Child Proof Fountain Pen?

[nluoma]

My son is getting discouraged with fountain pens and actually asked to use a "regular" pen today. He says he's gotten ink on himself too many times. I've watched, and I don't think he's writing incorrectly. He seems to get the ink on himself when he's not writing--while thinking or getting ready to write. He plays around with the pen then, and I think that's when the ink is getting on him. I pointed out that he needs to wipe off the pen first, if there's any ink on it, and he said he might try tomorrow. But I hate to see him abandon fountain pens! Any advice on a pen that is less likely to get ink on him? He's only 8, so he's still pressing a little too hard while writing, which might also be part of the problem. I thought about giving him one of my VPs, but I'm afraid he'd destroy the nib with too much pressure. He's currently using a Safari. I also have a Pelikano and a Pelikano Jr. Would one of those be better? Any recommendations appreciated!!

Edited August 3, 2007 by nluoma

[Shangas]

Hmmm, bloody hell...

 

I think I might've warned you about this. Kids these days don't know how to use fountain pens. You need to be patient and teach them how to use them. Emphasize lack of pressure and that he needs to cap the pen when he's not using it. I know kids at the age of 8 can be extremely unreceptive...hell, I know I was when I was that age.

 

But the fact of the matter is that - If you use a fountain pen, you WILL GET INKY HANDS. Either get used to it, or find something else to write with. This is after all, your son's decision about what he wants to write with, not yours. If you want my advice, I would suggest letting him move back to ballpoint pens. Perhaps when he's older (say 12, 15, 18), give him another fountain pen as a birthday present. Perhaps when he's older, he'll appreciate it more.

 

Myself, I was introduced to fountain pens about his age, about 5-7 years old. But then, I had a...I had a 'love', of old, classic things...and still do. So I took the patience to learn how to use a fountain pen properly. In fact these days, I wouldn't touch a ballpoint pen with a gondola-pole. The way I see it, this isn't the same situation with your son. Don't pressure him into doing something he doesn't want to. Believe me, it won't work. Let him discover fountain pens in his own time.

 

Of course, if you INSIST on getting him a fountain pen which he may enjoy, then I'd suggest a Sheaffer school fountain pen. I know I make this suggestion a LOT, but believe me, these are IDIOT-PROOF PENS. They're EXTREMELY tough and will put up with schoolboy abuse like nothing else. I used them myself and can testify to this.

 

Also, I think it would help to explain to your son WHY he gets ink on his fingers, so that he may avoid it in the future. From what I can gather from your post, it sounds like he's holding the pen by the FEED and NIB, when he stops writing to think/fiddle/daydream/whatever. Explain to him that the feed & nib is where the ink is. If he wants to avoid getting ink on his hands, he should hold the pen by the SECTION, or the barrel. Or, just cap it.

[yiterp]

i agree with a sheaffer school pen--a real no problem durable pen for a child--heck i will even send you one for the kid--i have alot of extra ones laying around--PM me if you would like this

[ramshacklemann]

How about a Parker Vector Bugs Bunny or Sylvester edition fountain pen ? They are inexpensive and are generally decent performers..

[Sakura]

I used to absentmindedly flick pens back and forth in my hand as I thought about my writing...nervous habit. I learned the hard way not to do this with a fountain pen. (I started at a similar age.) Do you think your son does something like that without realizing?

 

I started out holding the nib as well, and had to retrain my hand. (This, all by myself, because my parents disliked FPs and had no advice for me.)

 

Some pens just have nibs that are shorter. If I recall, everything about the Safari seems a little bit long. It might take some trying out of new pens...then you can sell the old ones to us

 

 

 

 

 

 

[coco]

I've instilled a love of fountin pens into my 12-year-old step-daughter, but I've realized she hasn't learned how to hold a pen at school (I guess everyone writes on computers these days?). I've tried to show her how to hold a pen, but I'm not with her enough to keep encouraging her. And, unfortunately, she's ruined a few nibs with pressing down too hard.

 

But I haven't given up. I keep Inx Nix (whatever it's called) over the kitchen sink at all times so she can wash her hands. And I've turned to several Japanese pens (the Perea, for example) which holds up well. I've noticed some other pens for children on the Ukuju site (I probably just misspelled it) that seem perfect for learning how to use fountain pens, too. I think one even has the name (learner or starter?) that's made for children.

[Shangas]

i agree with a sheaffer school pen--a real no problem durable pen for a child--heck i will even send you one for the kid--i have alot of extra ones laying around--PM me if you would like this

 

Oh boy I wish you could send one to me!! I miss my old red SS FP so much. But aren't they just wonderful pens? Believe me, Nuoma, if you want a good starter fountain pen for your little 8-year-old boy, then you can't go past a Sheaffer school fountain pen. Those things were MADE for kids.

