Works For Me: Teaching a Child To Hold a Pencil

I cannot take an ounce of credit for today's little tip--my son's preschool teacher taught it to me years ago.  It's such a good one, I couldn't keep it to myself.

You probably know how hard it can be to communicate to a child exactly how a pencil should sit properly in his or her little hands.  My son's teacher told me to do it this way:

1.  Take a Kleenex and tear it two pieces (a full Kleenex is too large, so just use the half piece for this trick.)

2.  Have the child pinch the Kleenex piece in his/her pinky and ring finger, like this:

3.  While the child is still pinching the Kleenex in those two fingers, tell him to hold the pencil in the remaining three fingers.

4.  Remarkably, as long as the Kleenex is still "occupying" their 4th and 5th fingers, the child will naturally hold the pencil the right way. 

Really!  It works!

If you have a tip you'd like to share with Bloggityville, just leave your link below.  WFMW guidelines can be found here. 

Please, please, PRETTY PLEASE, link directly to your WFMW post and not to the front page of your blog.  Here's how you do that. 

Oh, and while I have your attention, hopefully you're planning to play along in the Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway--you can see the details here.  The contests all go "live" next week, so you still have several days to come up with a fun drawing to hold at your blog.  Join the party!

1. An Ordinary Mom (Lip Balm) 2. Mandy (solving a stinky problem) 3. The Lazy Organizer (little girl\'s hair) 4. Smockity Frocks (Improvised Bed Skirt) 5. Jordan @ MamaBlogga (Get blog links) 6. Corrie (long-lasting cut flowers) 7. Sincerely Anna (organization) 8. Schelle (folding sheets) 9. Julie (Using Up Old Bananas) 10. Chrystal (Give & Get Free Stuff) 11. Autumn Daisy Studio (Praising Yourself) 12. Many Little Blessings (Cheaper Produce) 13. Cherish The Home (Stuffing Manicotti Shells) 14. Chrystal (Freecycle) 15. Stacey@Look, Mom, Look! 16. Kat (Rubber Gloves) 17. Karen (birthday party gifts) 18. Org Junkie (memory binders) 19. Jane(shopping bags) 20. Stacey@Look,Mom,Look! (Framing Kid Art) 21. Faerylandmom (Great New Cleaner) 22. Jill (unwanted emails) 23. A Juggling Mum (Budget) 24. Beth F. (amazing spill proof tablecloth) 25. The Pumkin Patch (googly goodness) 26. Barbara H. (Set the table first) 27. Ellen b (teens & adult kids) 28. The Building Brows (save money on insurance) 29. Dena\'s Deliberations (Motivated Moms) 30. The Preacher\'s Wife - Freezing Fresh Corn 31. Overwhelmed (chalk it up!) 32. everychapter (dineing out) 33. Mommy Babble (getting kids to leave the park) 34. Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry (Car Freshener) 35. Ogle 4 (killing birds) 36. At A Hen\'s Pace (freezer/pantry organization) 37. Homeschool Mama (T.V. Timer) 38. Diatribal (Smooth Travel Tips) 39. Lynnae (personal phone book) 40. Michelle at Scribbit (kid craft-tiny diaries) 41. MoneyDummy (Saving time and money with Amazon\'s grocery subscription service.) 42. Mommy Zabs- I Heart Label Makers! 43. The Traveling Family (camping) 44. Robin (Toy Swap) 45. Stuck In North Idaho (pets) 46. Mamalady(Missing Sippie Cups) 47. Mummymac (Can\'t sleep) 48. Joo (cleaning tips) 49. Pastormac\'s Ann (gift ideas for new moms) 50. Lorie(banana peppers) 51. Madridmom (freezer blessings) 52. Liza\'s Eyeview (Budget and Networth) 53. Rachel (Crock Pot) 54. N Millar 55. It Coulda Been Worse (Baconfat Woes) 56. Notbefore7 (sharing toys) 57. April (save $$ on kids cloths)

