The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills – 1 to 6 Years Old

Year Level: Early Years, Foundation, Year 1 & 2

These milestone and information sheets identify the age-related milestones for hand function, pencil grip (grasp) and drawing skills in children aged 1 to 6 years. They present images of good and NOT good pencil grip and also outline hints for making a good pencil grip easier.

When children first begin to draw using crayons, pencils or brushes they use a dagger grasp. In a natural developmental sequence, they will hold the writing implement in a variety of grasps until they settle on a functional tripod grip for handwriting. The developmental sequence is a result of neurological and physical growth in the child. As we look below at the development of different grasps and drawing skills we can observe that there is a natural progression as the child’s fine motor skills develop. The complexity of the drawing skills increases as the child develops more control over the pencil or crayon in his or her hand.

  • The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills - 1 to 6 Years Old
    Early Years Parent Education Sheets and Downloads – Semester 1

    This booklet outlines key information to be provided to parents, caregivers and the wider community within semester one. Children benefit when home and school work together. To support this, PLD offers an extensive range of parent milestone information sheets and videos. These resources are ideal to be disseminated to parents and the wider community through […]

    This booklet outlines key information to be provided to parents, caregivers and the wider community within semester one. Children benefit when home and school work

  • The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills - 1 to 6 Years Old
    Fine and Gross Motor Developmental Milestones – 4 years old

    This fine and gross motor development milestone poster/sheet for 4 and 5 year old children outlines tips for home and causes for concern.

    Designed by Occupational Therapists this resource promotes awareness of early motor developmental milestones. The sheet outlines: What children be able to do with their body. Tips

  • The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills - 1 to 6 Years Old
    Am I ready to handwrite? A3 Poster

    Am I ready to handwrite is a poster providing solid introduction to the beginning of handwriting

    Ideal for student and teacher reference, this poster is designed to provide explicit instruction on the following: Letter formation and size Letter placement Reminders of

  • The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills - 1 to 6 Years Old
    Developing Cutting Skills Milestones – Ages 2 to 6 Years Old

    A milestone sheet which identifies age based norms for developing cutting skills in children aged 3 to 6 years.

    Over a period of several years, children progress through several steps when learning to cut with scissors. At age 2 – 2½ years… Child is

  • The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills - 1 to 6 Years Old
    PLD’s Alignment to the Australian National Curriculum

    How does PLD align to the Australian National Curriculum?

    In the attached download we have outlined where PLD applies to each year level, the content code and descriptor and the related PLD programs.  

  • PLD’s Alignment with the Early Years Learning Framework
    PLD’s Alignment with the Early Years Learning Framework

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    The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills - 1 to 6 Years Old

    An early childhood approach to instructing letter formation in FOUNDATION FONT.

    Handwriting is fundamental to literacy. Once children have mastered the essential pre-writing patterns, they are ready to start learning correct letter formation. Getting body posture right, whether in a standing or seated position, is essential prior to commencing any drawing or writing activity. This posture should also be monitored throughout the activity to ensure a child has sufficient core strength to maintain their position for the length of the task. With a stable body young children are more likely to progress to using an efficient pencil grasp, which will allow their hand to produce the movements necessary for good letter formation and handwriting. The most recent research shows that using a ‘cognitive’ approach (saying cue words out loud) incorporated with writing the actual letter, is the most effective way to learn and retain correct letter formation.   In Letter Formation for Little People – Step 1, each letter shape, with corresponding verbal cue words, is presented and learned in the same PLD groupings as the letter sounds. This will reinforce the acquisition of both of these vital skills simultaneously.   This early childhood approach, with both standing and seated activities, presents activities in four sequential levels for each letter. This developmental approach allows for differentiation between children in the classroom, with the scope to cater for a wide range of abilities. It is important that the core skills required for correct letter formation are a strong focus in the early years of schooling, to avoid the development of ‘bad habits’, such as an inefficient pencil grip, letter reversals, or incorrect direction of letters, which may affect academic progress in future years.   Letter formation and subsequently, fluent handwriting, must become an automatic skill so that the child can process their ideas as they write, without having to think about the construction of each letter they produce. Letter Formation for Little People provides a research-based program for introducing children to the early stages of handwriting, providing them with the fundamental skills they need to achieve literacy goals. Developed by an Occupational Therapist, this easy-to-use resource contains an early childhood approach to developing positive letter formation skills. The process commences by targeting letter formation in a ‘big way’ on A3 sheets, then progresses to A4 sized letter formation before mini letters. Each activity provides scripted instructions for the supporting adult. Additional information on pencil grip, posture, positioning of paper etc. Foundation Font, also available in Cursive font here   Includes: Instruction manual (264 pages)   Step 1 has been created for use in the Early Years – Kindergarten (WA, QLD, SA, TAS) and Preschool (ACT, NT, NSW, VIC). Click here to view Step 2 for the Foundation Year – Pre-Primary (WA), Prep. (QLD, VIC, TAS), Reception (SA), Transition (NT). This product is mentioned in the Early Years Teaching Sequence Manual on page 6 & 7. The programs within the range include: Letter Formation for Little People – Step 1 (for the Early Years) Letter Formation for Little People – Step 2 (for Foundation) Letter Formation for Little People – Step 3 (Year 1) Letter Formation for Little People – Cursive Font

