April is Occupational Therapy Month—a time to recognize the life-changing benefits of occupational therapy and the professionals who support students and families every day. Occupational therapists (OTs) play a crucial role in helping children develop fine and gross motor skills, sensory integration, handwriting, and independence through engaging and effective interventions.
At TPG Creations, we’re proud to support OTs with tools that make handwriting and fine motor skill development easier and more accessible. One of the top-requested occupational therapy tools and resources in classrooms and therapy sessions is the pencil grip—and we offer a wide variety to support different hand needs and learning stages.
✏️ The Pencil Grip Guide: Choose the Right Grip for Every Student
Here’s a breakdown of our most popular writing aids for students, who they’re best for, and how they support fine motor skill development.
⭐ The Pencil Grip Original
Who it helps: Beginners, students with weak grip, lefties and righties
Why it's great: This patented ergonomic design gently places fingers in the proper tripod grasp. It’s a go-to solution for those learning how to improve handwriting skills and gain writing control without fatigue.
✅ Supports handwriting practice strategies for OT
🧡 The Crossover Grip
Who it helps: Students who need extra support to stop thumb wrapping
Why it’s great: Built with "wings" to keep fingers in the correct position, it provides more structure than the Original Grip. Ideal for kids who need occupational therapy activities for kids that reinforce consistent finger placement.
✅ Perfect for cursive letters, handwriting, and posture control
💚 The Pinch Grip
Who it helps: Transitional users learning how to grip independently
Why it’s great: A blend of structure and freedom. It promotes proper positioning while allowing for some natural movement.
✅ Encourages fine motor skill development in older students
💜 The Pencil Grip Neon and Metallic Collections
Who it helps: All ages looking for motivation and fun
Why it’s great: Bright, tactile options that inspire kids to write! A fun addition to sensory-friendly classroom tools and an exciting reward for OT sessions.
✅ Great for handwriting practice sheets and visual engagement
💙 The Bumpy Grip
Who it helps: Sensory seekers
Why it’s great: Textured surface provides tactile stimulation, helping with sensory integration therapy ideas. It’s one of our favorite sensory-friendly therapy tools for fidgety fingers.
✅ Useful in OT programs focused on sensory feedback
🖐 The Writing CLAW
Who it helps: Kids who need maximum support or have special needs
Why it’s great: This unique grip positions fingers without any guesswork. Ideal for children in early occupational therapy programs, especially those with dyspraxia or fine motor delays.
✅ Top-rated adaptive tool for handwriting control and independence
💫 The Jumbo Grip
Who it helps: Older kids or those with grip strength challenges
Why it’s great: Larger design helps reduce muscle strain. Ideal for longer writing sessions or children with hand fatigue.
✅ Supports long-term handwriting endurance
🌈 The 3-Step Training Kit
Who it helps: Beginners working on progressive improvement
Why it’s great: A full progression—Start with Crossover, transition to Pinch Grip, then graduate to Original.
✅ An essential tool in handwriting-focused OT programs
At TPG Creations, we know that small tools can make a big difference. Our best OT tools for kids are designed with real input from occupational therapists and educators. Whether you’re stocking up on occupational therapy toys for preschoolers or introducing handwriting practice sheets into your lessons, our grips are here to help every child succeed.
Looking to support fine motor development in your classroom or home? Try pairing our grips with activities like:
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Tracing cursive letters and shapes
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Practicing letter formation on dry-erase boards
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Using gross motor skills in outdoor chalk writing
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Pairing pencil grips with sensory-friendly therapy tools like textured surfaces and resistance bands