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Best Fountain Pen for Children?


Spy Car

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I'm going to get back and reply to the responses, but first let me say thank-you!

 

I'm almost overwhelmed by the wonderful suggestions. So many interesting choices!

 

So this is how it starts (huh)? :P

 

The Greenfeild pen seems "unknown" (so far).

 

Off to deliver my charge to nursery school.

 

Bill

 

 

 

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I disagree with the Varsity recommendation. I gave Varsities out to my class of 1-3 graders last year and they destroyed them within half an hour. If a child knows how to use a fountain pen already, a Varsity might be OK. Otherwise it's just a waste.

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Shangas, I'll look up the pens you mentioned. Point well-taken in in not getting a pen we are afraid to lose. While the use will be (for now) in monitored situations we don't want to lose/break fine pens. We like keeping things "low anxiety" around here, and a fountain pen experience should be all fun.

 

Andre, thanks for the welcome. Your daughter is adorable! To the best of my knowledge the BIC pens are not available in the US. I could be wrong, but I couldn't find any online.

 

Arthur, William (I'm afraid) isn't yet familiar with Harry Potter. Now if there is a "Batman" pen, well......

 

FrankB, a quick look at the Pelikan Pelikano Junior proves interesting, thank you for that option. I'd wondered if the Greenfield pen was made by Lamy myself. I called the distributer today, they weren't sure but said the "big boss" was coming from Holland next week, and they would ask him at let me know. These do have a certain euro-kinder aesthetic that I like.

 

Stevlight & Wolverine 1, I've not heard of a Reform 1745, but thanks for the tip! i like the refillable idea on so many levels.

 

Gregkoos, I think I'm going to start passing on some pens to friends and family myself.

 

Robert, that pen is "way cool". My style (or not) what a fun pen. Yikes! I'm realizing how this become addictive.

 

Ondina, thanks for your list. I'm with you on the "disposable" aspect of the Varsity. We do have to teach our values when the children are young, but boy am I enjoying these. These things cause brain-clashes with yours truly.

 

Blackranger63, it is I who am the "fortunate one". My son is such a blessing to my life. Now I just need to raise him well. The boy deserves proper writing implements. He a great kid!

 

Excarnate, we'll have to see how it goes with the pen. We can always pull back, but he seems intrigued, and it seems as reasonable device as any other for (supervised) handwriting practice. I may be wrong in this notion. Washable ink sounds like a very good idea. i must learn more about that!

 

Grebmar, I've hear nothing but good thing about those Safaris. There is something about the styling that makes me wonder if they would be better at 7-10, rather than at 4-6?

 

Soapytwist, I'll ad you vote to the Pelikano Jr tally. I hear you with the psychic value of a real re-fillable pen. It does (to some degree) clash with a realistic expectation that at his age a pen could get lost. But potentially we could have more than one (right?). And what a way to mark rites-of-passage. I would love if his first nursery school pen was something of style (like the Lamy ABC or Greenfield pen) was something that "survived the ages" and was part of his collection when I'm long gone.

 

DKbRS, another "new one" for me. Thank you.

 

Sailor Kenshin, I'd hoped Pilot made a refillable. The Varsity is pretty cool. I'll look for Petite 1s.

 

AndyH, I'll second the "washable ink". Who makes that, anyway?

 

To all, thank you! I'm having fun reading past threads. And what a lot of great input. I appreciate your time!

 

Bill

 

 

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Although I let my kids use my fountain pens, I make sure I don't let it out of my sight. A pen that requires it be used in a certain orientation is hard for kids, and some adults!, to understand. I find I'm correcting less and less.

 

However, as for a pen I'd let them 'keep' I've gone with a Platinum Preppy, Red. My youngest daughter really thinks it looks cool with the clear case and Red nib and ink. Her brother is also a big fan. The ink is washable, something that most of my others are not. Most of the older kids aren’t into FPs although my oldest daughter recently purchased a Waterman at a recent auction; I picked up the other two in the lot.

 

Ink color can be a factor; when I sign her paperwork for the teacher she always double checks that I'm not using invisible(NI Blue Ghost) ink.

 

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I disagree with the Varsity recommendation. I gave Varsities out to my class of 1-3 graders last year and they destroyed them within half an hour. If a child knows how to use a fountain pen already, a Varsity might be OK. Otherwise it's just a waste.

