expensive handwriting pens for kids - are they worth it?

Sparkkee

my kids have terrible handwriting (i suspect they inherited it from their father!) and i've been looking at the new stabilo pens that are supposed to make writing easier.

but they are 5.50 each! :eek:

has anyone tried these or similar pens, and are they worth the money?

sooz

I guess it depends on how old the kids are. I know mine could not be trusted not to lose and/or break a £5 pen (probably in less than 5 mins)

Is it one of the moulded & shaped pens?

You can buy pen grippers that go over any pen or pencil to help primary school children get the correct grip.

Otherwise, I'd say lots of practice was more important than the type of pen. However, if a nice pen were to be used as bribery for practice....;)

pink_princess

Not in my childrens cases they lose 3 a week lol

Sparkkee

they're the brightly coloured swoopy shaped ones that are being advertised on tv - you can see them here http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Stabilo_S_Move_Easy.html
ds complains that his hand hurts if he's forced to write more than 2 words at a time and his sister has joined in with the complaining...

maybe i'll invest in one pen and get them both to trial it before school goes back to see how they get on.

misscutiepie1984

They have them on sale in argos for £3.00 at the moment

gairlochgal

They've been around for a while haven't they. I bought them for my 2 a while back and noticed no difference at all. They didn't find them any different to hold or use and they were soon chucked into the pot with all the cheap ones.

Gingernutmeg

I bought one and actually found it really hard to use - they're an odd shape and I couldn't get the balance right at all (maybe I've just got weird hands lol). In most of the schools I've worked in, the children were encouraged to use the Berol handwriting pens at first. Maybe you could try one of those, perhaps with one of those rubbery grip things? They can help if you have a habit of gripping too hard.

elisebutt65

I get Yuropens for my kids - Mainly cos DS2 is left handed and they are excellent for that but DS1 finds they are really comfy as well so I get them for both now.

across

£3 at tesco at moment!

Pink_Eyes

I had one of these and TBH, they don't make that much difference.

jamgirl

i would say no.

my son has dyspraxia and is double jointed so i bought a yuropen for him.
as soon as occupational health came to school to assess him they told us not to use it. said it wouldn't do him any favours and that the berol pens that most schools use anyway were better.

he did however follow the teodorescu (google it) which did have an effect.

his writing still isn't great but its better