Starter Pens?

[Mama2BugNBear]

I've searched around on this forum to see what others had to say about utensils for writing and came up with several older threads. I've been a fountain pen enthusiast for about a year now, but I'm at a loss on what makes a good "first" pen/writing utensil for a child learning proper penmanship. I've got a handful of different styles of fountain pens, some very light weight, others exhaustingly heavy.

I'd love to transition my oldest (Ms. Bug) over to a fountain pen but don't know what characteristics to focus on with choosing a pen. She tends to write much better on a standard "wide rule" paper than the designated early writing lined paper. I'd think the ease of ink flow would also help her improve her writing. Any thoughts? Thanks 

[regentrude]

In Germany, students begin learning to write with fountain pens in 1st grade.  A popular brand for student fountain pens is Pelikan

https://www.amazon.com/Pelikan-Pelikano-Junior-Fountain-Handed/dp/B00C20BIJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470055557&sr=8-1&keywords=t+fountain+pen+pelikan

[idnib]

My daughter also likes fountain pens and penmanship, and when she was the same age as your oldest, I bought her this starter set.  The pens are fine and she likes having different colors and the pouch. Maybe next year I'll have her move up to something else, not sure.

[JudoMom]

I've used the disposable Varsity pens, and I purchased the Pelikano Junior pens for my younger boys this year.  We haven't used the Pelikano pens yet, but I think they're going to be great.  They have a built in grip to encourage proper hold and they're a great weight.  The tip also feels a bit sturdier, but like I said, I haven't used them yet.  If you want a refillable starter pen, JetPens has this one.  I like it, but for a young student I'd go with the Pelikano.

[retiredHSmom]

How does this work out for lefties?  I have a fountain pen that I have used for years and the ink takes so long to dry that I think a lefty would end up covered in ink.

[JudoMom]

How does this work out for lefties?  I have a fountain pen that I have used for years and the ink takes so long to dry that I think a lefty would end up covered in ink.

 

My ds12 is a lefty and did just fine with the Varsity pens.  The ink dries fairly quickly.  

[Dramorellis]

My daughter started using this one when she was 5. I don't know the brand but it's easy to hold and manipulate for her. 

[retiredHSmom]

My ds12 is a lefty and did just fine with the Varsity pens.  The ink dries fairly quickly.  

Thanks

[3 ladybugs]

My son uses the Pelikan Twist. I love it! It teaches grip and is great for starting out. My son had slight grip issues with a normal pencil and this fixed them all. :) We got it from Amazon. 

[Petrichor]

We use the varsity pens too.

 

DS is a bit destructive at times, so it helps that the pens are cheaper than most fountain pens.

 

They are so much easier to write with than pencils or ballpoint pens. DS loves them, but occasionally lets his pen sit on the paper for way too long or traces over his letters multiple times and the ink bleeds through his composition book. I'm sure that's probably true of any fountain pen though.

[birchbark]

We use Pilot Varsity here too.