poor proprioception - could a pencil grip help with writing and too much pressure?

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

if so has anyone any suggestions, there seem to be loads of different ones. DD has hypermobile fingers, poor proprioception and handwriting issues, she appears to press very hard when writing and I wondered if a pencil grip might help her.

Thanks

possibly , also a more forgiving surface like the side of a plastic A4 folder. Try wrapping an elastic band around several times.

thank you - hadn't thought of a softer surface too. will try that. Physio hasn't sent through her report yet so hopefully she will be able to give us more information too but I just thought as DD is on holiday we might as well use the time to investigate things that might help or that she feels more comfortable with whilst she is relaxed and at home.

thanks polter - bizarely I am hypermobile too (EDS type 3 probably given family history) but noone knew when I was younger, I remember my hand hurting a lot and I always hated writing but never had any idea there might be a reason for it or even that it was unusual. she said a child in the class has a grip but that she didn't like it when she tried it herself. she has very good positioning to hold pencils, very good fine motor skills (she is a bit odd, all the professionals seem to think so too, bits of a vision problem, bits of a language problem, bits of a coordination problem but not really enough of anything to be classed as anything in particular but the bits she has are pretty bad). Will look up your suggestions, thanks.

oh good I feel she is slightly less unusual now if you are similar! The physio said she was very interesting. overall she was in normal levels for movement but the WAY she moves is very odd.

Thats is what Dd3 is like nonickname she has developed her own strategies to overcome her difficulties. She can pass most of the assessments that various proffs have done with her with occassional dips in her scores .

She is hypermobile amongst other things and struggles with writing but in her most recent OT session they tested her writing speed which in typical Dd3 style was average but it was illegible

If they asked her to do a writing speed test in neat writing it would have been a lot slower.

The problem with "passing" their tests is that the dont want to help her. Although out OT's are brilliant and can see that she is struggling.

Dd3 has tried all kinds of pens and pencils, she prefers pencil and hasnt yet settled on a pen that she finds comfortable. She is also a lefty and drags her hand accross her work which upsets her if it smudges.

Good luck

I second advice above.

Came on to add advice to look at whole posture when writing (which it sounds like you've done).
Writing/typing on a slope is easier than on a flat surface.
Ensure feet are resting comfortably and that her sitting position is supported. She may need to use an armchair over a typical kitchen table chair when writing. Or to write in high kneeling at a coffee table.

After that, I dont find any one pen grip suits every child. I've used everything from expensive pen grips to cutting a grip made from the foam used to insulate water pipes (see your local DIY store). A variety seems to work best.

thank you both.

Interesting your daughter is the same Ineedmorepatience, amazing how clever and creative they must be to manage to pass all the tests like that.

Posture wise Redoubtable I think I will be asking the school to check the chair and table height. She is extremely tall for her age and as the oldest in the class as well she had virtually outgrown the tiny tables and chairs when she started reception let alone now towards the end of Yr1. I am going to try a foot rest for her at dinner time because she tends to perch on the chair rather than sit on it. Why don't they have those nice slopey desks they had when I was at school? they were more sensible from the sound of things. I am actually looking at us getting her and her sister desks to use at home. I came across these ones which look very adjustable to suit the individual. bestdeskshop.co.uk/mini/kids-height-adjustable-desk-chair-mini-pink

Yes a sloped surface has been shown to be easier for writing.

If she has hypermobility, bizarrely, perching on the edge of her chair may be a strategy that she uses to increase muscle tone. That would help her to maintain posture when concentrating on a fine motor task.
So before investing heavily in a chair/table, I would try her out on what you already have.

If you have a supportive chair (e.g.the carver in a dining set) try her on that. She may need something under her feet or a cushion to elevate her in the seat. If she still shuffles to the edge or hooks her feet around the legs, it could be that she would work better on an unstable surface e.g. move-n-sit or sitting on a gym ball.
An OT should be able to look at this for you.

Sometimes in school, if this is the issue, sitting with the chair back to front can work (as the chair back supports the child's trunk at their front).

High kneeling can also work, or standing with one knee on the chair. Teacher has to be flexible re letting child find the best work posture for themselves.

I hope that's not confusing. Pencil grip has to be examined in context with the whole body.

You are right nonickname children like ours are ingenious in developing their own coping strategies but they do seem to reach a ceiling where getting by isnt enough anymore and without the correct skills the increase in work load becomes a big problem.

I would recommend some core/shoulder stability work now while your Dd is still young.
Good luck

thank you - good ideas there. yes we are going to look at shoulders etc, waiting to hear back from the physio with her suggestions.