Most toddlers start drawing by using a fist hold to grip their crayon or pencil. As they grow into preschoolers and begin to practice early writing skills, it is important for preschoolers to understand how to hold a pencil correctly. Preschoolers are often reluctant to change the way they hold a pencil since they are perfectly comfortable with the old way.

This simple preschool activity helps preschoolers practice small motor skills and helps them learn how to hold a pencil correctly. Teaching preschoolers early writing skills naturally, through play, makes learning fun and helps preschoolers prepare for more advanced writing skills such as writing letters and numbers.

What You Need

Small Toys – Sorting toys work well for this but any small item that has an easy place to grip with tongs will work fine

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Small Kitchen Tongs – These can be found in most kitchen stores. You want tongs that are small enough for preschoolers to hold comfortably and do not require excessive force to close. These are often called appetizer tongs.

A small container

What To Do

Show preschoolers how to hold the tongs by placing their thumb and index finger on either side of the tongs. Try and encourage them to slide their fingers down nearly to the end of the tongs, just as they would hold a pencil while writing. Preschoolers will often assume this position naturally but if they don’t, simply help them adjust their fingers.

Instruct preschoolers to pick up the toys, one at a time, and place them inside the container provided.

Preschoolers can do this activity on their own, as a preschool writing center activity, or one-on-one with an adult.

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Variation – Provide preschoolers with sorting toys in a variety of colors. Place several colored bowls or pieces of construction paper in matching colors on the table. Instruct preschoolers to use the tongs to pick up each sorting toy and place it in the bowl (or on the paper) that matches.

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