Any tips for holding cutlery/ a pencil?

[ThreeBluecubs]

My son is four and really struggles with cutlery and pencils etc. We're still not really sure if he is left or right handed (& nor are his nursery).

As a result he is struggling to form letters and looks like he has dreadful manners (but he really can't seem to hold things properly).

Does anyone have any tips please? esp 'pretend you're holding a ....' type tips.

Many thanks.

Just don't hold the fork like a pencil...

In all honesty, his fine motor skills are still developing. He may not be ready to do much more at the moment.

Knife, that should have read...don't hold the knife like a pencil.

Thanks Bridie - I think you may be right - today I was just praising him for eating with his cutlery at all. Thank you.

Triangular colouring pencils (from ELC).

His finer skills are developing but they will get his fingers in the right place for when he has more control.

If its any consolation ThreeBluecubs my DS (3.7) holds his pencil as if its a weapon. No amount of showing and helping him seems to make any difference.

I'll be watching this thread with interest too.

Loads of playdough and pinching activities eg picking up raisins. I used to hide coloured rice in playdough with some of nursery aged pupils.

You could try sprinkling glitter on glue with finger and thumb. Messy but develops the correct grip and no failure involved (IYSWIM)if he is still really struggling

At what age do DCs start colouring/holding pencils?

another vote for triangular pencils.

at the DSs' school, they call it "froggy legs" - the thumb and middle finger under the pencil are the legs and the the index finger is the frog in top of the pencil.

DS2 is 4.5 and doesn't hold a pencil correctly but his teacher has managed to teach him how to write some how so it can be done!

LewisFan - we have those thanks, but he still struggles with them, and reverts back to his normal hold without them

BettySpagetti- mine holds his fork like he is about to dig the garden

MilaMae - good ideas, thanks. He hates anything that seems like practice to him, but would probably like that (esp if there was a reward at the end). He loves jenga, which he is surprisingly good at, and lego, which must help too.

andlittlelambmakesfour - will try that - may have to get over the 'glitter is for girls' hurdle! may try flour

we have dd with Downs - used cutlery from Boots (blue handles, has a recess in handle where their fingers should go) v good

Also, 4 pencil, used this amazing device called a "Handiwriter" with a string that goes over the wrist and a dolphin or a football that is held in the last three fingers, so the pencil HAS to be held with thumb & forefinger. Been brill 4 our dd and ds

Gingemum - thanks so much - will try and hunt down the Boots cutlery and will order a handiwriter.

Gingemum - did they post to the UK for you, or are you in the US?

Gingemum - sorry, ignore me, I've found UK suppliers.