At what age are they meant to hold a pencil properly?

[fadingfast]

DS is 4 and will still insist on holding his pens/pencils in a fist most of the time. If I suggest he might like to try it the 'proper' way he gets all huffy with me. I know I mustn't push but I was thinking he really should at least be holding a pen properly by the time he starts school in September.

How old was your DC when s/he started holding a pen properly?

DS is very bright but often had a fist grip right up to the end of Y1 if I didn't remind him. Not many boys 'get it' before they start school, although I think anecdotally girls do a bit sooner.

Thanks that's reassuring.

Sorry but somehow managed to post this twice

oops, didn't see that!

Sorry - ds is 4 in April and now has a very good pencil grip - and can write his name fairly legibly. Must be a lot of variation though.

Oh, I think it varies hugely, and nothing to worry about.

ds is 4.3 and is holding a pen OK now, but he'd get huffy a couple of months ago if I tried to show him.

You know, all this stuff is what's school is for. I wouldn't stress about it.

At three, he could write his name. He's shown no inclination to do so six months on. He just wants to do other stuff at the moment.

I'd got high hopes of getting him to write his name before he started school (and WHY does that seem so important??), but so far he will only write the first letter. I think I would feel positively negligent if he couldn't even hold a pen.

Children aren't generally expected to hold a pen properly before they start school.

Teachers would prefer a level playing field at reception stage.

My son holds a pen pretty much correctly now because he likes to do a bit of drawing, and it's dawned on him that holding a pen properly facilitates that.

But it's just a few months variation in the development of each child. Teachers won't thank you for presenting an accomplished child at reception. They'll curse you

ds was 4, and he only scribbled as well, his friends (especially girls) were all drawing simple stuff. It was one time when I managed to hold back and not interfere, suddenly when he was 4 he changed the grip and then started drawing. I am so glad I didn't push, I am sure i would have made it worse. He is very bright, and now loves drawing and writing (he's 6) Let him do it in his own time. he may continue to hold it that way until he starts school, and then then he will see the other kid and switch.

My ds(5) is left handed and had a dodgy pencil grip for ages I'm an ex rec/primary teacher so didn't panic as it's very common.

I did loads of things to help his fine motor skills though like playdough,lego,pinching activities. Interestingly this term he now has a good grip and his hand writing has never been that bad even when he just started.

So don't worry. With boys it's important not to put them off the whole writing thing by nagging and making things a chore.