First Pen For 8 Years Old?

[Jordan N]

I would like to buy a fountain pen as a birthday present for my soon to be 8 yrs old daughter. She knows how to write with pencils and pens.

 

Lamy recommends LAMY ABC as a pen for beginners. Unfortunately, that model comes only in red and blue.

 

I'm considering Safari because I'm sure she'll love purple (dark lilac). However, I'm concern re size and ergonomics.

 

 

[Dickkooty2]

 

 

I'm considering Safari because I'm sure she'll love purple (dark lilac). However, I'm concern re size and ergonomics.

 

 

 

I'd be concerned for use by an eight-year old hand, too. The pen should be easy to use so it is fun rather than a chore.

 

The Lamy ABC has been especially developed for the young age group. The body is yellow and it comes with stickers to personalize it.

 

Pelikano Junior has a nice kids' model in turquoise. Also in a number of other colors. Right or left handed if this is necessary.

http://www.jetpens.com/Pelikan-Pelikano-Junior-Fountain-Pen-P67A-Turquoise-Right-Handed/pd/13779/related

 

Faber Castell has a really cute model, more like a game piece than a wooden toy

http://www.cultpens.com/i/q/FC24894/faber-castell-school-fountain-pen-blackberry

 

It looks like the brands available are those in countries where handwriting is still taught.

 

Here is a fun idea from India ... 5 Cartoon Pokemon FPs in a pack!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-X-POKMAN-CARTOON-DESIGN-FOUNTAIN-PENS-WONDERFUL-FOR-KIDS-EYEDROPPER-MEDIUM-NIB-/121719518117

[pajaro]

How about a Parker 51 in regular or demi size, aerometric filler. The nib is pretty well protected, and she will never need another pen.

[dennis_f]

(I'm tempted to say "something not sharp?!?).

 

I was going to say the ABC as well, given that it's specifically designed for a child's hand and with an eye toward their daily use (the square bits to keep it from rolling, the nametag, the wood design reminiscent of those blocky wood toys)... but the Pilot Kakuno might be a close runner-up. It's got a cute smiley face of the nib, and comes in a range of great colours.

 

D

[Jordan N]

They already use scissors and their wooden pencils are sharper than any EF nib My first choice would be Pelikano, but can't find it locally in the desired color (purple), at least for now. ABC looks great, but I'm risking with colors (red and blue) that she doesn't like.

She already knows how to write and her markers are a size of my MB Chopin or so. However, they are lighter. Pilot Kakuno looks promising. Pokemon pens are interesting as a giveaway for the birthday party but I'm running out of time.

Thank you everybody! BTW, how washable is Lamy purple ink?

[tamiya]

I'd be concerned for use by an eight-year old hand, too. The pen should be easy to use so it is fun rather than a chore.

 

The Lamy ABC has been especially developed for the young age group. The body is yellow and it comes with stickers to personalize it.

 

Pelikano Junior has a nice kids' model in turquoise. Also in a number of other colors. Right or left handed if this is necessary.

http://www.jetpens.com/Pelikan-Pelikano-Junior-Fountain-Pen-P67A-Turquoise-Right-Handed/pd/13779/related

 

Faber Castell has a really cute model, more like a game piece than a wooden toy

http://www.cultpens.com/i/q/FC24894/faber-castell-school-fountain-pen-blackberry

 

Umm... dunno about your brood but "kids grow up earlier these days" (especially the female variant)... my resident 8yo wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near those kiddy pens!

 

Which is ironic since *I* like playing with weird kiddy FPs from Germany, got fat Pelikans etc etc

 

They ignore my rainbow fleet of Safari/AlStar on my desk too, those never get borrowed. Small hands might find them bit big IMHO.

 

But they do love their Platinum Preppys, popular colours are the red/pink, violet/purple and green. Yellow/orange got no friends but I've just opened a Blue, filled with Waterman South Seas turquoise. Some of them are Hello Kitty editions too.

 

Pilot Petit1 is also cute & atractive to kiddy eyes, lotsa colours there. But lately they're been elusive, can't find them around much anymore.

[tamiya]

BTW, how washable is Lamy purple ink?

 

Been playing with Dark Lilac all week, it's so-so not particularly waterfast. Day's inky finger stains haven't survived dinner dishwashing & night's shower with hair washing.

 

Dunno about Lamy violet, don't own any.

[erpe]

My son (8) is currently using a Kaweco sport unposted. When the hands get bigger, he can post it and then gradually move to "adult" pens.

[tamiya]

btw do your kids take a pencil case to school? Are they required to BYO FP?

 

Here downunder, our local primary school don't even require kids to bring a pencil case nor any writing instruments - it's all provided in the classroom. Which is good in the sense of one less thing to buy/lose/pack/refill/clean.

 

Otoh remembering my own school days, a lot of enjoyment centred around the pencil case I'd feel lost without mine. That was back when those giant plastic multifunction behemoths appeared... Ahh good memories. Pity today's kiddies won't have same experience.

[Jordan N]

Hi tamiya, thank you very much for answer, I wanted to ask about dark lilac - not purple

 

The school provides everything in the classroom, including those sharp pencils, they use heavy-duty office sharpener for them. However, she still sneaks some pencils or pens from home from time to time. FP is not for school, at least not yet. They don't event teach them cursive writing.

