Roughly what age would you expect a child to start holding a pen/pencil "properly" - ie so it looks like they could attempt writing with it, rather than hold it gripped in palm of hand like a battle implement?
And also - any tips on encouraging DS to start doing this?
For background - DS is just 3, not really been interested in drawing etc until very recently, but now showing much more interest. Doesn't yet hold a pen the 'proper' way, and when I've suggested trying that way he's been quite stroppy about it (only in normal toddler way). The little girl next door has been drawing away fluently since 2.5 ish, does people with faces & arms & legs etc - but suspect she's pretty early in this?? DS at three draws lines, circles, dots - has started to describe these as eg people, cars, but it'll just be a random mark and he'll say "that's a car" etc.
I suspect this is normal - though please inform me if not! Thinking ahead though, he's going to be the youngest in his school year and I'd like to help him develop pen holding etc over the next year if possible, as suspect this is the area in which he'll find things most challenging. (Though a year is a long time & all that)
TIA