58. Nancy 59. CharityGrace (store stationery beautifully) 60. Miss Huckleberry (dry, cracked heels) 61. Candace (baby book) 62. PASS THE TORCH (READ TOGETHER/TRAVEL) 63. Cara (Baby/diapers) 64. Amy (Memo Board) 65. StillHisGirl (Laundry for the Masses) 66. T with Honey (natural lift) 67. Dana (Little Red Wagon) 68. Sheri (children\'s resources) 69. Katie (Whine-free Chores) 70. Georgia Mom (cleaning tips for your car) 71. Megan (NO MORE BEDHEAD!) 72. Danielle 73. Amy (Ice cream cake) 74. Heather L. (be on time) 75. Jessica (multitasking in the bathroom) 76. SeaBird (Best Diaper Rash Cure) 77. Elena Harry Potter pre-orders 78. tami@ourhouse (eat out for free/less) 79. Danielle (house check) 80. Kathy (Eating on the road) 81. Kathy (Frugal toilet cleaner) 82. Mari (keeping curling iron clean) 83. Lana G! (SOCKS 4 SHOES) 84. Trixie @ Farm Home Life (Coupons) 85. Beth/Mom2TwoVikings (chicken fat removal) 86. Sarah (Great Skin in Seconds) 87. Jen Morris (storing linens) 88. Rebecca (Diaper Rash) 89. Mama Says (Cheap fruit) 90. Just in case: Replacement parts 91. lifeasamama (swim diapers for less) 92. Elisa (keeping a house tidy with small children) 93. MC Milker (Making Shade Stay- Beach Umbrella Holder) 94. Kellyn Fritz (Vapor Rub) 95. Tonsofsons ~ homemade popsicles 96. My Twenty Cents Keeps Moving(385 free digital prints) 97. Cyndi (Bible Reading) 98. Mandi (Scripture memory fun!) 99. Demeter (Best dish scrapers around) 100. peach ("Gift Box") 101. DHM (Getting \'culture\' on a budget) 102. Song of the Sagebrush (The Wacky Races) 103. toni(kisses from daddy) 104. Paige (swiffer dusters) 105. Jamie (drinking water) 106. jen (packing for a picnic) 107. Tracy first time! (Living Green) 108. Jada (decapping strawberries) 109. Jan/kids\' e-mail 110. Steph\'s Mommy Brain (kids\' room) 111. Mrs Pear (freezer meals more how-to) 112. CLassic Mama (baby food) 113. Jill (spill proof juice boxes) 114. LinesFromTheVine(breastfeeding help)

115. GP in Montana - vegging out 116. Charity (managing e-mail) 117. amanda (awesome virtual recipe box) 118. April (save $ on kids clothes) 119. mistihollrah (cooking bacon) 120. Chappyswife/refills 121. with six you get eggroll 122. Amber (bathtub toys) 123. Short Stop (Freeze-Ahead Cookbook) 124. Grace (Easy Recipe Holder) 125. Karen (a magazine tip) 126. Homeschool Help Web (free books, B&N) 127. Ashley (free summer movies) 128. Tricia 129. Amy (time outs) 130. Stretch Mark Mama (Applesauce) 131. Becca (magazine storage) 132. Tricia 133. Mandy (save on kids clothes) 134. Ann@normalw8s(cleeeen bathroom!) 135. Amy W (Wonderful fabric softener) 136. Proverbs 31 (Musical Cleaning Game) 137. Allison @ (story of us) (Target Coupons) 138. Misslionheart (cleaning the fridge & microwave) 139. Crystal @ Biblical Womanhood (teaching young children to read) 140. Beth (Easy Toddler Lunch) 141. Mommy, the Human Napkin (kill fire ants in your house) 142. shelly (reducing junk email) 143. looney(MK Satin Smoothie Set) 144. Jodi - HHQ - Vinegar for ants! 145. RibbonRockStar (LOST SOCKS?) 146. MamaToo 147. So Many Joys (Non-Scrapbooker\'s Memory Book 148. Beneath the Rowan Tree 149. Ann Kroeker (A-B-A-B book habit) 150. Laura (Meal Planning) 151. Chelsea (First Aid Kits) 152. Sunny Kristi 153. Christine~Easy Way to Pair Socks 154. jen (organizing bath toys) 155. Kristen (Happy List) 156. Cherie (kitchen scrubby) 157. Bethany (Mini offices or dividers for homeschooling) 158. SortaCrunchy (Texas Sweet Tea) 159. Robin (fairness in treats?) 160. Kristi from NC (kids/cars tip) 161. Megan (Kids Folding Laundry) 162. Dawn (Safety Tips For Kids) 163. ~Amy (B-day Tradition) 164. Suzanne (Jamming with a Turkey Baster) 165. Maureen 166. Donetta 167. Andrea (getting rid of onion smells) 168. Kim - Get Rid of Static Electricity 169. Stephanie (First time) 170. Totallyscrappy (swimming?)

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Links closed for this week!  Please play along next time....

Comments

[Mandy]

Man, I wish I'd heard this tip when my little ones were littler! My youngest was the hardest one--she always did the "fist" method. Thanks for a great tip.

[Smockity Frocks]

Great tip! I have struggled with this very thing.

[Sincerely Anna]

That is a great tip! I have problems because I can't do the steps here. And I've never hed my pencil the "right" way. I think I could've used this tip when I was in kindergarten! I will definitely use it when I help my son!