[pen2paper]

Is it possible to have her write and draw with a variety of size and weights of any type pen or marker, observe her grip, and ask her which feels most comfortable?

 

My hand is a ladies size 6 1/2, and a lightweight pen that doesn't allow my fingers to slip to the nib is important to me.

 

No mishaps with my dark lilac ink, but Lamy blue was a staple for work reports, which I found it easy to remove in the wash. The purple color range isn't my preference, but This IS the only purple ink I'll ever want, both color and performance.

 

I do regularly recommend Safari as a starter pen since it's light and has the triangular grip to guide.

 

Another reliable lightweight pen that comes in pale violet, with a violet nib, and cap that prevents dry-out is the modestly priced Platinum Plaisir. (see video reviews).

 

Both use either cartridges and converter.

 

[max dog]

My 7 years old nephew liked my fountain pens so I gave him one of my sheaffer preludes. I thought the faceted grip section would help him orient the nib properly. I saw him again last year, he is 12 now and he still has it and uses it. I was quite happy about that.

The safari with the faceted grip section I think would be a good idea.

Edited July 24, 2016 by max dog

[PaganArcher]

If you're looking for a purple pen, of a smaller size with steadfast reliability, I'd say the Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop in purple with a medium nib.

 

 

It's less expensive than the Safari and and perhaps a little more durable in the long run being a metal pen. Mine has been with me on my last few hunting trips and that's not what I would call a "safe" environment for a fountain pen.

Edited July 24, 2016 by PaganArcher

[Mike 59]

Hi, A similar F.P. to the Safari is the LAMY 'Nexx', which has an aluminium barrel, but various colour caps, bright colours, and really looks as if it was designed to be a school pen. The nibs are as the Safari, also the LAMY cartridges and converters.

The finger grip is shaped in the Safari style, but is overall wider or thicker, and made of a grippy synthetic material.

I have used one since about 2011 and it's still unmarked and works like the day I bought it.

Otherwise there is a range from Schneider, I have not tried them out, but there might be something suitable here,

http://www.schneiderpen.com/en_uk/products/fountain-pens

Edited July 26, 2016 by Mike 59

[christof]

I see no problems with the Safari.

Alle my (4) kids used them since they are 5 years old.

The grip section and the pens weight is perfect for small hands.

I am sure the dark lilac will be a fantastic gift for her!

C.

[PAKMAN]

I'm also on board with the Safari, it was the first pen I gave my daughter.

[mmg122]

I started my grandkids off with Varsity variety packs when they were 6 years old. They loved the variety of colored pens/ink they had to chose from. They are 13 and 9 years old now and both use a Safari for everyday writing. I don't think either one would ever chose to use a ballpoint pen. Both claim that their cursive is so much better with a fountain pen (smart kids). My daughter had to get special permission from their teachers to allow them to bring fountain pens into the classroom. How things change! When I was a kid, only fountain pens were allowed and every desk had an inkwell. We were not allowed to use ballpoint pens because they left an impression on the wood desk tops when writing on a sheet of paper. At least, that's what the nuns claimed.

[duna]

When I was a kid, in the seventies, FP were forbidden as a tool of the dreaded past , ballpoints (Biro pens) were the future, mandatory. Some kids (expecially girls) used them none the less, as they allowed better handwriting and the use of the mythical Super-Pirat ink eraser! The teacher pretended not to see, downgrading heavily blatantly super-pirat-emended compositions and problems.

All of the had Pelikanos (boyz I envied them, I was not allowed to bend the rule and have one) in red or blue plastic , some few yellow. At 12 I was given a much more expensive Sheaffer FP, boys I hated it and the difficult-to-pierce cartridges. Then I managed to grab an old and much appreciated Pelikan 140 with a broken nib (I was shockingly capable of writing with it) , and then a new and flashy stainless steel Parker 25, and it was love. I would have dreamed a Lamy back then.

Your girl will love the Lamy Safari, it is such a great pen. It's light, easy , and a great value (recent Pelikano even greater given how well it writes). and will last decades, or until broken or misplaced (happens, it's a little expensive, but it's not such a treasure to be worried so much about not to use it). Likely, she will prefer cartridges, but I would splurge for a converter, and let her choose a bottle of ink for some nice colour not provided in cartridges; in the near future, the girl will love colours other than black or blue.

[RMN]

The Lamy Nexx was mentioned above. Like the Safari it has a somewhat preformed section, but the one on the Nexx has a softer and more rounded finish and is slightly fatter. I prefer this grip to that of the Safari/Alstar.

 

Also the Nexx can be worn on a lanyard as you can see from the pic provided by Mike 59.

 

 

There is also the Stabilo Easybirdy, available in a regular and a lefty version..

See this topic: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/309386-stabilo-new-fountain-pen-range/?hl=stabilo

I bought one and promptly it was confiscated by my wife, who has some hand problems and she liked it very much.

 

Still have to get myself a new one...

 

 

D.ick

[her]

My first fountain pen was a Lamy Safari. (I was 6.)

I tried a lot of fancier and expensive pens, but my favourite fountain pen is still the Lamy Safari.