If you're a parent, teacher, guardian, or you generally spend some time around children, you will notice that children hold the writing tool (pencil, crayon, marker...etc.) in different ways. We -sometimes- tend to push the children towards holding the writing tool correctly (tripod grip), rather than understanding what every stage means, what comes next, and how can we help them develop?
- What does "grasp development" mean?
The term "grasp" technically means being able to "hold" objects. So the grasp development of children start at a very early age when they're newly born, being able to pick up objects, or even (as a simple example) grasping an adult's finger, and holding on to it. The grasp development start with a bigger scale, where they use their whole hand to pick an object in front of them...moving to a smaller scale, where they use their fingers. This is when they develop better hand coordination and muscle control.
- What is the "target"?
The different stages of grasp development always works towards holding it in the "tripod" grasp. This grasp (as shown in the photo), requires better hand and muscle control, in order to be able to hold the tool with 3 fingers.
- The stages of grasp development:
1. Fisted grasp (12-20 months):
This is the first attempt of the child to hold a writing tool. He/she will use a close fist around the marker/crayon/pencil. The child here uses his/her whole hand in holding the tool, and uses their whole arm and shoulder movement in order to scribble and make marks.
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| Fisted Grasp |
2. Palmar grasp (24 - 36 months):
With more hand and muscle development, the child here will hold the writing tool across the palm of their hand, with the tool facing downwards towards the paper. At this stage, the shoulder muscles are a bit more steady, and the child will continue to use their whole arm to scribble and make marks.
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| Palmar Grasp |
3. Static five-four finger grasp (42 - 48 months):
The child at this stage is developing more muscle and hand control. They're starting to use fingers rather than their whole hand in moving the writing tool. The term "static" here is mentioned because fingers do not yet move freely and independently, the movement is still initiated from the wrist, with more muscle control. The wrist here is held off the table (children don't rest their hands anymore).
Between the ages of 3.5 - 4 years of age, children tend to hold the writing tool using 5 fingers, then 4 fingers...moving towards the tripod grip (with 3 fingers). As the muscles develop, fewer fingers will be used.
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| Static 4-finger grasp |
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| Static 5-finger grasp |
4. Dynamic tripod grasp (48 - 72 months):
The dynamic grasp allows free and independent finger movements, and their drawing outcomes becomes more precise and detailed. Children at this stage use their 3 fingers (thumb, index, and middle) to rest on the writing tool.
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| Dynamic Tripod Grasp |
What are some activities to promote the hand strength of children?
- Rice picking: I always liked to color rice and pasta at home (wait for the recipe soon). With colored rice, you can let the children color sort them. If you don't have colored rice available, you can go with regular rice and let the children count them.
- Fine lacing: I used foam (regular, or glitter), or construction paper. I cut shapes out of them and hole punched around the shape. With yarn or string, children lace around the shape.
- Pasta lacing: I always like to use penne pasta, but you can use the little rings pasta for more challenge. Give them yarn and pasta (colored if available, for patterns fun), and let them lace it to make beautiful necklaces and bracelets.
- Fine finger painting: Print out a picture that has some fine details, and with finger paint, let the children paint the picture. Encourage them to stay in between the lines.
- Working on vertical spaces: When working on a vertical space (a board, a wall, an easel..etc.), children use bigger arm muscles which promotes more hand control and strengthening. Find more info on this here.
- Jars: Give children some tight jars, let them work out the lids right and left for some opening/closing challenge.
- Sand paper writing/drawing: Sand paper is rough! And that's the fun part. It will be interesting for the kids (I guarantee) especially when you give them colored chalk. Chalk is thick and hard. The thickness of the chalk will make an easier grip for the children to hold, and the hardness of writing with chalk on sand paper will promote some muscles.
- Play dough: The squeezing and kneading of play dough always promotes hand muscles. This is always perfect for a no-prep resort.
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