As with all pens, grip moulds provide a secure hold when guiding the pencil and thus ensure relaxed drawing without cramping, even during long periods of use. If pencils are slippery, a feeling of loss of control quickly arises during use, which leads to a subconsciously firmer grip, which in turn leads to faster muscle fatigue. In addition, the grip moulds on our three-sided pencils mark the points on each side where the fingers should be placed in a three-point grip: Three fingers - three sides - three moulds.
This question depends on the thickness of the pencil and the break resistance of the lead. Particularly thick, round pencils are also suitable for holding in the fist grip at an early stage. In the course of development, the pencils can then become thinner, initially triangular and finally hexagonal. The right time for the transition is less a question of the child's age in years than of motor skills (which are usually related to age).
As pencils with grip moulds, the STABILO EASYcolors are suitable especially for left-handers and right-handers only from the time when the child's handedness is clearly pronounced. This usually happens between the ages of 3 and 4.
Various methods can be used to identify the child's dominant hand. Socially learned behavior, such as holding cutlery, is unsuitable. Spontaneous, subconsciously controlled motor impulses, such as picking up spilled matches, are favorable. Here, the dominant hand is usually used intuitively.