Keyring Pencil Grasp Trick

Today, I’m excited to share a fine motor skills book written by a fellow Occupational Therapist.  Fine Motor ABC is a book full of alphabet themed activities that are designed to strengthen fine motor skills that are needed for functional tasks such as handwriting.  We tried one of the activities and found a great way to encourage a tripod grasp on the pencil when writing with this super simple pencil grasp trick.  This would be a great addition to our post on creative ways to improve pencil grasp with fine motor skills.

Easy Pencil Grasp Trick

One of my favorite ideas from (Amazon affiliate link) Fine Motor ABC is this super simple tripod grasp idea.  We tried a version using a keychain keyring loop to work on encouraging a tripod grasp.  What a simple pencil grasp trick!

Using the keyring loop is a fantastic way to separate the two sides of the hand with a tactile cue.  

To use the tool, simply shoe kids how to position the loop right over the ring finger and pinky finger.  

• They can then tuck the keyring loop over the fingers or simply hold it in place in their palm.  
• This tactile cue allows them to curve their fingers into the palm while stabilizing the ulnar side of the hand.  
• The middle finger, index finger, and thumb are then free to manipulate the pencil with the precision side of the hand.  

FAQ: Using a Keyring to Support Pencil Grasp

Q1: Why would you use a keyring to help with pencil grasp?
A: The Pencil Grasp Trick is a simple method using ABCs to improve how a child holds a pencil, making writing more comfortable and effective.

Q2: How does using a keyring help with fine motor skills?
A: By engaging specific hand muscles and coordinating movements, the keyring trick strengthens the fine motor skills needed for writing and other tasks. It engages the precision side of the hand and separates the support side of the hand. See separation of the sides of the hand for more information.

Q3: At what age can kids start using the Pencil Grasp Trick?
A: Children as young as 3-4 years old can begin practicing this trick, but it’s beneficial for any child struggling with proper pencil grasp.

Q4: Can this method be used for children with special needs?
A: Yes, the Pencil Grasp Trick is adaptable and can be a helpful tool for children with special needs to improve their writing skills.

Q5: How often should my child practice the Pencil Grasp Trick?
A: Regular practice, even just a few minutes a day, can lead to noticeable improvements in pencil grasp and writing abilities.

This post contains affiliate links.

Fine Motor Skills ABC Activities

We love the book, Fine Motor ABC because it has alphabet themed fine motor activities that make it perfect for teaching young kids while focusing on much-needed fine motor skills.

Fine Motor ABC is a great book for Occupational Therapists, teachers, and parents or anyone who works with kids.  This book is a resource of engaging activities that are designed to target the necessary skills needed for childhood functional tasks.  Each letter of the alphabet addresses a fine motor skill with a quick and easy description of the task.  There are big, bright images and corresponding hand signs for kids to copy.  The engaging description of the activities really had my kids interested in reading through the book.  

Following each lettered fine motor activity are through descriptions of the therapeutic reasoning for completing the task.  Fine Motor ABC is a book that would be well-used in any home, classroom, or therapy clinic.  

Stacie Erfle is an Occupational Therapist who has put creative ideas to work in her book and I’m excited to read the upcoming books on gross motor skills and sensory activities.  Read more about the books on the Skill Builder site.

Great ways to use Fine Motor ABC in therapeutic development of fine motor skills in the OT clinic, classroom, or home:

• Use the alphabet-themed fine motor activities in order from A-Z.
• Complete only a few of the letters, by spelling a word and completing those corresponding fine motor activities.
• Spell out the child’s name by completing the fine motor activities that correspond with the letters in the child’s name.
• Follow the sign language images at the top of each page.  Ask the child to copy the hand signs.  Don’t forget to ask the child to carefully turn the pages of the book to see the next sign!
• Create a customized therapy home program using the themed fine motor tasks.
• Act out the activities without using manipulatives for a different way to practice the fine motor skills.
• Work through the book by doing the activities that have a purple border (or blue or orange border!) Next time do a different color.

There are so many ways to use this resource activity book with kids!

More easy pencil grasp tricks for developing fine motor activities that you will love:

• In-hand Manipulation Letter Puzzles
• In-Hand Manipulation with Coins
• Jumbo Fine Motor Skills Threading Activity
• Intrinsic Muscle Strength with an Egg Carton

Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.