Interestingly, research has found that nearly 50% of three-year-olds are already able to use a tripod grasp, and grasp maturity at this age tends to be higher for girls than for boys. However, as kids become more comfortable and confident in this position, they are then usually able to transition to resting their forearm on the table as they color or draw.

When the Static Tripod is first developing, you may see the wrist flexed (bent forward) and вЂњfloatingвЂќ above the writing surface, whether the child is working on paper flat on a table or coloring on a vertical chalkboard (as pictured above). This grasp is typically present around the same age that kids are becoming вЂњpre-writersвЂќ and learning to make shapes such as a cross and square. Movements during coloring and drawing are initiated from the larger joints of the arm such as the shoulder and elbow, while the fingers remain вЂњstaticвЂќ and the hand moves as one unit. This means there are a total of three fingers controlling the tool (вЂњtriвЂќ = вЂњthreeвЂќ). The child can now hold the crayon or marker with the thumb and index finger while resting it on the knuckle of the middle finger. Coloring and early drawing movements still come from the larger muscle groups and typically involve large strokes, however, there may be a higher level of control over the tool compared to the Palmar Supinate grasp. This is considered a вЂњtransitionalвЂќ grasp and is typically present when little ones are learning to make lines and circles. The child transitions to holding the crayon or marker with the whole hand while the pointer finger (вЂњdigitвЂќ) points to the tip and the forearm rotates to point down toward the paper (вЂњpronatedвЂќ). Scribbling movements are typically initiated byВ the shoulder and elbow, which involve larger muscle groups and a relatively low level of precision. This is considered a вЂњprimitiveвЂќ grasp and typically accompanies the вЂњscribblingвЂќ stage. The crayon or marker is held in the palm (вЂњpalmarвЂќ) with the thumb on top in a slight forearm-up (вЂњsupinatedвЂќ) position. So I wanted to take a minute to give you a rundown of what is expected in the typical developmental progression of pencil grasp, from ages one to five years. I have seen not-so-accurate information on the big bad Internet concerning what types of grasps are expected at different ages when it comes to using writing tools. To be honest, I am always impressed and even a little surprised when parents askВ about whether their childвЂ™s pencil grasp is age appropriate, since itвЂ™s not as вЂњexcitingвЂќ and obvious a developmental milestone as, say, crawling, walking, or jumping. I get many questions from parents of kiddos I work with about what type of grasp their child should be using for their age, as well as questions from concerned friends who are wondering if their childвЂ™s grasp is too much like a вЂњcavemanвЂќ or if itвЂ™s actually okay for their age. Pencil grasp has the potential to positively or negatively influence a childвЂ™s ability to easily participate in school. Should you be concerned about how SophiaВ is holding the crayon?ДЄs a pediatric occupational therapist, part of my job is to monitor and intervene with kidsвЂ™ grasps on writing tools. She grabs a blue crayon, holds it with her whole hand as her pointer finger points toward the tip and her forearm turns down toward the paper, and begins to transform Princess ElsaвЂ™s dress into a scribbled blue. You sit down with 3-year-old Sophia to spend some time coloring in herВ favorite princess coloring book.

Age progression chart