Holding a pen

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

My DS is 3 and 78 months and is still holding a pen like the child on the right in this picture.
I don't want to pressure him but can anyone tell me if this is ok or should I be constantly telling him to hold it the other way?

He's been in a private nursery since he was 10 months old and will stay there until he starts school at five.

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

not 78 months! EIGHT MONTHS!

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

ps, his other fine motor skills are great.

[AppleAndMelon]

You can get pencil grips that help a child to hold a pencil correctly -

this sort of thing

or these ELC ones.

She's still quite young to worry too much though.

[AppleAndMelon]

Sorry, he is still quite young, not she.

[Merel]

I think you can show him how to hold it correctly, but I wouldn't say there is a need to constantly remind him. Presumably he is just drawing and colouring at the moment? I think once he starts writing and needs to be more precise you can help him to adjust.

For what it's worth I was holding my pen 'incorrectly' all the way through school but writing neatly. Teachers gave up banging on about it, as I was quite comfortable holding it the way I did and resisted all efforts to change. Now I am an adult I switch between the right way and the wrong way and find both ways comfortable and precise.

[addictedtosugar]

DS1 started preschool at 3y4m, and it is commented on his "my first day" sheet he held the pencil correctly, so it is obviously not expected at this point.
DS2 is3y3m, and has a fist grip. He likes colouring. Early in a session, I sugest he tries holding the pen differently, but he switches back after a few seconds, and I leave it like that.

[yesiamwhoyouthinkiam]

Thank you. I am thinking he is too young too but getting spooked by people who's children are already writing their own names at this age!

[catkind]

DS did find it hard to switch to a correct grip when he started school, so we have started gently moving DD's grip from around 2, and talking about "pinchy fingers" (a phrase DS teacher used). DD has a nice pencil grip now at 2.5 - still just drawing scribbles though!
I wouldn't insist if they objected to being moved though.

[BackforGood]

No - that's fine at this age - all very normal. Nothing to worry about at all.