The Best Pencil Grips for Kids

JuneLsy Pencil Grips

Get a grip

Your child will gradually learn proper pencil procedures with this gratifying grip.

Best Overall

Find on Amazon

If your child is having trouble finding their writing form, let JuneLsy help them along with these uniquely designed and exceptionally efficient pencil grips. Pencil grips can be a useful tool to help children develop their fine motor skills if their grip needs some polishing up. This specific design by JuneLsy will guide your child’s fingers into the dynamic tripod grasp, the preferred style for adults. What we love about this design is that it doesn’t lock fingers into place. The finger holsters have tons of space for growing hands and still require you to engage your grip, making this product a learning device first and foremost.

Pros:

• Available in packs of three, six, eight, or 24
• Flexible material that won’t deform easily
• Works for right- or left-handed writers

Cons:

• It will not fit thicker pencils

The Pencil Grip Store Universal Training Gripper

Patient pencil power

This grip's irregular shape is actually exceptionally ergonomic and easy to operate.

Most Comfortable

Find on Amazon

If you need to correct bad writing form before it becomes a habit, check out the specialists at the Pencil Grip Store. Created by a Los Angeles-based education therapist, this company aims to provide the highest standards for improving writing clarity, hand strength, and proper form. This universal model has a wide range of applications, not strictly limited to learning how to write. The ergonomic design makes the device comfortable for both righties and lefties, and it does have some give to it. Even older writers and artists can benefit from the reduced hand fatigue provided by the Universal Training Gripper by steadying shaky hands or reducing pressure on nerves throughout the hand and wrist.

Pros:

• Endorsed by physicians to reduce arthritis pain
• It fits all ages and genders
• Convenient “R” and “L” labels for proper orientation

Cons:

• A slight bump in the grip can be uncomfortable for lefties

The Pencil Grip Store Triangle Grip

Colorful classroom customization

This grip has an exceptional hold and well-defined edges that keep inexperienced fingers in line.

Best Classic

Find on Amazon

The Triangle Grip by the Pencil Grip Store may look like a throwback, but it’s still just as appropriate for the contemporary classroom. The design of this device is simple, self-explanatory, and customizable to your child’s tastes. The variety packs of 12, 50, or even 200 come in blue, green, red, yellow, and orange. While you won’t be able to fit these onto anything other than the standard-sized No. 2 manual pencil, once it’s on, it’s on. This protector of penmanship locks on to your pencil almost as firmly as your fingers will lock around it for all-day writing. When you need a rock-solid hold for learning or late-night research papers, keep your fingers fresh with the Triangle Grip.

Pros:

• Keep pencils from rolling off desks
• It helps prevent hand cramps

Cons:

• Difficult to move when sharpening

M JJYPET Pencil Grips

Give yourself a hand

If you've got a class full of picky writers, this pack of pencil grips will have the kids clamoring for pen and paper.

Best Variety

Find on Amazon

M JJYPET’s Pencil Grips take an exciting approach to writing therapy with their one-of-a-kind shapes and designs. To start, this company doesn’t cut any corners concerning the manufacturing process. All pencil grips are made with silicone, a safer and often preferred material to plastic for children’s tools. Each set contains four variations of grip with two units each, allowing siblings to co-exist without sharing. While all the models encourage your fingers to conform to the tripod grip, differing loops, cups, and grooves offer different avenues for kids to arrive at their writing destination.

Pros:

• Malleable material is easily applied and removed from several different sized pencils
• A highly responsive customer service team

Cons:

• The color choices are completely random

The Pencil Grip Store Classic Soft Foam Grip

Hold on tight

These reliable pencil grips are lightweight, soft, and affordable for educators on a budget.

Best Value

Find on Amazon

Few classroom purchases epitomize the journey of perfecting writing more than the Classic Soft Foam Grip by the Pencil Grip Store. While they may not seem like much, this assorted variety pack bolsters pencils that are too small for growing fingers. If fine motor skills are less of a problem than fine motor strength, the Soft Foam Grip will make a huge difference. Increasing the thickness of the base of a pencil cuts down on cramps, allows the fingers to relax, and gives younger hands an edge when transitioning from larger kindergarten pencils to the standard size.

Pros:

• Great value for the price
• Work on both manual and mechanical pencils
• An ingenious idea for a slippery tablet stylus

Cons:

• They are made of foam that can tear easily

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is appropriate to start using pencil grips?

Allowing children to progress from larger writing utensils to a standard size can take some time and should not be rushed. While there are some exceptions, most children will not be using a regular pencil until around five years old. Before then, it’s important to provide them with the tools to increase their hold before resorting to pencil grips. Try wider crayons to improve strength and much smaller pencils to hone in on their dexterity.

How do I ensure that the pencil grip is doing its job?

Pencil grips should promote proper form without making kids rely on them. First, grips must allow the child to hold a pencil with a proper three- or four-fingered grasp. This means that the middle, index, and pointer finger wrap around the tip, and optionally, the ring finger stabilizes from the back. Second, a pencil grip must be adequately secured to avoid frustration and misuse. Lastly, and most importantly, if your child does not like the grip, lessons will take even longer. We recommend trying variety packs until you find the size that works for you.