writing grip

[skewiff]

DS has just finished reception and is writing quite well, I think. He's had a lot of input from me, as he has mild cerebral palsy and I like us to keep on top of things, as much as we can.

DS has never really been into drawing and is not at all interested in colouring in, so his writing grip has come purely from just writing really.

I have noticed lately that when he's writing the pen will slip into the crease between his thumb and index finger. The sort of hinge bit.

DS starts holding the pencil in quite a good grip, but as he continues the grip slowly slips further and further back. His thumb sort of gets too wrapped round the front of the pencil. He then recovers the grip, but it all starts slipping again.

He's also just recently started to enjoy drawing and he does the above even more so when drawing.

Is there anything I can do to help DS with this? I don't want him to get into bad habits.

Is this sort of thing normal for his age (5 1/2).

Thank you.

Stabilo Easygraph and Easycolours are wonderful. A bit pricey, but really really good for pencil grip and excellent quality. It's what sorted out DS2's pencil grip and he loves his colours.

Thank you - I have just ordered these.

Alternatively you can wrap blue tack around where he's meant to hold the pencil :)

DD has got on very well with these pencil grips. She's had the special pens but its just a bit stressful as they're expensive/easily lost etc, but these she can just slide onto the regular school handwriting pens.

Alternatively you can wrap blue tack around where he's meant to hold the pencil

We do "Kung Fu" pencil grip and wrap different colour rubber bands around the pencil depending on which "belt" the child has achieved in pencil holding

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

I did also start "Write from the Start" with DS this morning. It hasn't worked before because he's found it too difficult and not been into it at all. But this morning he seemed keen.

It looked to me as though these exercises were helping with his grip - not sure whether I was just being hopeful though ...

Do you see OT, Skewiff? Might be worth a referral now for assessment in case any equipment needed for further up the school. My dd has V mild CP and is also 5.5 yrs so we've already ordered a keyboard as may be needed once writing becomes more tiring for her (she does fine at the moment but grip isn't correct and pencil usually slips out of her fingers after a while). We're also getting supportive seating provided by OT so that she can still focus fully on her fine motor even when she's getting tired sitting at the table.

Yes - good idea survivingsummer - I'll contact OT. Thank you.