IDENTIFICATION OF PENCIL-USING SKILLS OF CHILDREN AGED 36-66 MONTHS

The aim of the current study is to identify pencil-using skills of the children aged 36-66 months. The sample of the study was consisted of 600 children who were attended preschool institutions. As data collection tools; “Observation form for pencil-using skills”, “goniometer” to identify positions of paper, sitting, shoulder, elbow, arm and wrist and “hand dynamometer” and “finger dynamometer” to measure hand-grip strength and compressive strength of fingers were used. Pencil-using skills were assessed under the titles of hand-preference, positions of paper, sitting, shoulder, elbow, arm and wrist, pencil-using skills and pencil-grip point, the number of the pencil-gripping fingers, position of thumb and flexion angle of index finger. According to the research findings; hand-preference, positions of paper, sitting, shoulder, elbow, arm and wrist, pencil-using skills and pencil-grip point, the number of the pencil-gripping fingers did not differ significantly in terms of gender whereas position of thumb and flexion angle of index finger was significantly different on behalf of girls. Positions of paper, sitting, shoulder, elbow, arm and wrist, pencil-using skills and pencil-grip point, position of thumb and flexion angle of index finger did not differ significantly in terms of age whereas the number of the pencil-gripping fingers was significantly different on behalf of children aged 49-60 months. Hand-grip strength and compressive strength of fingers of the children differed significantly on behalf of boys in terms of gender and those aged 61-66 months in terms of age.