—12 minArtDevelopmental playFamily time
Tip-Top Pencil Detective
A short draw-and-colour challenge that notices your child’s natural pencil hold, then nudges a near-the-tip grip for steadier lines, circles, and small colouring tasks in brief bursts.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a short pencil (or a broken crayon/chalk stub)
- paper
- one small target to draw/colour (a sticker, coin to draw around, or a simple shape you draw)
Nice to have
- a clipboard or book (firm surface)
- two pencils (so you can model alongside)
- chalk for an outdoor version
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneUses finger-thumb pencil graspBody· 2.8y–4y· core
- MilestoneControls tools effectivelyBody· 3.3y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneProduces controlled varied strokesBody· 2y–3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneCopies a circleBody· 2.2y–4.2y· stretch
- MilestoneUses mark-making toolsBody· 22mo–2.8y· core· Steps 1, 3
- MilestoneAdjusts to stated expectationsHeart· 2.5y–3.7y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneStays focused during activityMind· 2.5y–3y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneUnderstands that they can use lines to enclose a space, and then begin to use these shapes to represent objects.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneWrites name-related lettersMind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneShows object-function knowledgeMind· 2.7y–5y· core· Step 1
What it practices
- Holds pencil near point between first two fingers and thumb and uses it with good control.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Holds pencil between thumb and two fingers, no longer using whole-hand grasp.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Can copy some letters, e.g. letters from their name.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE) — construct-derived activity authored from enriched DM2012 construct