Dyslexia Resources Reviewed: Cross-Guard Ultra Pen/Pencil Grip

Cross-Guard Ultra Pen/Pencil Grip

What is it? A squishy grip that helps to develop an efficient pen hold.

Cost: ~£2 each (but normally sold in packs of three)

Ideal for: most junior school children, teenagers and adults

Fun factor:
(Not very fun at all, but you could draw or stick eyes on it, if you’re desperate!)

Educational value:

Longevity:
(Best used as a short-term measure, but they can be helpful long-term, for longer pieces of writing)

Why it’s good for dyslexics:

Dyslexics have to work harder than others when writing, so easy handwriting is one less thing to worry about.

Many dyslexics may also have co-occurring difficulties with finger strength or fine motor skills, so tend to hold the pen in an awkward way.

Pen grips help to retrain the fingers into the optimum position for fluent, pain-free writing.

Good points:

• Cheap
• Comfortable (for most children)
• Works for right- and left-handers
• Nice range of colours (including metallics)

Bad points:

• Doesn’t work for everyone
• A few people don’t like the texture, so might prefer an ergonomically-designed Grotto Grip
• Not a magic bullet –your child might need more specialist help from an occupational therapist

In a nutshell:

If your child struggles with handwriting and you don’t know where to start, this is normally a wise place. However, handwriting is a complex task, so don’t expect a complete end to writing woes.