Some Kids are Having Problems Holding a Pencil Properly
The culprit? iPads and lack of muscle memory due to using too much technology according to a Heart of England Foundation NHS Trust study.
Kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and never properly developing the right muscle memory to grip a pencil. The excessive use of phones and tablets are hurting their dexterity and basic motor skills such as drawing, coloring, and cutting with scissors. Some children will hold their pencils like how a caveman would hold a stick.
Some parents are finding it easier to give their children an iPad instead of toys like blocks, ropes, and other tactile items. Not surprising, some children are spending less time outside and more time indoors. The lack of motor skills problem doesn't usually present itself until the child starts school.
Having poor handwriting can sometimes affect a person's academic performance in school. Luckily, it's not too late to train your child once the problem has been identified early on.