Mechanical Pencils

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Mechanical Pencils can help improve handwriting skills. Here are some tips from the blog Sugar Aunts

Use a Mechanical Pencil to help with common handwriting problems

A mechanical pencil can help with both of these common handwriting issues.  

When a child writes so hard that they break the pencil tip or smudge the words, using a mechanical pencil can help kids become more aware of the pressure they are exerting through the pencil.  If they try to push too hard on the mechanical pencil, the very thin lead will break.  The mechanical pencil requires a child to press lighter.  

Children can learn to monitor the amount of pressure used and it will provide feedback on modulation of pressure. A pencil with .7mm lead or a .9mm lead is better to start with for heavy writers. A mechanical pencil with a built in grip can help as well.
When a child presses so lightly that you can not see the written work, a mechanical pencil can help because the thin lead requires less pressure to produce lines.  This tool can then become easier for kids to adjust to when writing. 

If you are looking for more tips for helping kids who press too hard or too lightly on the pencil, try these.

Fine Motor Workout with a Mechanical Pencil

There's another secret reason for using a mechanical pencil with written work.  It's got a built-in fine motor workout for little fingers!  Pushing down the eraser to provide more lead for writing requires thumb IP joint flexion. As we discussed in a previous post, this motor action allows for a pincer grip and open thumb web space needed for a tripod grasp.  

Walking the fingers up the mechanical pencil from the writing position to the eraser is an in-hand manipulation exercise.  And when kids need to add more lead to the pencil, they are using neat pincer grasp and precision.  What a workout!


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