Fountain pen for 9 year old

[KendallJ]

FYI, I've got a Pelikano Jr. in Blue that I'd be willing to send you, gratis. Also have a Kaweko sport in clear red, same terms. PM me if you're interested.

[lisa]

You can get a converter for the Pelikano too. I'm using mine with it. But I still think cartridges are better for schoolkids.

 

You can also get a clear model Pelikan future.

Is the Pelikano nib easily replaced if its broken? Just wondering if its interchangable like the M200.

 

Not that I know of. I remember seeing replacement nibs offered somewhere but I wouldn't know how to.

[Scribbles]

I am working on a summary of the pen suggestions and features since I think this post has enough information to warrant that. Who knows, this could be useful to someone down the road.

 

In that vein I am trying to come up with a list of features that were important to pens for kids. Please let me know if you think I forgot something important.

 

Durability

 

The FP needs to be able to stand up to some level of abuse and inexperience with FPs.

 

Size

 

Kids have smaller hands (usually)

 

Bling (design)

 

How appealing is the design to a kid.. colorful, fancy dragons, etc. I don't think this part is much different for adults... we may just be looking for different types of bling.

 

Replacable Nib

 

As I have learned recently its all too easy to bend a nib. Having one that can be replaced can be an advantage.

 

Cartridge or converter fill

 

There appear to be two camps on this issue. The cartridges are easier and less mess. Converters offer the full (and potentially messy) FP experience. This can be fun for the kids and extra work for the parents so there is a potential trade off.

 

Cost

 

All the pens suggested are inexpensive. Even so there is a range between about $5-70.

[Hélène]

I reccommend the Pelikano or another pen made for students

[Walter's daughter]

I also recently tried a new Lamy designed with youngsters in mind--it had a cap with movable icons (?). The one I tried was a medium and I've never written with a smoother nib!

Do you have any idea what this FP was called? Is it a new model because I have not seen anything like it.

That is the Lamy ABC.

Better late than never?

The pen I described so inadequately was, in fact, the Smile.

[Dillo]

I am working on a summary of the pen suggestions and features since I think this post has enough information to warrant that. Who knows, this could be useful to someone down the road.

 

In that vein I am trying to come up with a list of features that were important to pens for kids. Please let me know if you think I forgot something important.

 

Durability

 

The FP needs to be able to stand up to some level of abuse and inexperience with FPs.

 

Size

 

Kids have smaller hands (usually)

 

Bling (design)

 

How appealing is the design to a kid.. colorful, fancy dragons, etc. I don't think this part is much different for adults... we may just be looking for different types of bling.

 

Replacable Nib

 

As I have learned recently its all too easy to bend a nib. Having one that can be replaced can be an advantage.

 

Cartridge or converter fill

 

There appear to be two camps on this issue. The cartridges are easier and less mess. Converters offer the full (and potentially messy) FP experience. This can be fun for the kids and extra work for the parents so there is a potential trade off.

 

Cost

 

All the pens suggested are inexpensive. Even so there is a range between about $5-70.

Hi,

 

Durability. the Pelikan M200 or 150 is a very durable pen

Size, it is smaller and better for the hands of children

Bling...Well, the M200 and M150 are not here, but it could be very fascinating for a child to think that she or he is using a "grown-up" pen

 

Replaceable nib. If you told me you were getting a starter pen for a child, I would be sure to get you a handful of brand new nibs are bargain prices.

 

When I first got into fountain pens, I had a headache starting cartridge-filled pens, so I normally suggest a piston-filling mechanism.

 

I think the M150 is a nice starter pen. The M200 is so much more expensive.

 

Dillon

[pjturyk]

I bought a couple of Waterman Kulturs in cool transparent colours for my kids.

They love the Kulturs and use them all the time.

 

[izlat]

My daughter was using a Montegrappa something (don't remember the model, blue marble celluloid + silver, M or F nib) when she was about 7 but since she can be quite careless and loses things I had to take it back and give to my mother (who doesn't use it at all, I think )

 

Just abput a month ago my daughter (10 yo now) also lost my MB pencil for about a week while she prepared for the District spelling bee and I was not a happy camper lol

 

So - I'd recommend some of the entry level Pelikans with cool graphics: cheap and from what I remember - very smooth. They did have a tendency to break when I was in high school but are easy to replace

 

Cheers

Ivo

[Shangas]

I think Sheaffer produces calligraphy sets which might fit all (or most) of those prerequisites.

 

- They have replacable nibs.

- They're cartridge-pens (they might be able to take converters, not sure).

- They're strong and write well.

- They're bright blue! (Every kid loves blue, right?)

- They're a decent size and easy to spot.

- They have threaded caps - that might be important for keeping the pen capped safely...

 

It's been a while since I used one of those pens (something like five or six years, now), but I remember mine and I loved it.