[Schelle]

Thanks for the great idea! I'll be using it :)

[Karen@FamilyBriefs]

This sounds great! Now, if I can just get my 4-year-old to decide which hand he's going to write with :)

[Faerylandmom]

I'm going to have to try that one.

[Look, Mom, Look!]

Thank you so much for this post! I was having a really hard time showing my 4 year old how to properly hold a pencil. I will definitely try it this way.
Also, I made a mistake and linked twice to WFMW. Sorry!

[Marion]

Hey there,
Check out my blog to see your Rockin' Girl Blogger Nomination!

[Barbara H.]

That's a great idea. My guys are older, but I will keep this in mind for when the grandkids come along.

[Barbara H.]

Oops -- I forgot to put my synopsis in parentheses behind my name in "Mr. Linky." It used say "delete link?" behind my name but I don't see it -- if you want to delete #25, that's fine. I added it again on #28 with the subject.

[ellen b]

Great pencil tip and I'm participating in the give away next week! :)

[Every Chapter]

Hmmm....that's neat. I'll have to remember it for when my son is older. Thank you for hosting this- it is such a fun concept. Mine was a little silly this week- but hey, whatever works! :)

[Marian]

Thanks for the timely tip. I'm going to do this with my 4 year old tomorrow.

[Corrie]

I'm going to see if this keeps my daughter from holding the pencil with both fingers instead of resting it on her middle one.

Thanks for the tip.

[Lynnae]

That's a great tip! Another one I learned from my daughter's occupational therapist is to have them write with a short crayon or pencil. If there's not enough pencil for all their fingers to fit around, they'll hold the pencil correctly.

[Michelle at Scribbit]

I have to wonder why the great teachers at my kids' school haven't used this? It seems so terrific, so perfect and after all the trouble they go to teach proper pencil holding you'd think they'd be all over this. Great tip.

[Ami]

Thanks for that tip! We will be trying it TODAY!

[Mummymac]

That's a great tip Shannon - My number 2 is just at this stage now so thanks a million.

[mamabeck]

two words...YOU. ROCK.

Thank you!
b

[Sue]

What if they need to blow their nose??
;)

Great tip!

[Mary@notbefore7]

Great - we will try this today. Thanks.

[Nancourt]

I am another one that did not add my description. I must be out of practice. So sorry...and there is no delete link or edit function. Sorry!

[3foldcord (N Millar)]

New blogger here. Forgot to put in my description too! Oh well, theres always again.
That is a fab tip, Shannon! My son is nearly 6 and still holds his pencil fist-like!

N Millar

[Dana]

I'm a righty trying to teach a lefty how to hold a pencil! This is GREAT information! Thanks a bunch!

Dana
www.mysimplegifts.blogspot.com

[Danielle]

That's a great idea! With one entering K5 it will be really helpful!!

[Heather L.]

Great tip! I'm going to teach this to my son's preschool teacher. They'll have a much easier time with those pincher grasps then! Thanks for hosting!

[Cindy]

Fabulous idea! Wish I'd had that when I was teaching in my classroom or when I taught my own kids! I'll be passing that on!

[Jessica]

Considering I hold my pencil on my ring finger (and I have a callous to prove it) I obviously was not taught correctly! Thanks for the tip...I'll post it in my mom brain for those days of teaching writing!

[tami@ourhouse]

Thanks for the tip! This is a tricky skill to teach kids- I'll remember to try this!

[Jaime]

thanks for the tip! love the new green color too!

[Beth/Mom2TwoVikings]

Oh good grief - could you (and that teacher) be ANY smarter!? *wink* What a cool idea!

[Johanna Ely]

great tip...& I'm playing along too :)

[Johanna Ely]

oops, you can delete my post as Johanna...I added my shop & can't delete it??

[Carol]

I can't wait to try this! I am a first grade teacher, and I have never heard this idea. There seems to always be 1 or 2 children who can't "get it" no matter what I try with them. Thanks for the tip!

[Kellyn]

This is the best idea ever! I have a little one starting kindergarten this fall, so this will help a ton!

[tammi]

Like so many others, I've got a 5-yr old starting K this fall, too, who also hasn't grasped the correct way to hold a pen or pencil yet. Her 2-yr old sister is a natural, but we've tried over and over to teach the older one. I'm definitely going to give this a try today. Thanks for the great tip!

[Mandi]

I love this idea - I am going to try it today with my 5yo son! Thanks so much for sharing!

Warmly,
Mandi

[peach]

Great idea, friend. Just a couple years too late for us. I actually participated today. Drop by if you get a chance!

[Toni]

I like this tip! Will be using it with my 5 yo!

This is my first WFMW, can't wait to visit others~

[My Quotidian Mysteries (Laura)]

What a clever idea! I don't have a tip to share, but I'm always grateful to glean from others. :)

[Jan]

Great idea!

