OT recommendation for kindergartener struggling with pencil grip?
My daughter's teacher has recommended private OT to help with a very specific issue - her pencil grip. She has no developmental or medical issues or learning disabilities, and doesn't qualify for school OT services. But for whatever reason, she's had a hard time getting comfortable holding her pencil using her fingers instead of her fist, which is getting in the way of developing her writing skills. Her general fine motor skills are great. Looking for someone in Berkeley/Oakland or nearby. Thanks in advance!
Feb 25, 2022
Parent Replies
We had a great experience with Anne Swart (https://www.hoothootot.com) for a very similar issue. A few sessions made a big difference.
Please do NOT accept the teacher's statement that your child does not qualify for school OT services!! This issue is affecting your child's learning every school day. You can request an IEP for this exact issue and do not take NO for an answer. Schools can be made to provide OT for fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and for emotional regulation. Check out DREDF to learn about the IEP process. I do not recommend the 504 route because there is no means of enforcing services. If you get this taken care of right away, it is going to make your daughter's school experience so much less stressful.
Have you tried contacting the school's special education coordinator and ask for them to work with your daughter? Seriously, if you have a good supportive school, they could help. My friend's daughter's school got a special aid to help when she was sick earlier in the year to help her catch up for lost learning. Also, sometimes pencil grip can be helped through working the hand muscles, you could get medical putty, silly putty, or playdoh to help work those muscles.
We love Lee Anne Bloom: http://www.lee-anne.com/oakbloom in the Oakland Hills. She's lovely and has been great working with our son, who has sensory issues. I would also suggested asking your school for an evaluation so you can get services through the school (for free). We have found it very helpful to have both. Understood.org has really helpful information about getting your child special education services: https://www.understood.org/articles/en/understanding-the-iep-process
Good luck!
Just wanted to reply based on another posters reply, OT is not a stand alone service for an IEP so the teacher may be thinking of that as why your child would not be appropriate for a referral if it is only grip. If no other concerns then I agree with the teacher she doesn't qualify for school OT. Sometimes I have seen my school-based kiddos as little as 15 minutes a week so the bulk of what I do as an OT is educating families for activities outside of school. I would avoid grips and be sure they are doing the same at school, no one should be giving your child that without knowing what is going on. Sometimes it isn't the grip at all but the shoulder stability and strength or posture and we start there.
Outpatient OT could be really helpful in that you could ask for home exercises and activities and participate in the sessions. There are some great OTs online who provide amazing information too, Miss Jamie is one I would start with. Some quick activities and suggestions to get going: ditch any "big" crayons/pencils etc and get smaller sized like a golf pencil, use rock crayons, put paper on a vertical surface such as taping to the wall or an easel. Do animal walks around the house: crab, bear, wheelbarrows to work on shoulder stability. Have your child "pinch" beads out of play-doh, also some great games like Sneaky Snacky Squirrel game promote grasp while having fun. You can also put your child on their tummy with a clipboard while doing work. Cannot stress enough to look at the set-up and what kinds of tools the teacher has her using, do her feet touch the floor, does she have a better grasp when not at a desk.
I hope these ideas help until you can get into outpatient OT. :)