Pencil, Crayon, and Marker
Pencil Safety Teach children to be still when drawing whether sitting or lying on the floor. Teach them to put the pencil down before moving around. Never run with a pencil in hand. Never poke another person with a pencil. Teach them to use the pencil sharpener when you feel they are ready to do it correctly.
Holding a drawing tool such as a pencil or crayon correctly is necessary for ease of use and future handwriting skills. Have your child open his hand with the forefinger straight, the thumb up, and the other three fingers curved. Lay the pencil into the hand, onto the bending middle finger and between the thumb and forefinger. Have your child grip the pencil with the thumb and forefinger. Complaints about aching muscles indicate that your child is holding the drawing tool too tightly. Tell him to relax. To help him remember, say, “Don’t squeeze the pencil tight. Be gentle with it and it will be happy to go where ever you direct it to go.” When your child begins handwriting skills, it will be a huge benefit to have developed the correct technique for holding the pencil while drawing.
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