Working on Pencil Pressure with Brush Markers!

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Do you have a child who pushes down too hard onto the page when writing?  Do they push so hard that the page tears or you can see their work through several pages?  or Do you have a child who writes too lightly on the page... so lightly you can't see what they have written?

Have you tried brush markers?

Brush markers are a popular tool for those who do faux calligraphy and hand lettering.  If you search Pinterest, Instagram or You tube... you will find many experts showing you how to use brush markers and the beautiful art work they can create.

I'm a novice when it comes to faux calligraphy and hand lettering, but I do enjoy trying!  I've been practicing with "brush markers" for a couple of years now and what do they say ... "practice makes progress"!

Brush markers are marker pens or textas that have a soft tip.  Depending on the amount of pressure you apply to the marker will determine the thickness of the stroke.  You can see this in the writing below.  Heavy pressure on the marker will produce a thicker stroke on the page and light pressure on the marker will produce a think stroke.

Brush markers are a wonderful way to work on pencil pressure! In comparison to other textas and crayons, brush markers provide sensory feedback (proprioception) as the marker responds to the amount of pressure you apply.  Children can see for themselves what happens when they press down "too hard" or "too lightly" with the feedback to their muscles and joints that often can't be described to them.

Brush markers are fantastic for writing letters as seen above.  I often have children write their names and if they have learnt cursive writing, they can be taught some basic faux calligraphy.  The essence of faux calligraphy is to push down with more pressure on the "down strokes" of a letter and to reduce the pressure so there is a thin line on the "upward strokes" of a letter.

Brush markers are also a fantastic tool for colouring in pictures.  I have paired brush markers with my printable "5 Mandalas to Practice Pencil Pressure" which you can purchase from the Your Kids OT shop.  "Mandala" originates from sanskrit and means "circle", however they have now become a tool for mindfulness and self expression.

Brush markers are available in many different brands.  The brush markers I use are called Artline Stix (not sponsored).  I like them as there are a range of colours, they are economical and they have a triangular shape to grip onto (encouraging a tripod grasp).  Kids also love them as they can be linked together.

Watch how I use brush markers to write the heavy and light strokes in this video.

If you have trouble viewing this video, please try this you-tube link https://youtu.be/q8A2NkpQ3zU​

For more information about "too much pencil pressure" go to "Why Your Child Presses Too Hard When Writing" from Miss Jaime OT!  For more information about "too light pencil pressure" go to "Why Your Child Presses Too Lightly". 

Do you know a child who struggles with pencil pressure on the page? Have  you tried brush markers? 

Cindy is a registered Occupational Therapist practising in Sydney Australia.  She has two young 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. 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

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.

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