07/10/2025
Does your child find it hard to hold a pencil?
Here’s a simple yet powerful trick used by occupational therapists to encourage the tripod grasp — the ideal way to hold a pencil using the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
How to do it:
1. Place a small object (like a marble, coin, or cotton ball) in your child’s palm.
2. Ask them to hold it in place using their ring finger and pinky, and remind them, “Don’t let it fall!”
3. Now, have them pick up their pencil and write or draw as usual.
By keeping those two fingers busy, the hand naturally positions itself for the tripod grasp, strengthening fine motor control and improving hand stability. Over time, this helps your child develop the muscle memory needed for a more confident, controlled pencil grip — without frustration or constant reminders.
Bonus tip:
Use fun items — like a small pom-pom or bead — and turn it into a game (“Let’s see if you can write a whole word without dropping it!”). Making it playful increases motivation and practice time!
Save this for your next home practice of or therapy session !
