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Original poster

Pen Again ergonomic pen/pencil for 8 year old with messy writing and poor pencil grip. Opinions please!

97 replies

screamingabdab · 10/04/2009 08:45

Hi, my 8 year old son is doing well in all other respects at school (his reading is very good), but his writing is messy, and he has got into a bad habit of holding his pen incorrectly. I gather that this is relatively common in boys, and would take a wait and see approach , except it is beginning to frustrate him.

He finds writing slow and laborious, and says it hurts his hand. At school he is getting a bit frustrated and is becoming avoidant of writing (it is affecting his written maths as well). His progress seems to have stalled. The teacher is also a bit concerned and is going to do a bit of extra writing practice with him.

I am working on the premise that it it is a motor problem at the moment, and we are doing a few minutes of writing practice a day at home.

Now to my question. We have some Pen Again ergonomic pencils, which help to hold the pencil correctly and reduce the need to grip so hard. Wondering if any parents/teachers/OT's out there had used them, and what you think about them?

Any other advice gratefully received.

Many thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
screamingabdab · 10/04/2009 08:54

BTW, if you think I should post this on a different thread, please tell me where!

Ta

OP posts:
jabberwocky · 10/04/2009 15:36

Ds1 has a "quad-grip" and it drives his teachers crazy. We have worked with it in OT, used pencil grips and bought special pens to no avail. It is very hard to change this. I think you are doing all the right things but you also need to bring in OT for fine motor especially at his age.

HTH

MuffinBaker · 10/04/2009 15:37

I bought a pen as recommended by a MNer but I am not sure he has used it.

I have tried the triangular pencil grips from the EPC and he writes much neater when he presses harder.

jabberwocky · 10/04/2009 15:39

I know someone who tried this and thought it was helpful.

gomez · 10/04/2009 15:41

DD1 (nearly 9) is the same - her writing is like the proverbial hen p*ssing in the snow. We have tried everything and it makes no difference. School have eventually agreed to ditch the joined up writing and go back to the beginning with her. She now does extra 'writing' homework every day to practice.

But when she has to for example write a story, book report or the like she is allowed to do that on PC as she was getting really disheartened with all her work beacause writing was such a chore. Been at it for about 6 weeks now and seems to be helping.

Original poster
screamingabdab · 10/04/2009 15:43

Thankyou so much for your replies, ladies

jabberwocky how do I go about getting an OT referral?

OP posts:
MuffinBaker · 10/04/2009 15:49

gomez - that is what I keep hoping the school will do for my son.

gomez · 10/04/2009 15:56

We suggested and pushed for it Muffin so you may need to do the same. They were less keen as she is one of the more able pupils in other regards and needs to be able to write x number of pages of text for her next level up (we are in Scotland). DH just wore them down by continually asking what their solution was as the status quo couldn't continue and we had tried all other suggestions. He is every so slightly smug at the moment .

Original poster
screamingabdab · 10/04/2009 15:59

My friend's son (in year 6 ) has been using a computer since last year, but I was hoping to get an improvement before even considering this.

OP posts:
MuffinBaker · 10/04/2009 15:59

I have told his teacher he has made no real progress since reception and that he starts in the wrong place, but it is all about points at the end of the year. He seems to be doing a bit better so I will see how he goes.

I really praised him for his last lot of writing as it was fabulous and he was like "Oh I know, you have told me loads of times!"

gomez · 10/04/2009 16:04

Sorry maybe wasn't clear - she doesn't use a PC at school so she still has to deal with it there and write along with her class mates. It is only homework which is allowed to be word processed and only then if it involves a substantial amount of writing. We also make her re-do anything which is diabolical as sometimes she makes no effort (and I can understand why) and that isn't on either.

What annoys me is the focus on the writing being flowing script - is it not enough that it is neat and legible? (Not that DD's is but that seems more achievable )

Original poster
screamingabdab · 10/04/2009 16:04

AAh MuffinBaker

I do find it a bit hard to be honest, because as a little girl (like a lot of girls, I think) I loved writing for it's own sake.

DS doesn't really see the point of it - or is just demoralised because he finds it hard. It's hard to disentangle what's going on. I don't want to make DS any more anxious about it than he already is, but he can't really go on avoiding writing, can he?

DH doesn't worry about it so much as he says his writing was poor as well.

OP posts:
jabberwocky · 10/04/2009 16:20

screaming, we are in the US and the dr does the referral. Not sure if it's the same way in the UK but you might ring his pedistrician/GP to find out.

Original poster
screamingabdab · 10/04/2009 16:21

Thanks

OP posts:
BonsoirAnna · 10/04/2009 16:23

I use the Faber-Castell Grip 2001 range for the chlidren - I think they are just brilliant for ensuring children learn to hold their pens and pencils correctly.

Original poster
screamingabdab · 10/04/2009 16:24

Thanks BonsoirAnna, I'll look into that

OP posts:
Riallytoofattoflounce · 10/04/2009 16:35

bookmarking this for later (post-penguin) as my DS needs all the help he can get.

Riallytoofattoflounce · 10/04/2009 16:35

bookmarking this for later (post-penguin) as my DS needs all the help he can get.

Riallytoofattoflounce · 10/04/2009 16:35

help from toddler.

BonsoirAnna · 10/04/2009 16:36

Please get him the Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencils! They are so worth it!

MuffinBaker · 10/04/2009 16:55

Where can one get them from, BA?

SlightlyMadSimnelCake · 10/04/2009 16:59

ebay although the picture suggests it is a pack of colouring crayons I think from the description it is probably pencils.

Original poster
screamingabdab · 10/04/2009 17:03

The problem is, my DS holds the pen in the pincer grip way, but instead of the pen resting on the crook between thumb and first finger, it's sort of facing forwards, so resting on the side of his index finger, IYSWIM

OP posts:
madwomanintheattic · 10/04/2009 17:08

s'move easy? pen and pencil avail, right or left handed...

'write from the start' by teodorescu from the dyspraxia foundation?

second OT referral though - although write from the start commonly used by OTs.

there are lots of other writing programmes used by american OTs thouhg - some really groovy ones to music lol

not used pen again, sorry. (but will google now )

madwomanintheattic · 10/04/2009 17:09

anyone tempted by 'write from the start' don't order second-hand from amazon btw...