With each school year, comes a new school supply list. For some parents this can be exciting… one step closer to getting back into the swing of things! 

For others, the school supply list can feel ambiguous and overwhelming due to the lack of specificity and the abundance of options. 

Don’t worry, I’m here to take the stress away as we dive deep into pencils. Did you know there may be a pencil “type” that is actually better for your child? Let’s get into it!

Option 1: #2 Sharpened Pencils

These are the classic, gold standard pencils. They’re great for ages 5-100! And if your child struggles with grasping a pencil, almost any pencil grip fits on the good ‘ol #2. 

If your school supply list doesn’t specify which type of pencil, it’s best to grab these for your elementary-aged student. 

Option 2: Mechanical Pencils 

There’s typically an age where the #2’s are no longer “cool.” This is where mechanical pencils come into play. 

They’re a great option if your child is in charge of their school supplies, whether that be in their desk or a pencil case. When your child is in a class that still shares all school supplies, it is best to stick with the #2s. 

Here’s when I recommend mechanical pencils: 

• A student who writes with too firm of pressure: the mechanical pencil gives them automatic feedback when they are pushing too hard through their pencil (by breaking!). A student who exerts too much pressure while writing may be at risk for hand fatigue, hand soreness, or slow writing speed. This can impact their ability to keep up with their class or write an appropriate-length essay. 
• For a student who has an efficient pencil grasp and does not need a pencil grip. The typical "gold standard" pencil grasp is what we call the tripod grasp. But other grasps like the quadruped grasp can also be considered efficient. 

Option 3: Small Golf Pencils

Now this isn’t something you’re going to find listed on your child’s school supply list.

I typically recommend these pencils for preschool students and Kindergarten students.

Due to the small size of the pencil, it promotes a more efficient and mature pencil grasp. The small pencil size is also easier for their little hands to manipulate. 

If your child’s class does not allow any other pencils besides #2s BUT you have a 4-5-year-old child that really struggles to hold their pencil, buy these to use at home! 

They work wonders for our early writers. 

Option 4: My First Pencil

These bulky and oversized pencils are sometimes seen on a school supply list for Kindergarten students. Honestly, they are not my favorite, especially for a student who is already struggling with their pencil grasp. 

Here are better options that I recommend… 

1. My First Pencil, Tri-Write Version
2. My First Pencil, Small Tri-Write Version 
3. Good ‘ol #2 with a claw gripper pencil grasp

I hope you enjoyed my back-to-school pencil breakdown! If you find that your child is struggling to hold their pencil or becomes easily frustrated during writing/coloring tasks, I would love to help! 

Let’s jump on a free 15-minute call, where I can offer suggestions to help your child succeed in this area! 

Emily Schreiber OTD OTR/L