DS has been using a grip at school since preschool or kindergarten. I'm not sure how much he actually used it in kindergarten and how much he lent it to other kids. He had a grip called the crossover. I gave one to his first grade teacher and within a few weeks, DS had chewed it up. Teacher asked me to send in another one. Next thing I know the school OT had given DS a mechanical pencil that looks like a wishbone. I mentioned this to his private OT, who happened to have one, she watched DS use it, and DS isn't holding it correctly. She suggested putting stickers on it so DS would know where to keep his fingers, but I doubt that he is holding it correctly at school, even if he did put stickers on.
I got a handwriting sample from DS a couple months ago before he started school and his handwriting looked fine and age-appropriate. i don't think he was using a grip. But, of course, he was not holding his pencil correctly. I don't hold a pencil correctly either, and my handwriting is fine. Do you just give up at a certain point and let them hold a pencil wrong (he has his thumb wrapped around the pencil)? I'm wondering if some (most) of his handwriting issues are from being forced to use a mature tripod grasp. He is low tone/weak with hypermobile joints and also has DCD.
DS's handwriting has been deteriorating significantly in first grade and I just can't figure out what is going on, whether it's the grip/pencils, laziness, a teacher who doesn't push him enough or work with him, or ???? DS says he likes using the grip or wishbone pencil but his handwriting is a mess with it.