 

If they're too young for a Varsity they're too young for any fountain pen, I guess. Better destroying a two-dollar pen than one that cost $25?

 

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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I'm thinking of risks here- I know I almost poked my eye out playing with my father's FP. Don't remember the exact circumstance, but memories of the harried visit to the ER and the follow-up to the specialist (who pronounced me "fine") remains. The spear-like nib = !!!! so whatever you get him, always use only with supervision (it may give the pen a certain cachet, and pique his interest more)

 

Perhaps the Staedtler Lerner's Fountain pen? It's chunky, likely to be available somewhere, and the yellow-black model looks like a big pencil (ergo more familiar and "friendly")

http://www.staedtler.com/learners_fountain_pen.Staedtler

Actually, I just like the way it looks. Hehe.

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I believe in France you aren't allowed to use a fountain pen in school til you are a certain age, certainly older than 6. 8? 12?

 

Yeah, but in France the kids drink wine when they're 6. Funny how different societies approach child-rearing.

 

Given the alcoholism rate in the Mediterranean countries in which wine is always on the table and available to kids on request ( they just ask for a sip once, believe me) and in the rest of the world, is quite a wise way to teach them how to drink responsibly.

As for fountain pens, my own kid started with her first letters & drawings -2 and a half-. She is just 4 now and so far, we have not had a single disaster but a continuous and joyful request to use mines, change to colorful inks and enjoy. Not all may be ready at such early ages, but establishing age limits may not be very wise. Some may be perfectly capable, some may be not. I would certainly encourage your boy to learn writing with a FPen if you think he can do it. We started with supervision at first, now she has her own and takes them depending on ink/mood/goal.

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I think I saw the ABC at Fountain Pen Hospital.

 

My first fountain pen [of my own, not borrowing Daddy's under supervision], was in 5th grade. A Shaeffer No Nonsense that quickly grew to a collection. I adored the clear colors and couldn't make up my mind between Emerald Green and Peacock Blue cartridges, with an occasional foray into the red [the name escapes me].

 

I'd use the Varsity as a test pen. If your child hasn't lost or broken it by the time the ink runs out, upgrade to a No Nonsense. They're pretty much indestructible [tho' I remember half killing my best friend who dared to gnaw the end of one of my beloveds!]

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It's encouraging the joyful aspect of life Ondina mentions that I care most about.

 

At 4.5 a fountain pen will be used "supervised", for now. But we can break it out with great flourish, and make a "big deal" about it (in the good way). And the involvement of my wife or myself with him is still half the fun for both us and him.

 

My son, like most children I'd suspect, loves a little ceremony, praise, and feeling like he's a "big boy" and doing something special.

 

And, while being "all-boy" he is respectful of limits and careful with his things. So I see having a "treasured" pen I see as a huge positive.

 

As the result of an incredible kindness by a member of this forum (whose anonymity I will protect) a highly unusual and appropriate pen has been gifted to my son. How cool it that?!

 

I must say I'm overwhelmed by the great responses, and the wonderful introduction to this community.

 

Bill

 

 

 

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Sorry to "blog", but I was just discussing the whole fountain pen thing with my wife. And I mentioned how people who grew up with fountain pens, like my grand-parents and parents, all have such beautiful writing, and I speculated that ball-points might have been at least partially behind the ruination of penmanship skills.

 

But then I said, of course you learned with ball-points and your handwriting is beautiful (it truly is lovely). And then she said: "No I didn't, my father had a fountain pen from the bank (he was a banker) and I would practice my handwriting by signing checks and filling out ledgers, and it's how I learned to write well."

 

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

 

Bill

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Perhaps the Staedtler Lerner's Fountain pen? It's chunky, likely to be available somewhere, and the yellow-black model looks like a big pencil (ergo more familiar and "friendly")

http://www.staedtler.com/learners_fountain_pen.Staedtler

Actually, I just like the way it looks. Hehe.

 

WANT.

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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Perhaps the Staedtler Lerner's Fountain pen? It's chunky, likely to be available somewhere, and the yellow-black model looks like a big pencil (ergo more familiar and "friendly")

http://www.staedtler.com/learners_fountain_pen.Staedtler

Actually, I just like the way it looks. Hehe.

