Paint With Water

Help your young writers practice their tripod pencil grip in a fun way…with water painting!

Water Painting is Great for All Ages and Couldn’t be Easier

All you need is some water, a small paintbrush, a sidewalk/porch/deck or big rock and a sunny day.  Unless you tell them, your kids won’t even know they are doing schoolwork!

Three to five year-olds who may not be writing letters and words can get into the fun of drawing hearts, happy faces, trees… pretty much whatever they want because remember you’re using numbers, letters, words and pictures for them to introduce or reinforce the grip they are practicing. 

If they are wanting to learn how to write their name (or even the first letter in their name) or numbers this is a great way to start.

Why is the Tripod Pencil Grip Important?

In theory, the classic pencil grip allows a person to have better manipulation of the pen or pencil (or in this case paintbrush) for longer periods of time with less muscle fatigue. But of course, not every person’s physiology is exactly the same so what is comfortable for some people may pose a problem for others. Developmental maturity is also a factor.

Because this is a “fine motor skill” little boys may not catch on to it as quickly as girls. This is because girls’ fine motor skills develop before gross motor skills. With boys, the reverse is often true. Toddlers will grasp a pencil like they are trying to choke the life out of it because that is where their muscles are developmentally.

I know quite a few people who learned D’Nealian writing and hold their pencils between the middle and index fingers. I rest the pencil on my ring finger. There are several acceptable grips according to Occupational Therapists, but currently, the classic tripod grasp with open web space is what is being taught and emphasized in schools.

Ideas for Water Painting

Elementary kiddos who are writing words can write words called out by Mom or Dad (or an older sibling) and time how long it takes for the sun to “erase” the word.  They could take turns writing words and painting pictures.

Mom, Dad or older siblings can write out simple words for beginning readers to sound out before they evaporate. Maybe try throwing in some easy math word problems.   There are lots of ways to combine a little extra learning into the fun combination of playing with water on a sunny day!

Bigger kids who are learning and practicing cursive can try to write a whole sentence before the sun erases it.  Play a version of Mother May I by painting long and short coils, upper and lower loops for letters like G and F, small and large circles, and connecting letters called out by Mom or Dad.

Even artistic efforts, like drawing the dog or the cat or a pot of flowers are great. Or how about a rousing race against the sun game of tic-tac-toe?

Watch how your child holds the paintbrush. Do they experiment with different grips? Does something other than the classic pencil grip seem to work better for them? The real object is to have fun while practicing the pencil grip that works best for them without stressing over it. It’s a sunny day, go have some fun!

Even More Ideas for Summer Fun

• Just a Little Backyard Rainbow Hunt

• Backyard Painting with Nature

• DIY Garden Stepping Stones and Decorations