Major grip and wrist position issues--help?

[sbgrace]

I've got a child with absolutely horrible pencil grip issues. He hooks his wrist like a left hand child might tend toward even though he's right handed. I really don't get it but it looks extremely awkward. He also has a thumb cross pencil grip. I've been trying to work on both but it's overwhelming for both of us. I tried the cross over grip but he can hardly write with it on--his writing with it is almost illegible and very light pressure wise as well. So I've just been reminding him of the proper grip. I bought a "thing" that holds his pencil in the webspace but it's not quite working the way I expected though it helps some and prevents the extreme hooking he does without it.

 

He's six. Which is worse for him/which should I address or do I keep trying to fix both grip and wrist position? Any hints?

[rwilliams]

Try giving him small pieces of crayon to color with on a vertical surface for 5 to 10 minutes every day . The magic is the smalll pieces so you can use chalk also. Vertical or lying on your stomach on the floor will work also. For writing, try the fat pencils versus the smaller pencil with a pencil grip. Try the fat pencil with the handiwriter that helps keep the pencil angled correctly between the thumb and index finger. You can also try giving him the fat pencil but break it so that is pretty short like the pencils you write with when you go putt-putting. When he is writing, place his paper on a 3 ring binder that is turned so that the paper is on a slight vertical slant.

[Ellie]

Also, don't let him write in workbooks. Tear the pages out and tape them to the table so he can't turn the paper incorrectly. It should be aligned with his forearm.

[peacefully]

My ds (almost 6) is currently seeing an OT for handwriting issues (among other things). I was surprised to learn that much of the early weeks of his home program for handwriting included toning exercises to improve his strength and stability in the core muscles of his torso. He also had exercises for his shoulder and arms, as well as his wrist, hand and fingers.

 

This is not the same set of exercises, but this site might give you a few ideas to try with your son.

 

http://make-the-grade-ot.com/Hand%20Strengthening.pdf

 

Crawling, wheelbarrow walking, and swinging on monkey bars are good, easy ways to increase core, shoulder, arm and hand strength.

 

 

 

Some activities that help with the "pincer-grasp" finger dexterity and strength: rolling playdough into little balls with just the thumb and forefinger or thumb and third finger; using a plant sprayer to squirt stuff; using small tongs or children's chopsticks; using eyedroppers or pipettes to "paint" on coffee filters or other absorbant papers; playing with clothespins, etc. Google fine motor activities and I'm sure you'll come up with many, many more. Here are some links to get you started:

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20080620054915/http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/schools/beal/readiness/finemotoractivities.html

 

http://imaware.tripod.com/fmotor.html

 

 

 

Have you seen this gizmo to help with the wrist position?

 

http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Pediatric-Supply-HandiWriter-Handwriting/dp/B001GXPH76/ref=pd_sbs_op_48

 

 

 

My son really likes the crossover grip, but our OT originally recommended these:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Pencil-Grip-Writing-Medium-Colors/dp/B002AGN4N2

 

(My son needed the medium size, not the small).

 

 

 

 

This little trick also helps my son with maintaining a proper pencil grip.

 

http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2007/07/works-for-me-te.html

 

 

 

He can also try writing with crayon rocks, painting with tiny pieces of sponge that he holds in a tripod grasp, small pieces of chalk or golf pencils (a la HWOT), etc.

 

 

I personally would gently try to alter his grip now. If he is an enthusiastic writer, I would not push the issue to the point of frustrating him. However, if he is a reluctant writer, addressing the way he holds his pencil may alleviate some of the discomfort associated with an inefficient grip. The short-term frustration may be worth the long-term gain.

 

My son's handwriting worsened when we first started OT. It really freaked me out. Now I realize that there was a period of readjustment (the OT called it "disorganization") while his brain was figuring out a new way of doing things. Imagine trying to write with your non-dominant hand or a whole new pencil grip. Your handwriting would probably be wonky for a while too. It's helpful to just completely ignore the appearance of his letters while he works on figuring out the new grip and forming letters with his hand in a totally different position. Get rid of the lined paper. Just focus on the grip, writing really BIG letters using correct formation. After a while, you can start reintroducing guideline papers again.

 

Good luck to you and your son. The whole handwriting thing can be really tough to work through.

[sbgrace]

Thank you!

 

Ok, I'm going to get the handiwriter and also have him write on a thee ring binder. I'll look for thick pencils-I think that might help. Ellie, he has been writing in notebooks so I'll take the paper out. It hadn't occured to me that it was an issue. Yllek, thank you so much for all those links--I've been looking through and they will be so helpful for us--thank you for taking the time to do that. He is weak in torso (slightly hypotonic actually) and I didn't know that was connected. I'll target that area with him. Thank you so much!

[peacefully]

A few more quick suggestions that I found in my notes:

 

"If a student writes with a 'hooked wrist,' have them do written work on a vertical surface just above eye level."

 

"Write letters, numbers and shapes on end of paperclip and have them match and 'clip' onto matching letter on a folder or index card. Great way to teach spelling words!"

 

You could also use clothespins in lieu of letter tiles for spelling practice. They really help the muscles that control the pincer grasp.

 

I wish I could find the source for these notes. I'm seeing other ideas that I think might be helpful... I'll post more later if I find the link.

[rwilliams]

Thank you!

 

. He is weak in torso (slightly hypotonic actually) and I didn't know that was connected. I'll target that area with him. Thank you so much!

 

It is important to work on trunk stability but that will take time. In the mean time, make sure he has stability while he is writing. This means that the position of the hips is the most important and the starting place for the rest of the body. The hips should be at a 90 degree angle with a slight anterior pelvic tilt. This means that when you look at the hips from the side the trunk should be angled slightly forward. Think of good posture for yoga. The knees should be at a 90 degree angle as well as the feet. Feet need to be flat on the floor or on a stack of books. The height of the table is important. We usually have tables that are too high for the kids. The kitchen table is usually a poor choice for the child with poor trunk stability. In reality, a properly positioned child will usually look like he is at a table for a much younger child. Other choices, is to let the chilld sit on his knees, not w-sitting, at the table and provide a chair with armrests. Let the child sit on a bean bag on the floor at the coffee table on his knees. These alternatives may not work they are just ideas to try.