What would you recommend as a good starter pen for a 4 year old?

[ZeissIkon]

I'm not a parent, but I've been around kids -- and despite four intervening decades, I remember being one. They know more, and are capable of more, than we sometimes give them credit for. I well remember I more or less taught myself to read at age four, in a time when most kids still didn't even know their letters when starting school at six (things are a little different now, true enough).

 

Same here - I was driven crazy at primary school once by a supply teacher who refused to believe I had already read a book that she'd set, despite being able to answer questions on it and so on. I can't remember when I started using a fountain pen, though. Under 10, I think, but not sure...

 

I remember very well when I got my first fountain pen, because I had to buy it myself (lawn mowing money): it was a Shaeffer cartridge "school pen", cost $1 (this was 1970), and I was starting fifth grade. I was able to keep ink in it, at least -- a pack of five cartridges, in those days, cost (as I recall) 49 cents. I wanted one because my grandmother used one to write letters, and I'd have had one at least a year earlier if I'd had a source for the dollar, but I wasn't paid for mowing the lawn until I was nine...

[JFT]

Pelikano Junior. They are very rugged and write quite well. I bought one for each of my sons. The youngest one was 4 years old and the eldest one was 6 years old when I got them. Almost one year later both still write very well.

 

Start them young, when they're still impressionable. It's always good to introduce good habits while they're still young - it'll stick to them for life!

 

A 4 year old is not able to write with a fountain pen. That is why it's better to start with fountain pens later (at the age of 7 or 8). This has to do with the development of the coordination between eyes and hand, the development of spatial orientation and also with the development of reading skills. A 4 year old child isn't able to control his/hers movements enough for using a fountain pen. That is why it's better to start with wooden pencils. It doesn't make sense to let them use fountain pens before the age of 7 because they can't use them properly. It will only discourage them using fountain pens in later life.

 

See my response I can't tell you that my 4 years old write but he likes to draw a lot with it and he as no issue using the nib. Pelikano Junior have a very large spot and are very forgiving. My sons both felt great to receive these. They kept seeing me writing with fountain pen and they often commented how beautiful they were. You should have seen the brightness in their eyes when they received their Pelikano They use it proudly and show them when we get visit

 

One other thing, the Pelikan Junior helped a lot to motivate my eldest to practice his writing as he learned to read and write this year in school!

Edited April 21, 2009 by JFT

[Gehaha]

I also believe kids should be kids, and let's let them be kids.

 

The work of children is to play. They learn through observation. But I don't believe that just because they show an interest in something, that adults should automatically give them what they want.

 

Your words are balm to my soul

 

But in a world, where the 60 year old want to stay forever young....

 

the life ages get mixed up in the western world in a crazy way.

 

Children have to be speedy in growing up, adults want to stay young and childlike.

 

A protected childhood was a privilege for the wealthy 150 years ago.

 

Why do we have no sense for our luxuary today? If we would give an adequate childhood to children,

 

they would miss nothing beeing adults/parents with resposibility.

 

But this leads too far - it's a thread about an innocent baby FP...

 

Best,

Anna

[Silvermink]

Dear Mr.T

Don't knock your head to the wall :bonk: - leave it to the parents.

Sigh.

It's modern nowadays to overchallenge the kids mentally.

Playing, drawing, singing and dancing are supposed to be too childish for the sake

of future achievers...

They should learn foreign languages, programming PC's, reading and writing in kindergarden...

Why not a fountain pen? Or in USA a little Winchester for trial? (BLACK HUMOR - NO OFFENSE MENT!)

 

I think that's maybe a little dramatic in this case. No one's suggesting shoving pens into the hands of young children, chaining them to their desks, and forcing them to slave away at cursive italic - the OP was just asking what would be the right pen for a kid who's shown interest in them of her own accord, which I think is pretty harmless.

 

I'm sure there's the potential for heated discussion on this topic, though - raising children can be such a hotly-debated issue, for obvious reasons - so I'll leave my contribution at that.

Edited April 22, 2009 by Silvermink

[Gehaha]

I think that's maybe a little dramatic in this case. No one's suggesting shoving pens into the hands of young children, chaining them to their desks, and forcing them to slave away at cursive italic - the OP was just asking what would be the right pen for a kid who's shown interest in them of her own accord, which I think is pretty harmless.

 

I'm sure there's the potential for heated discussion on this topic, though - raising children can be such a hotly-debated issue, for obvious reasons - so I'll leave my contribution at that.

 

Dear friend,

 

love, peace and understanding -

 

I would never start a heated discussion or hot debate.

Especially if I had the impression, that one tried so hard to miss my point.

 

love, peace and understanding -

 

Anna

[HedgeMage]

What would you recommend as a good starter pen for a 4 year old?

 

My daughter's good at drawing, and uses her pencils / tools with care. She's used my fountain pens a few times, under supervision. Now she wants one of her own - I'm wary of getting her something too nice [it will probably be abused or will be lost at some point], but it should be a good writer.

 

The Lamy ABC comes to mind. http://www.lamyusa.com/abcfntred.html

 

 

Any other contenders out there?

 

My son got his Pelikano Junior just before his fifth birthday -- he loves it, and I couldn't be happier with how well it works for him. He's six now and he still uses it.

 

--Susan

[Ondina]

Quoting my 4 year old word's from this last week when she was given a new Pelikano Junior filled with PR Hot Bubble Gum: (ecstatic face) "This pen is wayyyyyyyy cool". She loves it.

[FrankB]

I think the Lamy school pen or Pelikano Junior are both great FP's for youngsters to play with. I have found both to be durable and nice writers.

