What is a Pencil Grip?
Pencil grips help improve handwriting, help to give more control, and reduce hand fatigue. Using this writing tool helps a child or adult to produce a functional grasp on their pencil. Grips help with finger placement and positioning, and provide sensory input and feedback to fingers. Grips encourage the proper tripod grasp on pens, pencils, and crayons and facilitate legibility, letter formation, speed, and endurance.
Type of Pencil Grips:
1. Grotto Grip
• Places the fingers in a mature tripod grasp. The specialized angles and finger guards promote an open web space, with hand and palmar arching. This grip discourages hyper-mobility at the joints of the thumb and index finger. Once fingers are placed correctly, the grip prevents the user from reverting to an immature hand grasp.
• I like this grip because it is comfortable, and it keeps the fingers from wrapping over the front of the pencil. It also comes in many different colors which helps the user to personalize their tool.
2. The Pencil Grip
• A soft rubber grip that measures 1 ¼” long and 1” wide promotes the correct writing grip. Clearly visible letters indicate where the thumb should be placed for either the right or left hand. This grip offers proprioceptive feedback and helps a child grade their force on the writing utensil, which helps to promotes dynamic finger movement.
• I like this grip because it labels where the fingers should be placed, and it comes in different colors. This grip is the original pencil grip for children, so it is a good starting point when trialing the most beneficial and functional pencil grip for a child.
3. The Jumbo Pencil Grip
• This grip is shaped like The Pencil Grip but bigger, measuring 2” long by ¼ at its widest point narrowing to the end to ¾” across. This grip offers proprioceptive feedback and helps a child grade their force on the writing utensil, to help promote dynamic finger movement.
• I like this grip because the size helps maintain an open web space, it is large, comfortable, and cushiony. It may be too big for some children, so using this grip will be a trial and error process.
- “The Pencil Grip” shape with “wings” which help to maintain the proper tripod, 3- finger, grasp by keeping the index finger and thumb from “crossing over.” The shape, combined with the soft material, offers support, comfort and assistance with finger placement.
- I like this grip because it facilitates the proper tripod grasp and has a barrier so that the user’s fingers don’t slide out of place, which is important when writing in school. It facilitates proper finger placement and comes in a variety of colors. It also offers proprioceptive feedback and helps a child grade their force on the writing utensil, to help promote dynamic finger movement.
5. Writing Claw Grip
• Naturally places fingers in a functional tripod grasp/open web space position. The thumb is placed in the largest of the 3 shallow cups and the index finger and middle finger in the 2 other cups. Fits pen, pencils, crayons, and markers. Sizes small, medium, and large.
• I like this grip because it has a unique shape and style. This grip fits more than just pencils so it is versatile, which is great for children. Some children may not like the positioning or material of this grip, but there are many other options to try.
6. Start Right Pencil Grip
• Helps correct improper grasp and keeps an open web space. A barrier prevents the thumb from overlapping and a rim keeps fingers at the correct distance from the pencil tip.
• I like this grip because it comes in different colors and designs. It also facilitates an open web space, which is crucial for a mature tripod grasp. This grip may be uncomfortable for some children to keep their fingers in that limited position while writing.
7. Bumpy Grips
• These grips are bright and soft to the touch. The 3 indentations help the fingers create a tripod grasp; the bumps on the indentations create a non-slip surface while giving the fingers the sensation of a nice gentle massage.
• I like this grip because it gives the child texture to feel while promoting a tripod grasp. This grip comes in different colors, so the child has options to choose from. This grip does not facilitate finger placement.
8. The Pinch Grip
• Balances the structure of The Crossover Grip with the Freedom of The Pencil Grip. Enhances comfort and control. This grip gently guides the fingers into the proper position for gripping. Simply place your thumb on the “R” if you are right-handed and on the “L” if you are left-handed.
• I like this grip because of the comfort and material of the grip. It helps guide the child’s fingers into proper positioning and can help facilitate their pincer grasp. This grip offers proprioceptive feedback and helps a child grade their force on their writing utensil, which helps promote dynamic finger movement.
9. Stetro Pencil Grip
• Features natural-fitting, finger indentations for the index, middle fingers, and thumb to remind the user where to place his/her fingers. The star on the grip indicates thumb placement. Older kids prefer to use this grip because it is more discrete and provides position placement, but this grip does not provide much proprioceptive feedback to help grade the force on the writing utensil.
• I like this tool because older kids can use it and it is discrete. It comes in many different colors. It is a more dense material and not as squishy as other grips so the user doesn’t receive as much propriceptive feedback in helping them to grade their fore on the writing utensil.
• These fun pencil grips help children form a proper tripod grasp beginning in kindergarten. They make writing easy and less painful for a child’s hand by increasing comfort when holding a pencil. The puppy pencil grip helps to correct the thumb and index finger. The elephant grip helps spread the strength of the fingertip in order to reduce writing fatigue, The butterfly grip reduces the grip space and forms the correct tripod grasp.
• I like this tool because it comes in beginning, junior, and senior sizes so the child’s grip remains appropriate as school demands increase. It comes in different colors and shapes so they are fun for the children to use.
• This grip promotes a proper tripod grasp by allowing you to place your thumb and index fingers in the 2 “ears” of the elephant and middle finger in the ring hole. These grips also fit on pens, crayons, markers, and ball pens.
• I like this tool because it comes in an animal shape which make it fun for children. It also comes in different sizes so this grips works for children and adults. It is made with a soft silicon material and comes in many different colors.
• This grip gently holds a child’s fingers in the proper ergonomic positioning for effective writing. Comes in small, medium, and large sizes and children from kindergarten through 12th grade can use these grips to promote a tripod grasp. It comes with a place for your thumb, index finger, and a bar to rest your middle, ringer, and pinky finger on for correct positioning.
• I like this tool because it is comfortable to hold and reduces hand fatigue and pain. It comes in different colors and sizes so children of all ages can use them.
