Fantastic Finds: Crayon Rocks

Today I want to share a product find with you that I think is pretty fantastic.  My mother-in-law, Tracie, recently brought me a pack of Crayon Rocks thinking I might be able to use them with my students.  I tried the product, and I was sold.

Crayon Rocks were created by a special needs teacher, Barbara Lee, after being inspired by occupational therapist Jan Olsen and her Handwriting Without Tears program.  What makes these crayons great is their shape, which doesn’t allow children to easily grip them with a closed fist while coloring.  The shape of the crayons encourages children to use their thumb, first and second fingers in a tripod grip which helps strengthen fine motor development.

Are there any other cool features?  Oh yes!  No more broken crayons!  And unlike most crayons, these are made out of U.S.-grown and processed Kosher soy wax and natural mineral pigments.  So although they’re non-toxic (and the website says you could even eat them, not that you’d want to), you still MUST supervise a little one, as they take the shape and size of a choking hazard.  They’re recommended for children 3+, so of course I let my one-year old daughter draw with them (watching her like a hawk, of course).  She absolutely loved creating her work of art, and I enjoyed watching her practice her little tripod grip when picking them up.

I’m excited to use these in the classroom with my students who need to strengthen their fine motor skills.  Crayon Rock's website notes that children with cerebral palsy, autism, developmental delays and various forms of learning disabilities have used and loved them.  We’re going to be Rockin’ it with these crayons in my room this year!  Pun intended.

If you're a lover of crayons and fine motor skills, which should be pretty much all of us, click here to visit their site.