[JetPens]

Thank you Hemmantjha for an interesting discussion. As someone who is around pens all day long, I always lean towards pens as gifts to the children in my family as well. However, over time I found that the best gift I could give the children around me were safe watercolor brushes. The pens that I gave my nephew (though nice) in the end were indistinguishable to him compared to a regular colorful pen, and were easily damaged by his unforgiving 4 year old hands. However he loved the Aquash mini watercolor set I purchased for him and his friends. Other parents loved them as well and gave them to their children. The children can use it to color all their coloring books and parents love them because they wash off furniture. I find it's a good mix of allowing children to have fun yet giving them a chance to develop their creative side as well.

 

Hope that helps!

 

 

[chkuo]

Thank you Hemmantjha for an interesting discussion. As someone who is around pens all day long, I always lean towards pens as gifts to the children in my family as well. However, over time I found that the best gift I could give the children around me were safe watercolor brushes. The pens that I gave my nephew (though nice) in the end were indistinguishable to him compared to a regular colorful pen, and were easily damaged by his unforgiving 4 year old hands. However he loved the Aquash mini watercolor set I purchased for him and his friends. Other parents loved them as well and gave them to their children. The children can use it to color all their coloring books and parents love them because they wash off furniture. I find it's a good mix of allowing children to have fun yet giving them a chance to develop their creative side as well.

 

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the suggestion, now I have some good ideas for B-day presents. The Aquash looks like fun, I may need to get one for myself.

 

[Juan in Andalucia]

My 4 years old (almost 5) nephew has used some of my fps (again under supervision). I gave him a Pilot VPen (varsity). I'll probably upgrade with a Safari or Kaweco Sport.

 

Juan

[JetPens]

We created a comparison article of some of the fountain pens recommended for children mentioned with pictures here:

Good Introductory Pens for Children

 

Hemmant, thanks for the inspiration. We hope you enjoy the decision process!

[hemmantjha]

Many, many thanks to all those who wrote in - including those who felt I might be ruining things for my daughter by introducing her to fountain pens this early - It's so good to know that you care!

 

I did get to try a few pens with her and have compiled my thoughts here : http://thinkmoreinc.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/122/

 

Let us know what you think -

[kps]

I did get to try a few pens with her and have compiled my thoughts here : http://thinkmoreinc.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/122/

In all instances, a M nib would probably have worked better – none of these pens seems to be available in that nib width either in the US or in Japan.

I agree -- a fine nib, especially an untipped one, and especially on poor paper, does not make for a great starter pen.

 

It wasn't available when you initially posted, but the pink Lamy Safari seems ideal. It can be fitted with the special "A" nib from the Lamy ABC -- The Writing Desk is the only vendor I know of who will ship it that way, but if you have a local dealer it wouldn't hurt to ask. (Of course you can replace the nib with a regular one in the future.)

[Skyppere]

What would you recommend as a good starter pen for a 4 year old?

 

My daughter's good at drawing, and uses her pencils / tools with care. She's used my fountain pens a few times, under supervision. Now she wants one of her own - I'm wary of getting her something too nice [it will probably be abused or will be lost at some point], but it should be a good writer.

 

The Lamy ABC comes to mind. http://www.lamyusa.com/abcfntred.html

 

 

Any other contenders out there?

=============

I had to go back and look at your question again. I think some of the responders thought your question is "Hey, how should I raise my child?"

To answer your question, the Pilot Petite is a good little pen. It's small for a child's hand, it's got a very sturdy nib. It comes in MANY colors so if you got her a fist ful she could use them for drawing. They're cheap enough to be disposable if she loses one or bends a nib and at the same time you can, with some effort, refill their cartridge. You can see what they look like at Jetpens.com (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer).

skyppere

Edited August 22, 2009 by Skyppere

[dtalche]

I noticed several people have said that a four year old shouldn't have a fountain pen because it could be bad for them. Out of curiosity I asked my mother who has a degree in early childhood education and just moved from teaching 2nd to 5th grade.

 

She says there is no reason a four year old shouldn't have a fountain pen though she would be concerned about potential toxicity of the ink since lots of kids that age (and many adults) will put things like the tip of a pen in their mouth without thought.

 

As for those people who suggested it could hurt a child that age, and that they should have only thicker writing instruments her answer is: A child needing a thicker writing instrument like a fat pencil is a fallacy, most get along just fine with normal size one. And as long as the child is not forced to write the 'correct" way with the fountain pen it will not hurt her hands or motor skills in any way. Correct usage of the pen is too fine a motor skill for that age, but if she is just going to play with it and her gross motor skills are fine there is no issue.

 

 

To hemmantjha she says anything you can do at this age to foster reading and writing is wonderful and can lead to a life long comfort at least and often love of it, so she thinks the pen is a wonderful idea. Oh and the only comment she had on what type of fountain pen was make sure it was one whose nib would write at a variety angles to make it friendly for little hands, which by your blog post you seem to have already taken into account.

Edited August 22, 2009 by dtalche

[Chthulhu]

I have to comment on the do/don't part of this thread.

 

Every child is unique in his development and abilities. As ZeissIkon did, I taught myself to read, with my mother's approval and support, at four years of age. All of my children have done the same. None of us was pushed to do so, but we were encouraged when we expressed the desire.

 

I don't recall at what age I started using ink, but I was trusted with paints early on, once I had demonstrated that I could use them without making a horrendous mess (non-horrednous messes were a given at four) or painting on things that should not be painted. I didn't have access to a fountain pen until I was in my teens, simply because I didn't yet know they existed, but I'm certain my parents would have treated that interest with the same intelligence with which they accepted my using paints.

 

On the other hand, I know adults who should not be trusted with crayons, let alone ink in any instrument.

 

Let each parent decide whether his own child is capable of using a fountain pen, rather than saying that NO four-year-old is capable.