Changing pen grip (aged 9)?

[littlejobhunter]

Hi all - DS (9) has a strange pen grip.

Has anyone had success helping their child change their grip? Two teachers have said that it isn't worth trying, but I'm worried this slows him down, and it looks uncomfortable (he's a slow writer and was late to write joined-up, though he's articulate and his spelling and vocab are good, i.e. feels like his grip may be relevant). He is left handed. Thank you!

Get him a good quality, heavier fountain pen and teach him how to hold it correctly so it draws lightly across the paper. The grip you show in the picture is a consequence of using poor quality ballpoints that require some pressure to write.

My DD also left handed uses this exact grip and no amount of new pens, page adjustments or reminding to change grip has “fixed” it. So I’ve let it go. Her writing is legible and tbh not particularly worse than other children in the class (she’s 10). She never commented that she takes longer to write things either. She’s also dyslexic and when she heads to secondary school she will be predominantly using computers/typing her work rather than writing so I’m not too worried.

His fingers bend too far so I'm not sure if he could comfortably hold a pen in the normal way. I certainly can't!

Lefties often have trouble with grip. It’s harder to write with your left hand from left to right (ink smears, can’t read what you’re writing as you go etc), so they sometimes compensate by holding the pen in ways that make it easier for them.

Thank you -- we'll experiment with different pens.

I’m a teacher and I would say it’s definitely worth trying it will help him hugely when he’s doing longer exams. There are some pens you can get with specialist grips or you could try a triangular pencil.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Handwriting-Pen-STABILO-EASYoriginal-Handed/dp/B00T7ULULW/ref=mp_s_a_1_14_mod_primary_new?adgrpid=57262313430&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LgzJqBH7K926Scbk2TndWzNk9aJM5yAymTgJ4BEkNo3yt5wH5n8ic2kg4j21GRS-ZKFnxE3hvJCujeQLY3MRylFz9wcYTcFiciADff-ZMwi4mgBCBZfpOkk3_cgrn-PuKIrpqzLhYn9HF8jfkZxWe5dSsDukeW7fFqn_gxXhw62Q2SbszxMF3C0Ctdr-2EZK0iRY0rVgs7ETkDgntCiPFA.cEbY05iK9u_a218mw6q630lcuA-bGU5yAPWYIoR1Roo&dib_tag=se&hvadid=606327888397&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1006552&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=18327364245752077358&hvtargid=kwd-315492470099&hydadcr=21593_2292078&keywords=stabilo+grip+pencil&qid=1738012698&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=8-14

I agree, both triangle grips and a fountain pen helped me (also a leftie) at that age. It doesn't look like he can see what he's writing at the moment. It is possible to write with the hand below the line using a fountain pen - I got less ink on my hand that way than I did using biros...

It might be worth experimenting with a "nice pen" at home to find out what works and make it an artistic endeavour more than yet another "let's fix your writing for school" job, at least to start with. Great if he finds a way to write with less strain.

And of course, the other part of working towards him being ready for secondary school would be learning to type, so he has maximum choices.

My leftie DS2 who is 11 has the same grip. He has lovely writing and docent seem to having problems writing longer paragraphs. A teacher did mention it once but said he seemed to have no problems with it so didn't think it was worth changing.

DS1 is also a leftie and he has a different grip

OP I’m a right-hander with a very similar grip. Teachers and my parents tried to get me to correct it over the years but I always defaulted back and it never held me back - I could write quickly and neatly. It was achey by the end of my 3-hour university exams but that’s all!

I came on to say try the Stabilo linked above.

My eldest is the same. He is dyslexic. Now 14 and tbh rarely writes. All homework is submitted online. Can use a pad with keyboard to take notes in class. Will be allowed to use laptop for wordier exams, English etc. Is fine in maths etc.

By all means try different pens and pen grips but personally, I wouldn't bother. My teachers used to try to get me to hold a pen 'properly' but it's just not comfortable to me and my writing is perfectly ok now.
My DD has a really weird pen grip and her writing is beautiful! Don't sweat it. What's 'normal' for some people, isn't for others.