FM.F.87 HOLDS A CRAYON WITH THE FINGERS

You will see from the D.S.I. that this skill occurs at much the same time as stringing medium beads. The child is now quite adept in his Fine Motor control and is ready to move on from the early, full-fist crayon grasp to the more efficient finger grasp. The crayon is grasped between the thumb and the fingers, which are grouped together and work as a single unit. This is not the same as the mature pencil grip that we use, but it is a step in that direction.

How to Assess

Materials: Thick crayons and paper.

Method: Observe your child while he is drawing.

Score plus if your child holds the crayon using his thumb and grouped fingers, rather than in the palm of his hand.

How to Teach

Teach at the same time as your next drawing objective. When your child holds the crayon in a full-fist grasp against the palm of his hand, retrieve the crayon, say ‘Hold it with your fingers’ and help him to position it correctly.

Your child should not feel that he has made a mistake. Rather, he should feel that you are trying to help him achieve a better result.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

Have a look at the way in which your child holds other objects. Is he holding his spoon as efficiently as he could? Or his toothbrush? Or his paintbrushes? Don’t expect the mature grasp of an adult, but if you see ways in which his grasp could be made just a little more efficient, help him to see those ways too.

Now that you know that your child can hold a crayon with his fingers, make a habit of checking his grasp every time you draw together, whether at work or in play.