Comparisons among tools, surface orientation, and pencil grasp for children 23 months of age.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether writing tool type and angle of writing surface affect grasp.

METHOD:
Fifty-one children 23 to 24 months of age who were typically developing drew with a primary marker, colored pencil, and small piece of crayon on a table and an easel. The marker and pencil were presented pointing left, right, and toward the child. The order of writing tool presentation was counterbalanced. Grasps were scored with a 5-point rating system and analyzed with dependent t tests.

RESULTS:
Children used a more mature grasp when drawing with a piece of crayon than with a pencil. No difference in grasp maturity was found when using a pencil compared with a marker. A more mature grasp when drawing on the easel compared with the table was used with the crayon but not with the marker or pencil.

CONCLUSION:
Results imply that a short writing tool combined with a vertical surface can influence the grasp of young children.

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Author information

Author/s: Yakimishyn, Janet E (JE); Magill-Evans, Joyce (J);

Affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. janety@canada.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The American journal of occupational therapy. : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association (Am J Occup Ther), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2002 Sep-Oct; vol 56 (issue 5) : pp 564-72

Dates: Created 2002/09/24; Completed 2003/01/29; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12269511, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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