[daveg]

Kids these days don't know how to use fountain pens.

 

For large values of "these days"

 

I recently spoke to a 48 year-old who tried to use a fountain pen, but she said it had a design defect. It had these "exposed gills" and when she held the pen by the "gills" her fingers got black. So she gave up.

 

[Shangas]

Kids these days don't know how to use fountain pens.

 

For large values of "these days"

 

I recently spoke to a 48 year-old who tried to use a fountain pen, but she said it had a design defect. It had these "exposed gills" and when she held the pen by the "gills" her fingers got black. So she gave up.

 

Bah! Some people just never learn, David. They just never learn.

 

However, I stand by my statement. That kids these days have no idea how to use fountain pens. They see them as inconveneint, archaic and stupid. I can prove them wrong on each and every point. In fact, I have a friend who is still in school (he's 18). And he noticed that I use fountain pens exclusively.

 

It turns out that he has a Parker fountain pen of some description (what exactly, I don't know. I didn't get a chance to see it). He said it was a medium-nib Parker FP, c/c pen. And that it drank up his cartridges like no-tomorrow. I gave him as much advice as I could about nibs & pens and inks, paper, tips, where to buy, what to look/look out for etc etc...

 

I also recommended that he join the Fountain Pen Network, if he's serious about getting a new fountain pen (and from what I've heard, he probably is).

[abp]

Nluoma,

 

I only started to use a fountain pen at the age of 11, and we had lessons in school. Before that I used pencils. It seems to me that the problem your son has is not that the pen is or isn't robust enough, just that he hasn't any "respect" for the pen, in that he is not making allowances for it. If you can't get him to make these allowances through guidance, then i would let it go, before he takes a permenant dislike to fountain pens. Reserve the use of the fountain pen to special occasions, like Birthday Cards and Thank You letters; for daily use, let him use a roller ball or biro.

 

My little girl is only 8 months, so i can't claim any knowledge on how to "train" a child to like anything, but I think it's quite possible to put a child off something for life. I couldn't count the number of so-called classic books that i was told to read because they were "good for you"; I was reading thrillers at the age of 10 and never looked back. LOTR? couldn't care less!!

 

Also, some people just don't want to "respect" things like pens, or watches etc. They are too busy, or fidgity, or just in a different place. Childern must surely show these traits just as adults do?

 

Didn't mean to go on. Please ignore if you don't agree,

 

ABP

 

 

[jmkeuning]

Kids these days don't know how to use fountain pens.

 

For large values of "these days"

 

I recently spoke to a 48 year-old who tried to use a fountain pen, but she said it had a design defect. It had these "exposed gills" and when she held the pen by the "gills" her fingers got black. So she gave up.

 

:roflmho:

[nluoma]

I think it's quite possible to put a child off something for life

You are so right! That is exactly what I want to avoid here.

[chupie]

I used to absentmindedly flick pens back and forth in my hand as I thought about my writing...nervous habit. I learned the hard way not to do this with a fountain pen. (I started at a similar age.) Do you think your son does something like that without realizing?

 

I started out holding the nib as well, and had to retrain my hand. (This, all by myself, because my parents disliked FPs and had no advice for me.)

 

Some pens just have nibs that are shorter. If I recall, everything about the Safari seems a little bit long. It might take some trying out of new pens...then you can sell the old ones to us

 

Heh. I absentmindedly was twiddling with one of my Pelikan Go! pens one day. Suddenly realized I had splattered ink everywhere.

[Titivillus]

But the fact of the matter is that - If you use a fountain pen, you WILL GET INKY HANDS. Either get used to it, or find something else to write with.

 

 

That ain't necessarily so You can use a fountain pen without getting ink on your hands.

 

[amh210]

I suggest you allow your kid to use another pen. "Pushing" a FP on him will just build resentment. At the same time, I'd have FP's available for him to use. He may return to it naturally. Keep the FP at home for homework only. Sending it to school just makes the inky mess even less appealing.

 

As far as pen type, a hooded nib provides less inky surface for fingers to touch. I'm not sure I'd advocate giving an 8 year old boy a "51", but a Parker 21 might do the trick with less pain upon its catastrophic destruction or loss.

 

Above all, it is the nature of young boys to be experimental, dirty, and occasionally obstinate. Go with the flow. They grow out of it some time before they turn 70. [maybe]

[mr T.]

