Pincer Grasp Development

This is a rough guide, but remember each child is different and move through these stages at different levels.

The best way to support pencil grasp is to give them lot of opportunities for gross and fine motor play.

Fine motor play to develop their hands strength, hand dominance arches in their hand to manipulate a pencil.

These underlying skills are all essential before they even pick up a pencil.

There is a progression of pencil grasp that develops as the childs hand , shoulder stability and fine motor coordination improves.

It starts with a fisted grasp and then changes to a pronated grasp and then develop into a tripod grasp around 4 to 5 years. 

Pincer Grasp in Holding Pencil

Stage 1 : Fisted Grasp 


Stage 2: Digital Pronate Grasp

Stage 3: 4 finger Grasp

Stage 4: Static Tripod Grasp

Stage 5: Dynamic Tripod Grasp