Developmental Progression of Pencil Grasp (Free Printable)

Twelve years ago, I published the very first blog post on Your Kids OT.

It was about something that therapists, teachers and parents still ask me about every week.

Does it really matter how a child holds their pencil?

Looking back, I can see how much I've grown as a therapist, educator and writer. I smile at the graphics, the formatting and even some of the wording. If I were writing it today, I'd explain things differently, but...

The heart of the message hasn't changed.

Pencil grasp has never been about achieving the "perfect" grip. It's about understanding development. Children's grasps evolve through play, experience, opportunity and practice. They experiment. They find functional ways to interact with the world around them.

Our role is to understand why a child is holding a pencil the way they are, whether it's helping or hindering them, and what skills might need support. 

The first article was the beginning of a journey that has led to countless articles, resources and now, a book devoted entirely to understanding pencil grasp and hand development. I am looking forward to sharing it with you very soon. 

A part of understanding the fundamentals, is to be aware of the developmental progression of pencil grasp and what is expected according to age.
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Early Grasps 
Children with immature grasps use their full arm, hand and fingers as one unit to control the movement of the pencil. These grasps are typically seen in children under three years old. To encourage development of a mature grasp, work on upper extremity weight bearing, pincer activities and fine motor skills.

Transitional Grasps
These grasps develop as the child gains stability in their shoulder, elbow and wrist. The forearm may be elevated from the table or the child may be beginning to rest it on the table. The movement of the pencil is controlled by extrinsic hand and arm muscles (Schwellnus, et al 2012). Finger movements are beginning to develop. These grasps are seen as transitional by Schneck & Henderson (1990) as they are continued until six years of age. Children can work on upper extremity weight bearing or vertical surface activities to promote development of a mature grasp.

Mature Grasps
A mature pencil grasp involves intrinsic muscle function for efficient distal movements of the pencil, minimizing fatigue from muscle tension (Schwellnus, 2012). Forearm stability also enables the wrist to rest on the table with slight extension. The forearm can comfortably glide across the table as the child writes from left to right. The position of the fingers may be the same as some of the transitional grasps. Mature pencil grasps are categorized with dynamic finger movements and ulnar stabilization. Ulnar stabilization means that the pinky and fourth finger are stabilized or “tucked in” to the palm.

Download your FREE copy of the developmental progression of pencil grasp reference sheet. This is an updated version of the one I shared all those years ago. It now includes separate right hand and a left hand pages. Use it to support observation, education and discussions about pencil grasp. 

Includes:

• Visual progression of common pencil grasps
• Developmental sequence from immature to mature grasps
• A quick-reference guide for therapy, classrooms and home
• Left and right hand images

Developmental Progression Pencil Grasp

I'm grateful I pressed "publish" all those years ago.

Have you been following Your Kids OT from the early days? Do you have a copy of the original pencil grasp reference sheet? I'd love to know how long you've been here! 
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But that's not the end of the story. If you are keen to learn the research behind pencil grasp, what to do when your child is not using a typical grasp, how to describe a grasp to others, decision making about when to change (or not change) a grasp pattern and a whole lot more; stay in touch as Gripipidea is coming soon. 

Until next time, 

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​
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