Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists October 2016 | Page 18

10 IDEAS TO INCREASE PENCIL PRESSURE

Here are 10 ideas to increase pressure when writing:
1. Try using markers or gel pens to make marks instead of pencils.
2. Use a weighted pencil or hand/wrist weights to increase input to the hand. Check
out Therapy Fun Zone for a DIY Weighted Pencil.
3. Write on carbon paper – the child has to press hard to make the marks go through
the paper.
4. Poke holes through paper to provide an example of applying pressure – check out
these free Picture Poke cards.
5. Put paper over bumpy material such as rough sandpaper or plastic needlepoint
canvas. Write on the paper and you will have some tactile feedback.
6. Color using shading to demonstrate that different shades require a different
amount of pressure. Try this free Shade Wisely activity or Missing Monster freebie.
7. Use a dull pencil, golf tee or wooden dowel to write in clay.
8. Warm up by squeezing a stress ball or upper extremity weight bearing activities
such as wheelbarrow walking, Proprioceptive, animal walks or wall push ups.
9. Strengthen the fingers and grip with clothespin activities. Try the free Ninja
Clothes Pin activity. Play some visual. Make clothes pin silly faces.
10. Strengthen the fingers with hole punch activities. Try punching out the matching
shapes or these shape people punches. If a traditional hole punch is too difficult, try
this type of hole punch.

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