 

WANT.

 

+1!

 

Thanks for posting eilu, I didn't know it existed...

<font face="Verdana"><b><font color="#2f4f4f">d</font></b><font color="#4b0082">iplo</font></font><br /><br /><a href='http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showuser=6228' class='bbc_url' title=''><font face="Trebuchet MS"><br /><font size="4"><b><font color="#8b0000"><font color="#696969">Go</font> <font color="#006400">To</font> <font color="#a0522d">My</font> <font color="#4b0082">FPN</font> Profile!</font></b></font></font><br /></a>

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Sorry to "blog", but I was just discussing the whole fountain pen thing with my wife. And I mentioned how people who grew up with fountain pens, like my grand-parents and parents, all have such beautiful writing, and I speculated that ball-points might have been at least partially behind the ruination of penmanship skills.

 

But then I said, of course you learned with ball-points and your handwriting is beautiful (it truly is lovely). And then she said: "No I didn't, my father had a fountain pen from the bank (he was a banker) and I would practice my handwriting by signing checks and filling out ledgers, and it's how I learned to write well."

 

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

 

Bill

 

That's a neat story!.

 

 

And yes, Eilu, thanks for the link to the Staedler, looks awesome! The brand always makes great writing instruments.

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  • 6 months later...
Greenfeild (Mercurius) Waldorf style pen $15

 

I've been selling the Greenfield Pens in my store,and have used them with my 9 and 5 year old boys. We think they are pretty good. Haven't had any major ink disasters and they seem to be able to switch cartridges pretty well without help. They also come with a name label(I guess for classroom use). My Sister attended a Waldorff School in Massachusetts, and they used these in her classroom.

 

Thanks for the post, any updates?

 

Andrai Whitted

Cool2school.com

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The kids love the Pilot Petit 1 mini fountain pens. They are fantastic little pens - smooth and easily refillable. They come with cartridges and you can always refill them using a syringe or you can just buy the cartridges as needed. They're great and they come in all colors at jetpens.com.

Edited by playpen
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Big fan of the Pelikano Jr

 

Me too - especially as they cater for lefties (I think Lamy do too but not sure). The Pelikano looks more 'grown-up' than the ABC does to my mind though, otherwise I'd go for the Lamy.

 

My first pen was a Parker Frontier (still got it 30 years later!) - I think that non-disposible would make much more of a mark on the psyche. When you really need them in the future (i.e. they're adults and you're infirm) they'll remember you gave them a proper pen and will look after you a little better!

 

30 years ago? A Parker Frontier? Aren't you talking about a different pen?

 

My vote goes for the Lamy Safari/Vista/AlStar.

 

Juan

 

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I believe in France you aren't allowed to use a fountain pen in school til you are a certain age, certainly older than 6. 8? 12?

 

Yeah, but in France the kids drink wine when they're 6. Funny how different societies approach child-rearing.

 

Given the alcoholism rate in the Mediterranean countries in which wine is always on the table and available to kids on request ( they just ask for a sip once, believe me) and in the rest of the world, is quite a wise way to teach them how to drink responsibly.

As for fountain pens, my own kid started with her first letters & drawings -2 and a half-. She is just 4 now and so far, we have not had a single disaster but a continuous and joyful request to use mines, change to colorful inks and enjoy. Not all may be ready at such early ages, but establishing age limits may not be very wise. Some may be perfectly capable, some may be not. I would certainly encourage your boy to learn writing with a FPen if you think he can do it. We started with supervision at first, now she has her own and takes them depending on ink/mood/goal.

 

I can say that before 6, I used to be given a Spanish wine (vino quinado) as an apetizer. Some years later my parents were asking me not to get drunk at parties. Go figure.

 

Juan

 

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  • 1 year later...

I'd wondered if the Greenfield pen was made by Lamy myself. I called the distributer today, they weren't sure but said the "big boss" was coming from Holland next week, and they would ask him at let me know. These do have a certain euro-kinder aesthetic that I like.

 

 

Did you ever find out if Lamy makes the Greenfield pens? I have been using one for the past few years and it has held up pretty well. I just handed it down to my six-year-old son.

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