3 year old can't hold pencil correctly- how do i fix this- read on please.?

Question

my daughter is 3, turning 4 in a couple months. She hold her crayons, pencils and pens funny- like a lobster claw if you understand what i'm trying to say- she holds them between her thumb and all 4 fingers, and as a result, she is not that great with writing her letters or any pictures for that fact. how do i correct this, as i know it's going to become a big problem, if it's not already. thanks

Answer 1

My daughter is the same way.  I found and bought her the large triangular shaped crayons and that seems to help sometimes, but I have to keep reminding her.  I also bought some of the large "begginner" pencils, they are really fat and have tried giving her the right grasp with those too.  I've seen the pencil "cushies" that have the indentations to help also, but haven't tried those yet.  I think eventually, she will find a comfortable hold.  Just keep reminding and putting her fingers in the right placement.

Answer 2

Thats normal for her age. There is a whole series of writing development that children go through. This includes various different hand positions to hold their pens in. All properly qualified childcare workers are taught about it so it won't be a problem unless your child goes to a school or preschool that has badly qualified staff.

It is normal for children to not hold their pens and pencils properly until they are about 5 or 6, sometimes even later. Relax, she is perfectly normal.

Answer 3

You're asking too much from a small child.

Answer 4

Interesting... I think she is too young for you to worry about this right now, but from personal experience I can tell you that as I was in elementary school (I started 1st grade in 1989 or 1990 I suppose) my teachers and mom constantly nagged me for not holding my pencil right. You know what? I never did learn the right way and my handwriting is just fine. In fact, I think the constant nagging and mandatory use of those dang mushy things you had to put on your pencil or those terrible ones with the grooves in them made me confused more than anything else. It is hard to explain how I hold mine, but its balanced on the inside of my ring finger with my index and middle finger making a tent above and the thumb....nevermind can't explain it afterall! Bottomline: Don't worry about it at all now and try not to care in the future. It makes her unique! Whats the big deal?

Answer 5

actually this is not a problem

most children that age dont hold their pencils correctly nor do they write letters correctly if at all

this is the stuff taught in preschool and kindergarten

get her into preschool this fall

my daughter is 3 almost 4 and holds her pencil correctly but still cant write letters (except C and A the first to letters of her name) and cant really draw well either

so holding a pencil correctly or not has nothing to do with it

let it be most kids her age hold their pencils and crayons with a full fist she's doing good for her age