Understanding how a dynamic pencil grip develops is essential. Children move through various pencil grips as their bodies mature and their gross and fine motor coordination improves. Very young children hold the pencil in a fist, and move from the shoulder to scribble. Toddlers hold the pencil across the palm of their hand and usually move from the shoulder and elbow to scribble. Preschoolers should be holding the pencil with the tips of all five fingers, and movement for drawing should come from the wrist. At about age 5 or 6, the child should use a static tripod pencil grasp, in which the thumb, index and middle fingers are holding the pencil (although the movement for handwriting may still come from the wrist). By the age of 7, this tripod grasp should be dynamic, in that small finger movements are being used to form letters and words.
Incorporate regular fine motor activities into your child's daily life, especially those which promote the use of the tripod fingers -- the thumb, middle and index fingers. Use tweezers to pick up and transfer small objects. Squeeze clothes pegs onto the sides of containers. Use the tripod fingers to tear pieces of paper to use in collages, and scrunch small pieces of tissue paper into little balls to add to the picture. If your child tends to involve the ring and little fingers, place a piece of cotton wool under those fingers to keep them tucked out of the way. Use homemade play dough to strengthen hand muscles and improve coordination of the fingers by kneading it, rolling sausages and balls with the hands, and using the tripod fingers to roll small balls.
Take note of obstacles that hinder a child from developing a dynamic pencil grip. Forcing a child to use a tripod pencil grip before he is developmentally ready to do so may result in an awkward and inefficient pencil grasp. Toddlers and preschoolers should be allowed to move through the various stages of development to prevent the development of a poor pencil grip. Children who do not take part in appropriate gross and fine-motor activities in their early years may also struggle to use a proper pencil grip.
Consider using a pencil gripper. A pencil gripper may help your child to keep the fingers in the right place on the pencil. However, your child still needs to take part in fine-motor activities so that the fingers learn to move the pencil. Only then will she be using a dynamic tripod pencil grip. There are a variety of pencil grips on the market. Involve your child in finding the one most comfortable for her hand.