[Jana (sidetrack'd)]

Great tip! I'll have to remember that one in a few years.

[Jada]

I will pass on your tip to those with little ones! Great tip!

I actually have another WFMW post! Will wonders never cease??!! This is my second one. LOL

~Jada

[Jan]

Sorry I messed up the first time. I think the link will work now.

[Stephanie's Mommy Brain]

What a great tip!!! My oldest is four and a lefty. I'll be sure to use this idea.

[Stephanie's Mommy Brain]

What a great tip!!! My oldest is four and a lefty. I'll be sure to use this idea.

[Tracy]

Great tip! I have 2 kids that are at the age for this one. I'm participating for the first time today - thanks for hosting!

[Monique in TX]

I must be creatively stupid. Even with the Kleenex, I found three other ways to hold the pencil that were incorrect...

[Jill]

That is brilliant!

[MorningSong]

Great trick!! I will use this today! I've tried to show my daughter how to hold the pencil properly with no success. Great idea!

Thanks!

[shuey6]

loved the pencil tip! will try it today!

[Sarah (Short Stop)]

Great tip! Thanks for another great week!

[Tricia]

Oh,boy! I am a Pre-K teacher and even though I work on skills to strenghthen fine motor skills some of my students will be ready for this. The kindgergarten teachers will love it. Thanks for the great tip!!!

[Amy]

I love WFMW! Thanks!!!

[Lisa]

Can't believe I found the Source of WFMW. I think I heard the angels sing. :)

[Tricia]

I will get it right next time. I put my subject by my direct link so that made it invalid. My first login was to my main page, sorry.

[Sandy@Reluctant Entertainers]

Never heard of, or thought of that!
Cool!
Sandy
For Reluctant Entertainers

[Misslionheart]

I'm going to try that with my 2yr old!

[Monkey Giggles]

well I'll be darn....it does work. Thanks for sharing

[summershine]

That is an AWESOME tip! I can't wait to try it with my sons.

[shelly]

I am gonna have to try this.

[MamaToo]

what a great idea! Thanks for the pictures, too - this is very useful in our hosue right now.

[Kristi W]

I will DEFINITELY try this out with my 3 year old who is just experimenting with writing now!

[Ginny]

What a cool trick, I could have used that when my 5th grader was in kindergarten! I had issues while pregnant so she was born with week muscles. We thought she outgrew it around 2.5 until she went to kindergarten. Then all that fine motor skills really showed her weakness. Great tip!

[Dawn]

Great tip! I am going to try this with my two youngest. My oldest's preschool teachers finally gave up on trying to get him to hold his pencil the right way and said the kindergarten teacher could teach him. I think I'll give this tip to those preschool teachers, since my daughter will be going there this year.

[donetta]

Fantastic Idea! I'll Pass that one on at occupational therapy. It will help a lot of children!

[Elizabeth F.-The Whole Family]

That is so cool! Thanks for posting that!

[Anne]

Thank you for this tip and in case you didn't hear it: THANK YOU!!
I have been teaching for 15 years and have done battle so many times over this very issue...holding a pencil properly. One simple tip has solved a perennial teaching problem. Thank you so, so much :)

[Susanne]

That is a great hint, Shannon!

[Sarah]

WOW! Great idea! My 4yo has intermittent amnesia with acceptable pencil holding; this would DEFINITELY help on those days when he's feeling less "recollective" (and I would feel less likely to need ibuprofen trying to help him).

[Jordan (MamaBlogga)]

Shannon, did you do something differently this time? I've never gotten an actual HTML link before this WFMW.

Whatever you did, THANK YOU!

[Gego]

Now, that is seriously wonderful. I called some Pre-K and 1st Grade teacher friends and they were so excited. They have discovered that when the kids hold the Kleenex with the pinkie, middle, and ring finger,the pencil is easier to manipulate and transfers to holding eating utensils. This method works with either method. Many, many thanks to the teacher who developed this!

[Barb]

I use two cotton balls instead of a torn kleenex, but the same basic principle. It was taught to me by our school's occupational therapist a couple of years ago and now I use it with any of my kinder-students who are struggling.

[Trish]

Not sure if I can still get in or not, but here is the link anyway...http://harmonyhillmusic.blogspot.com/2007/07/bloggie-giveaway.html. Not sure if I did that right -- Me and Mr. Linky are still getting acquainted...Thanks for the great idea!

[Trish]

Oh Bother...Now I realized I commented on the wrong post...Can I blame it on menopause???

[tAnYettA]

I need to link to this on my blog. This really works!

[Heather Ledeboer]

I was a second grade teacher for three years and could have used this tip back then:). Thanks!