Pencil hold - do i correct or just leave well alone.....

[shinyhappytonks]

My ds is 4 1/2 and just started reception. He has a tendency to hold the pencil, with his 3rd/4th fingers and thumb with the 2nd finger just resting on top.

He has never been a keen scribbler/drawer and whenever i have tried to correct his grip (seems cack-handed to me ) he has resisted strongly.

So i let it go and he has recently started writing letters at school and wants to continue at home. The question is do i let him carry on with how he currently holds his pencil and let him enjoy himself - or do i correct it to the 'tripod' grip and risk him going off drawing/writing ?

Any thoughts ?

em

My DS3 started reception last year holding pencils in his fist. Within a short time he was holding it conventionally despite being totally resistant to suggestions from me...I suspect he copied friends/responded to gentle instruction by the teacher.
I would leave it and not worry

Agree with Bounder. DS also went from fist holding to correct position within months thanks to school.

Chat with teacher... ours used the phrase "crabby fingers" to describe the basic correct hold. So rather than me saying or doing else, I would just remind "crabby fingers!" -- DD didn't want to be cajoled or told by me otherwise what to do, but she did want to do what teacher was asking of her.

We are now doing "crabby fingers" with my 3yo, and he's pickedit up a treat, woohoo!

You could get a pencil grip to help him. Or you could give him really short and stubby chalk to draw with.

If he is drawing and having fun I would leave him. If he is doing formal handwriting pratice then I would correct his grip