Handwriting - pen grip improvement suggestions?

I remember this thread well (even though it's nearly two years old!) because I couldn't get over the idea of recommending that a child hold its pen as it would a knife...

Certainly wouldn't advocate using the same grip for a pen and a knife!
The knife should be held with the forefinger on top. If I found any teacher suggesting this to my GCs I'd complain. ELC pencil grips are helpful - but useless for teaching table manners!

I was taught Marion Richardson handwriting in the late 50s and we used "Marion Richardson " fountain pens. Are these still available?

When she was 7 my DGD had lovely writing and I said to her '' Always try and keep this lovely writing as one day it may get you a job'' She has just got her first job and her employer asked her if she would like to know what got her the job,then told her it was her beautiful writing. She said'' I shrieked out because I remembered what you said ,Granny, when I was 7'' I was amazed she had remembered.

My handwriting was awful too until I left school. Each teacher in our primary school encouraged a different style and each one found fault with mine.

When I started to work in a Bank aged 15, I was given a copy book to work on in spare moments, mainly for training in the long thin numbers which were essential for hand written ledgers. Within a month or so I was turning out beautiful, legible script. Later, I adapted this approach with some of my trainees whose handwriting was appalling - simply choosing a desirable font and printing out sample sheets from the computer with space for their copies. Doing the same now for the DGCs. Think it is best to work with a pencil until you 'get to grips' with it and then transfer that skill to a pen - much harder to write clearly with a biro!

Yes my first school used Marion Richardson, but my second used italic. Ruined my writing, then compounded by copious lecture note taking at uni!

Copperplate was very nice to look at - but it was never meant to be written with a pen. As its name implies, it was a style used for engraving, using a burin which has a sharp point, whereas pens had a flexible 'nib' cut with a straight-edged end.

Thanks vampire I will pass that advice on via email.
I think maybe next year she will be doing joining.

I have sent her some fancy pencils from ELC and some pen grips
I think the jolly rubber grips may be useful as reminders, rather than for holding

Likewise, I don't hold a knife like a pencil/pen - would have been a smacked wrist at the table from Mum if I had!!!
But I do fimd a fatter pen is more comfortable than a thinner one, so I might go back to my trusty parker 51.

Same here, Gagagran! The grip I use is completely different - the handle of the knife would be sticking up between my thumb and forefinger if I held it the same way I hold a pen...

Well, the way I hold a knife - forefinger straight down and thumb tucked under would be hopeless for holding a pencil or pen! We were taught from an early age that was the way to hold and control a knife.

The grip should be the same as the one you use on a knife. So make sure she uses that grip on both pencil and knife....that way they reinforce and train the muscle memory.

I'm not keen on rubber pencil grips unless she is SEN as she won't always have her pencil grip with her and when she stops using it she has to learn to hold a pencil again because the grip holds the fingers wider apart than an ordinary pen/pencil.

Whatever you do don't make it a chore. Little and often with lots of praise and rewards. Seven year olds are very keen on stickers and sticker cards with the promise of a treat when it's full. Soon she will notice that her handwriting is neater and quicker and will start to prefer it. Also do letter joins at the same time. It will make more sense to her that way.

When I was teaching I told the children that my handwriting needed practise too so we would sit down together and form the letters. They would check my letters and I would check theirs.

At the other end of the spectrum, I am finding that my handwriting has deteriorated as I have arthritis in both hands and my grip on a pen or pencil can be painful. (At least that's my excuse as I am not a GP)

The irony is once my GD completes the examination phase of her life she will never have to do handwriting again. By the time she is adult, typing will probably be an obsolete skill. But to pass exams it helps if you can write quickly and clearly.
Thanks glass she is young enough to like those animal faces. I'll see if ELC australia do them.
My new Lamy pen is great actually - it has two shaped areas for the two fingers to rest.

I have really bad writing and it was mainly due to going to too many schools most of whom tried to change my writing. [they did those things then]. I started school in Canada and when we began joined up writing it was in Copper-plate, apparently my writing was really nice at that time. We came to the UK. Oh what old-fashioned writing said the teachers and changed it, or tried to, to what was then called the Marion Richardson style of writing. Very plain writing with no loops - unlike Copperplate. Then to an Army school in Hong Kong. Another style of writing. Back and forth between UK, Canada and Africa - all these schools with their own ideas of good writing. Hence the loopy odd writing I have now. That's why I prefer a keyboard and learnt to use one from the age of fourteen.

yes i have a fountain pen that make.
Thank you for your useful suggestions. I think you are right about trying to change this habit Mrsjj - and I know, I have seen too many bad writers in secondary schools.

jess
The Lamy Abc pen seems to be the chosen pen(s) to help children's writing.
Sorry, cannot send link about Lamy, but I'm sure you know the make.

A triangular pencil encourages the correct grip, and you can get a rubber shape which fits over an ordinary pencil or pen to give a triangular grip. Early Learning would certainly be a good place to try. I think Berol also do some good writing implements for youngsters, so you might try their website.

By 7, she will find it very hard to change the grip which will be well established, but do encourage her to try as its very hard to develop a fluent writing style as an adult if you hold the pen awkwardly.

Yes ELC sell pencil grips £2.00 for a pack of three they are either left or right handed. (See the training paid off )

www.elc.co.uk/Pencil-Grips/117599,default,pd.html

jess,
when you say pen, what kind of pen do you mean?

early learning centre?

you can buy specially shaped pieces of rubber that slip over the pen/pencil. EL do them I think.

It's a good idea to get a fat pen or wind a rubber band round it in order to give her a good grip on it.