When to Change a Pencil Grasp There have been several research studies about pencil grasps and handwriting. Most of which state that pencil grasp does not influence legibility (Schwellnus et al., 2012). So if the main reason you want to change a child’s pencil grasp is because their handwriting is “sloppy”, I’ll have to stop you right there. However, there are definitely some situations that call for intervention. Here are a few to keep in mind from what we see in the clinic: Biomechanical stress on joints of the hand: If a child doesn’t have the strength necessary to control the pencil, they are going to start locking joints in order to “hold” themselves in the writing position. This can lead to hyperextension, putting unnecessary strain on joints we want to be in good shape for a long time. Fatigue or pain during writing tasks: Yes, a child might grasp the pencil for dear life as they try to exert some sort of control. This can cause fatigue or pain during writing...
