How to Teach a Child to Hold a Pencil

From the time that we are born, each day our muscles are becoming stronger and stronger and our movements are becoming more coordinated. It is the fine motor skills that we need to practice in order to perfect the three-finger pincer grip that we use for handwriting. 

Our first area of learning in the Montessori classroom is called ‘Practical Life.’ In this area, we provide the child with activities which will help him/her to learn the skills to become independent. Examples include spooning pouring, tonging etc. as we would ultimately want our children to be self-sufficient. 

Through using tongs, spoons, tweezers etc. the children will practice the three-finger pincer grip and their fine motor skills will improve. 
Using clothes pegs to practice ‘pegging’ will also give the child the practice that they need in the pincer grip and help to improve hand eye coordination too. Allowing your child to screw nuts & bolts, unlock padlocks & keys are also great for practicing the three-finger pincer grip. 

Many of the practical life activities require the child to work from left to right which is indirectly preparing them for reading and writing. Through these activities the child will also cross the midline which is essential for cognitive development too. Allowing children to use a whisk to mix water & bubbles is a great way for them to strengthen the hand muscles that we need to hold the pencil properly. Play dough is also great for that.

Here’s a summary of Lindsay’s tips for parents:

1. Develop motor skills using tongs, tweezers
2. Make bubbles using whisk and bowl
3. Practice pegging

About Lindsay Falconer
Lindsay Falconer is the Director of Redwood Nursery, Al Bateen. She has been in Early Childhood education for fourteen years, specifically specializing in the Montessori Philosophy. She is a mother of a three-year-old daughter and a ten-month-old son, and finds it a joy to apply Maria Montessori’s methods in the everyday life of her own children too.

Support the show