Effective Handwriting Tools for Kids
Pencil grips, pencil weights, adaptive pencils, paper and general handwriting tools and tips.
Line stamps can provide easy accommodations for students who struggle with fine motor skills. They are easy for teachers to use and they can promote academic independence by allowing students to modify their own papers.
Pencil Grips & Adaptive Pencils
This is my go-to pencil grip for students of all age who write with either hand. I have found that after using them consistently for several months, students demonstrate a more functional grasp, even without the grip. Use is straight forward, and you can see if the student is holding incorrectly from across the room.
This pencil grip encourages a more open thumb web space. I find that it is too big for some little hands, so I cut it in half making it a better size.
This pencil grip works well to get fingers in the right position on the pencil. It's pretty hard to hold it wrong which makes it easy for teachers and parents to use correctly.
Pencil weights help with improving pressure or decreasing shakiness. These are anchored in place by rubber stoppers so you can place the weight where you want it.
These pencil toppers are closed at the top, so they don't accumulate saliva. For students who chew on their pencils, this is a good option.
Twist n Write pencils are a good option for kids who can't master the traditional tripod grasp or use other grips successfully. They look different but work well.
Crossover grips have a soft squishy feel that kids like. They work well for both left-handed and righted-handed students. They help keep fingers where they should be and promote general pencil control.
These mechanical pencils are a thick triangle shape. My older students frequently choose these as a writing option.
Kids write better with three lined paper that is the right size. I find that is 1/2-inch, three lined paper. I have teachers use these with all my students who have OT for handwriting.
Adorable mini highlighters. They are the perfect shape and size for little hands. I have students highlight the letters or words they feel the best about and the things they think they could improve on.
With so many kids learning to write on tablets, it can be hard to help them establish a functional pencil grasp. This stylus supports using a functional grasp and works on all tough screens.
These spiky pencil grips have a great texture. They add some width to the pencil but don't change how you hold it. Both my younger and older students like them because they are spiky, squishy and the look cool.
Paper & Line Stamps
If you haven't yet discovered LegiLiners, they are amazing. They are self-inking stamps that put lines or boxes on anything. There are other brands, but this brand has worked the best for me. And it's developed by an OT! It's a small business that makes great products worth supporting!
I use 1/2 inch, three lined paper and lines for most of my students. This kind of line highlights that letters are different heights. I also use the center dashes to help teach spacing between words. This is my preferred stamp for the name and date lines on paper. 3 ink refills are included.
This stamp is 3/4 inch which can be better with younger students who are just learning to write. This one comes with 3 ink refills.
For older writers, this stamp adds more narrow lines with a center guide line!
Wide rule lines are very helpful with older elementary students who struggle with writing organization. This stamp is great for adding lines to thinking maps, work sheets and any writing work that does not include lines. This is an easy way to modify work for students who need that extra support.
I think these are intended for use as a 10 frame for math, but I use them to keep data for alphabet letter writing. I model how to write the letter or number in the top box and have the student then write it in the bottom box.
Kids that can't write straight, generally can't draw a straight line either. The math work that is simple for some, can be a mess for others. Adding simple supports like a number line base, can help students focus on the math, instead of how where to put the numbers on the paper.
Kids that struggle with fine motor skills also struggle with drawing. This math stamp cube allows students to choose how they want to show their work without the added stress of additional fine motor/drawing. All 6 shapes are on one cube shaped stamp.
Prewriting & Writing Activities
These disappearing ink tracing books come with grooved letters, numbers, math facts, simple pictures and simple pictures. The letter sizes are close to and inch and the pages are good quality which makes them stand up to a lot of use. This is one of the better grooved writing books.
This brand makes good products that stand up to frequent use. This dry erase tracing book has sturdy pages that wipe off clean and the letters and numbers are a large enough for younger kids or kids with emerging skills to practice. This is one of the better dry erase practice books.
This handwriting and practice book is a great resource. Progresses from letter formation to words then to sentences. It was created by a COTA so it has a ton of therapeutic activities in addition to the writing.
