children naturally use the correct grip, others will need your gentle guidance.
Get Help from an
Occupational Therapist
If a child has tried making the change and they still have problems with the tripod grip, get help from an occupational therapist who specializes in working with children. The issue may simply be due to weak eye-hand coordination or may be an indication of more serious neurological issues. Some school districts have an occupational therapist on staff, so check with your teacher or local school.
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