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    The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills - 1 to 6 Years Old

    Preparing children for letter formation

    Handwriting is fundamental to literacy. Once children have mastered the essential pre-writing patterns, they are ready to start learning correct letter formation. Getting body posture right, whether in a standing or seated position, is essential prior to commencing any drawing or writing activity. This posture should also be monitored throughout the activity to ensure a child has sufficient core strength to maintain their position for the length of the task. With a stable body young children are more likely to progress to using an efficient pencil grasp, which will allow their hand to produce the movements necessary for good letter formation and handwriting. The most recent research shows that using a ‘cognitive’ approach (saying cue words out loud) incorporated with writing the actual letter, is the most effective way to learn and retain correct letter formation.   In Letter Formation for Little People – Step 1, each letter shape, with corresponding verbal cue words, is presented and learned in the same PLD groupings as the letter sounds. This will reinforce the acquisition of both of these vital skills simultaneously.   This early childhood approach, with both standing and seated activities, presents activities in four sequential levels for each letter. This developmental approach allows for differentiation between children in the classroom, with the scope to cater for a wide range of abilities. It is important that the core skills required for correct letter formation are a strong focus in the early years of schooling, to avoid the development of ‘bad habits’, such as an inefficient pencil grip, letter reversals, or incorrect direction of letters, which may affect academic progress in future years.   Letter formation and subsequently, fluent handwriting, must become an automatic skill so that the child can process their ideas as they write, without having to think about the construction of each letter they produce. Letter Formation for Little People provides a research-based program for introducing children to the early stages of handwriting, providing them with the fundamental skills they need to achieve literacy goals. Developed by an Occupational Therapist, this easy-to-use resource contains an early childhood approach to developing positive letter formation skills. The process commences by targeting letter formation in a ‘big way’ on A3 sheets, then progresses to A4 sized letter formation before mini letters. Each activity provides scripted instructions for the supporting adult. Additional information on pencil grip, posture, positioning of paper etc. Foundation Font, also available in Cursive font here   Includes: Instruction manual (264 pages)   Step 1 has been created for use in the Early Years – Kindergarten (WA, QLD, SA, TAS) and Preschool (ACT, NT, NSW, VIC). Click here to view Step 2 for the Foundation Year – Pre-Primary (WA), Prep. (QLD, VIC, TAS), Reception (SA), Transition (NT). This product is mentioned in the Early Years Teaching Sequence Manual on page 6 & 7. The programs within the range include: Letter Formation for Little People – Step 1 (for the Early Years) Letter Formation for Little People – Step 2 (for Foundation) Letter Formation for Little People – Step 3 (Year 1) Letter Formation for Little People – Cursive Font

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    The range of motor skills that support handwriting.

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    A junior primary approach to instructing letter formation in FOUNDATION FONT.

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