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The Stetro Grip is nice because it is the best at promoting an open webspace and a dynamic tripod grasp. However, if the child has short or fluctuating attention, and isn’t careful about finger placement each time, it is easy to rotate this grip and end up using it incorrectly, making things worse with the grasp. If your child looks carefully for where to place his/her fingers, this is a fantastic grip.
Raising a Sensory Smart Child is another great book. It was written by a mom and an OT together. It provides information in a different structure than Carol Kranowitz’s books. It is another great resource for parents and professionals.
This book is more technical but provides a more in-depth look at sensory processing. It was written by the founder of Sensory Integration theory, Dr. Jean Ayres. A more thorough book for those who want a more comprehensive and complex look at sensory integration.
Once you have The Out of Sync Child and like it, her sequel is The Out of Sync Child Has Fun. It provides many activities to help provide the sensory input the child is craving.
This is my favorite book for understanding how various sensory differences can manifest. There are chapters for the different sensory systems and lots of examples. Very parent-friendly.
The Start Right grip is nice because it is very easy to orient. It helps promote the “pinch” between thumb and forefinger, but is not as good for those kids using their middle fingers as well as the index to stabilize the pencil. (If you want to facilitate the middle finger to be underneath the pencil, see the Grotto grip above). This one not currently available on Amazon.com
http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=25875
The Grotto pencil grip is my personal favorite grip. It is especially useful for helping children “pinch” the pencil between their thumb and index finger (rather than wrap their thumb around the top of the pencil). It also has a notch underneath to support the middle finger, especially helpful for children who tend to stabilize the pencil with both index and middle fingers.
This cushion is similar to the wedge in the previous post but it is flat so it can also be used on the ground (for “circle time”, for example). You can also place it on a chair. This item is a bit more versatile than the wedge but the wedge also helps promote better posture.
This wedge can provide the extra “wiggle” a child may need to be better equipped to focus in class. It has a bumpy side and a smooth side. The amount of air inside can change how much movement it provides. This cushion is a great solution for children who are tipping over in their chairs or who have trouble remaining seated.
Wikki Stix are a great way to work on visual-motor control. I prefer to use them to outline the area the child is going to color. That way, there is a tactile border on the paper and they get a stronger reinforcement every time they bump into it with their crayon/marker. Once children are working on handwriting, you can place a Wikki Stick on the line and it can serve as a tactile boundary for them to make their letter(s) “sit” on the line.