Training Crayons
Assisting grip development throughout various growth stages
When children grow and learn how to hold a writing implement, they usually go through several distinct stages.
12-18 months
The fingers are not ready for a grasp that engages the fingers separately. Mostly use a gross palmar (fisted) grasp and move the crayon by moving the elbow and shoulder.
2-3 years
During this time, the grasp moves to a pronated (upside-down) grasp, still using the elbow and shoulder with a static hand grip.
4-5 years
Transitional grasps start to engage fingers to get a functional grasp that uses the fingers to move the utensil.
Images sourced from The Happy Handwriter blog
Several varieties of specialty crayons are available to help kids develop their grip patterns through these stages.
Egg crayons: held with whole hand instead of fingers – helps with hand strength in a gross palmar grasp
Jumbo crayons: promotes finger isolation in pronated grasp and controlling the crayon with the fingers instead of the arm
Triangle crayons: promote dynamic tripod grasp and using the fingers to make tiny motions instead of the elbow and shoulder
Many teachers and occupational therapists don’t have enough funding to buy classroom supplies and have to pay out of their own pockets.
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Objective: To create a product that teachers only have to buy once and can use with affordable, school-provided crayons to get the benefits of these specialty crayons.
