Is your young child struggling to hold a pencil or a pen? A new study from England indicates the use of technology by young children may be affecting students’ hand strength. This leads to difficulty holding pens and pencils, according to Sally Payne of the Heart of England foundation NHS Trust. So what can you do to counteract that? Activities such as cutting, playing with building blocks and pulling ropes can help young children develop proper writing grip and strong control of the fine muscles in their fingers.