Writing can be very difficult for kids with sensory issues. From squeezing the pencil too hard, holding it incorrectly, or not gripping it enough, these issues can greatly impact their writing and cause distress in the classroom. Pencil grips help kids with these issues and boy, have they come far from the traditional blob like structure we had when we were kids. Also, it doesn’t matter if your child is a lefty or a righty, all pencil grips work the same (trust me, I somehow ended up with 3 lefty kids….and neither of us are leftys!!!).
This pencil grips is hands-down, by far the best I have discovered for my kiddos. If your child grips the pencil too tightly or struggles with holding it correctly, this grip might be the answer. My kiddos all have small fingers, so the Owl Pencil grip is perfect because the sides of the owl come up higher on their fingers than others do. This makes them feel more in control of the pencil and not squeeze it so tightly. Releasing the tight grip also makes their hands and arms not so tired, helping them be able to write for longer periods of time.
The small tail in the back correctly positions their finger, and has a resting place for the ring finger to sit. They are made from a soft, silicone material which is comfortable for long periods of writing. Even as an adult, this Owl Pencil Grip is super comfortable!
From the same company who makes the Owl Pencil grips, Top Class Pencil Grips are another great style for kiddos who clench their ring and pinky fingers too hard into their hands. You can always hold something in your hand, like a cotton ball, pom-pom, or kleenex, but the Top Class Pencil Grips fix the problem AND help kids grip the pencil correctly.
It offers the same, high sides around the thumb and index fingers as the Owl Grips do, but has longer tail for a more relaxed grip. It comes in two sizes, one for pencils and one for pens, and has a cute doggy face on the front. Just like the Owl Pencil Grips, it is made of the same soft silicone material and works great for teens and adults too.
Also from the same company are a less constricting pencil grip, the Dolphin and Handle Style Pencil Grips. These are for kids who may not need guidance on how to correctly hold the pencil, but still need a soft, formed grip or want something in their hand to hold onto (as Whitney calls it her “hairdryer” grip). These also come in handy for times when kids need go back and forth quickly between writing and doing something else. The other two grips are not as easy to drop the pencil and quickly go back to writing if they are doing an activity that requires this. But the Dolphin and Handle Style Pencil Grips still offer support they may need and are a good option to have in the pencil case.
These also come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. This is an amazing feature that other grips do not offer. This is especially helpful in the case of the “hairdryer” grip because of the length of the grip.
For kiddos who don’t clench too tightly, grip correctly, but like something softer on their fingers, the Curious Minds Jumbo Squishy Soft Puffer Pencil Grip offers a softness on their fingers AND a fidget toy. This little puffer can be a great way to keep kids minds focused in class, and when taken off, can be stretched, bunched up, and used as a nice fidget. It can even be turned inside out and gives a nice cushion on the pencil or a soft feeling on the fingers when kids poke them through as a fidget.
Though the Triangle Pencil Grip has been around for a long time, it still has a purpose and is good for kids who may not need all the support of the other grips. Holding a smooth, round pencil for long periods of time can be exhausting on the fingers and wrist. Kids don’t always have access to 6-sided pencil that offers some support, and might not be enough. The Triangle Pencil Grip is a good grip to have around to help rest the muscles in the fingers for long periods of writing. It’s also easy to set the pencil down and quickly pick it up without having to correctly place your fingers onto certain grooves.
