Handwriting is Not Just How You Hold the Pencil 2

I initially posted on this topic in December 2019. I want to further elaborate. Development begins proximally from the body core to distally to the fingertips. This means that the child needs adequate core strength to assume and maintain an upright posture while sitting. This can be reinforced with proper floor to chair to table height. In addition, the child needs to develop functional stability and mobility at the shoulder so that the arm remains close to the trunk. Also, the child needs to develop functional stability and mobility at the elbow, forearm, and wrist to position the arm in a neutral position and the wrist partially extended. The child needs the ability to separate the fingers of the hand so that the ring and small finger provide stability to support a tripod grasp with the first three fingers. Once these skills are developed the child then needs to develop adequate mobility of the distal portion of the fingers to maneuver the pencil with skill. These skills don’t fully develop until the age of four-five. Some students develop these skills earlier but that does not mean if a three-year-old or a young four-year-old has not developed these skills there is a disability. Please reframe your way of thinking and focus on the development of the underlying core strength and proximal stability before focusing on the distal requirements of writing.