Trying to alter an unconventional pencil grip is a long process: first the shoulder, arm and wrist muscles need attention - using an easel or vertical mark making can help here. Then you need to practise isolated finger extensions (pointing) and then develop and build the fine motor muscles to be able to hold and sustain a conventional tripod grip - activities using the three fingers as a pincer work well. Another big step is breaking the automatic behaviour of the favoured grip once this has become entrenched (as with this learner). The last pictures here show how our young learner has progressed from a tight fist grip (pic 1) to using the tripod fingers on a shorter chunkier crayon for colouring to create his beautifully coloured in angel. This is just one of the many skills we help our youngest learners build in prep for starting school. Keep a look out for our Little Learner sessions starting in Spring 2. These will be open to all children starting school in Sept 25 wanting to get the very best foundations to learn from! Register your interest here: https://newwayslearningcentre.com/contact.php