Master the Art of Printing: How to hold your pencil correctly
Hello friends! Today we're diving into something you might think you already know: printing. But here's the thing – if you're not making your letters a certain way, you could be missing out on clearer handwriting, easier writing, and better preparation for cursive down the road. If you prefer a video: https://youtu.be/3W5qxqOMTdE?si=0-NWMFvbadbUP0OQ
Why Proper Printing Technique Matters
There are three crucial reasons why learning proper printing technique is so important:
Readability is key. When your letters aren't formed correctly – like when your G's are the same size as your A's or T's – it becomes really hard for people to read your beautiful writing. Some letters are supposed to go up, some go down, and some stay in the middle. Getting these proportions right makes all the difference.
Energy conservation matters. If you're not holding your pencil in a proper tripod grip, writing becomes unnecessarily tiring. You end up using way more energy than you need to get your stories down on paper.
Future learning depends on it. When you don't form letters correctly from top to bottom, you'll struggle later if you want to learn cursive writing. You'll end your letters at the top instead of the bottom, making it impossible to link letters together – which is what cursive is all about.
The Tripod Grip: Your Foundation for Better Writing
The tripod grip gets its name from "tri," meaning three. Here's how to check if you're doing it right: pick up your pencil and see if exactly three fingers are touching it. More than three? That's using unnecessary energy.
Here's a simple trick to achieve the perfect tripod grip without overthinking it:
Place your pencil in front of you with the tip facing toward you
Make a pincer with your thumb and forefinger
Pinch the pencil and flip it up
Your third finger will naturally fall into place
You should see three fingers: one, two, three. If you're having trouble, try leaning your hand over more so it becomes like a hook, then pick up the pencil.
This technique is a game-changer. When I first learned to print, I used four fingers, which gave me more stability but required so much more energy than the efficient three-finger approach.
The Three Types of Letters: Simplifying the Alphabet
Here's something that will blow your mind: you don't actually need to learn 26 separate letters. There are only three types of letters, and once you understand this system, the whole alphabet becomes much easier.
Type 1: Letters that stay in the middle line. These letters live in just one space between two lines. Think of the letter A – it stays right in that middle space.
Type 2: Letters that go up. These letters start in the middle but stretch up to the top line, taking up two spaces total. Examples include F, H, L, and D. Notice how D looks just like A, but extends upward.
Type 3: Letters that go down. These letters start in the middle but extend down below the bottom line, also taking up two spaces. Think J, Y, and G.
Here's the beautiful part: G looks like an A with a tail going down. D looks like an A that's gotten taller. Once you master A, you're well on your way to mastering multiple letters with just small variations.
The Path Forward
Learning proper printing technique isn't about perfection – it's about setting yourself up for success. When you understand letter proportions, use an efficient grip, and form letters correctly, writing becomes easier, clearer, and more enjoyable.
Remember, you're not learning 26 separate letters. You're learning a few foundational shapes with variations. Master those basics, and the rest will follow naturally.
So grab your pencil, try that tripod grip, and start seeing letters in their three categories. Your future self – and anyone reading your writing – will thank you for it.
