Nursery pushing tripod grip

[WholeMilkIsMinging]

Does anyone here work in a nursery/anything to do with EYFS? I could use some advice please 🙏

My daughter is 19months old and her nursery are trying to teach her a tripod grip for a pencil - is that normal/right? I'm a bit worried that it might be damaging physically (or mentally if they're pushing her to do things when she just not capable). From what I've seen on the internet it's not something they're expected to be able to do until they're at least 3. Her fine motor skills are average at best so I do want to develop them, but want to go about it the right way.

Thanks for any advice 🙂

Nineteen months, wow, yeah that's too young imo. A lot of nurseries seem to b think parents want kids pushing on this stuff and unfortunately, about a lot of parents, they're probably right. You could ask them not to do this with your daughter, but surely they should already know! Loads of age appropriate ways to develop motor skills. Are you happy with them in other ways?

Ha sorry just saw you wanted input from EYFS professionals which does not include me, so feel free to ignore my two cents!

Her hand bones won't be developed enough yet to effectively use a tripod grip.

The nursery shouldn't be forcing her to change her grip. Just giving her lots of opportunities to improve her fine motor control.

EYFS specialist here.

Thanks both!

@fitzbilly I don't suppose you have any "official" links to support this? Everything I've found seems to be from private companies. I'm planning to email them asking them to stop so would be good to have something to back up my request.

Thanks again.

Jesus! I used to teach early years op and your instincts are not wrong - they shouldn't be worrying about stuff like that!

My son is 3.5 years old and goes to a really brilliant nursery that has a great reputation and they don't even mention stuff like that.

Thanks @firstimemamma

If anyone has any links to official guidance that would be super helpful.

@WholeMilkIsMinging refer then to birth to five matters, which is the non-statutory guidance for eyfs. Tripod grip is not suggested for her age.

You can look it up online too.

I also teach in eyfs, I'm in a school and the children in my class are 3/4, so obviously a bit older than 19 mths!
We focus on building up fine motor skills, not necessarily using pencils etc but with play dough, tweezer activities, scrunching up paper etc
We do gently correct pencil grip when appropriate but I certainly wouldn't worry about it with a child as young as 19 months.

earlyyearsreviews.co.uk/handwriting-development-in-early-years-is-age-4-too-early/

www.growinghandsonkids.com/pencil-grasp-development-for-writing.html

Those links should both help you!

Good luck

Some of the three year olds I care for haven't mastered a tripod grip. Would be encouraging it at 3yo but not 19mths. Lots of active play and large drawing to encourage the hands to develop and strengthen. Tends to happen naturally as children grow up.

Thanks all, and thanks to @fitzbilly for the links. I'll have to give them a call and ask them to chill out a bit.

This pushing of babies (because she still is a baby) to conform, is horrific. OP your instincts are bang on.
I’m glad I had my DC 30 years ago when it was considered a good thing that very young children were happy and smiling, toddling and not eating too much playdoh.
Reader that toddler has an economics degree from an RG university and a very good career (though I don’t leave him with playdoh 😉).
Let them be babies.