My son is getting discouraged with fountain pens and actually asked to use a "regular" pen today. He says he's gotten ink on himself too many times. I've watched, and I don't think he's writing incorrectly. He seems to get the ink on himself when he's not writing--while thinking or getting ready to write. He plays around with the pen then, and I think that's when the ink is getting on him. I pointed out that he needs to wipe off the pen first, if there's any ink on it, and he said he might try tomorrow. But I hate to see him abandon fountain pens! Any advice on a pen that is less likely to get ink on him? He's only 8, so he's still pressing a little too hard while writing, which might also be part of the problem. I thought about giving him one of my VPs, but I'm afraid he'd destroy the nib with too much pressure. He's currently using a Safari. I also have a Pelikano and a Pelikano Jr. Would one of those be better? Any recommendations appreciated!!

 

There is of course, when using a fountain pen, the risk of getting ink over the hands, but that is probably not the real reason of not wanting to use a fountain pen. Seen your description, it looks like your son never has learned to use a fountain pen in a proper way. He is 8, so that is not really surprising. Where I live, children learn to write with fountain pens in school (and get a fountain pen from school too). These writing lessons will not start before the age of 6. However, most children are not able to write with a fountain pen at that age and start 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 the development of reading skills. Probably your son is just at the age where het is capable of using a pen in a proper way. That has to do with his abilities and not with the sort of pen you give him. In my opinion, giving him a VP is not the solution. A pen like the VP is designed for people who already know how to use a fountain pen in a proper way. What he probably needs is a pen like the Pelikano, the Pelikano jr, the Lamy ABC, Schneider Base Kid or something like that (the Pelikano is nice because it comes with an A (starter) nib). What he also needs is a good method to pratice writing with the fountain pen (and where I live there are several to find in bookstores). If your son doesn't learn this at school, then his parents should learn him how to write with a fountain pen. It may look as he is perfectly able to write with a pencil or ballpoint, but don't forget that using a fountain pen is a very different matter. As long as children of that age can't write with a fountain pen, I wouldn't give them a ballpoint. Let them use a ballpoint and it will ruin their handwriting. That means the only alternative are pencils. That it looks look your son doesn't want to use a fountain pen anymore is not very surprising either. Because what do most people when they try something and it doesn't succeed? (some keep trying but most don't and never try again) It really looks like your son has to learn to write with a fountain pen first.

[Shangas]

Nluoma,

 

The others have made a valid point. Let your child take his own time in discovering fountain pens. You may push it upon him if you like, and give him different ones to try, but in the end it's up to him. Who knows? You might actually give him something that he likes to write with, but if in the end, he really doesn't give a damn, then you're only wasting your time. Forcing something upon someone who doesn't give a damn about it, is an EXCELLENT way to make them hate that thing for life. My father forced stuff on me (martial arts), and my brother (learning the piano), for years. The result?

 

I hate martial-arts.

 

My brother, now 24, won't go anywhere NEAR a piano. He sticks to the guitar.

[Ghost Plane]

Even when I was in the crayon phase, I knew to be careful with the FPs because my dad had a pretty Shaeffer desk set he used his entire life. It was a treat. I was allowed to sit on the other side of his desk and use it to trace letters or print.

 

Make it a reward. And SHOW him your own writing and how much you enjoy it. There's just nothing like sitting on Dad's lap or beside him and doing.

 

I got my own fountain pen in 5th grade. I had lousy hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills, but the pretty ink and permission to write anything I wanted made that irrelevant and taught me to enjoy the process, even if the product wasn't necessarily as pleasing as faster developing kids. I credit Shaeffer's Peacock Blue and Emerald Green cartridges for helping me enjoy writing.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I managed to fix a child who was heavy handed by taking a risk and having them write with a flexy nib for a short time. The response to the way the nib worked was, "Ack! If I press too hard too much ink comes out!"

 

Normally, I let children choose their own pen from a group of pens within your budget. (I like the M200s or Pelikanoes because they come in colors.)

 

Dillon

[FrankB]

I don't think it can be emphasized enough that not forcing the child to use FP's is critically inportant. Being a model of behavior, including using FP's, is more to the point. If the child wants a "regular" pen, let him have it. Teach the basics of penmanship with a BP and/or a pencil, and allow the child to evolve.

 

I learned to write with a dip pen in school when I was eight. I learned rather well, so my father gave me the gift of a Parker 51. It was highly unusual for a kid to have a good pen like that, and I knew that pen would get broken or disappear if I took it to school so I kept it at home for special use. Ordinarily, I used a wood case pencil in school and for homework, sometimes using a Sheaffer school pen in school for projects.

 

Later in my school career, ball points entered the picture. I hated early ball points because I had to push so hard to get the damned things to write. For long writing projects, I used a FP. A FP was a positive thing for me as it was a "better" writing instrument than a BP or a pencil. That positive view of FP's has stayed with me to this day.

 

I think it possible that your child might evolve in a similar way. Give him space and let him find his way.