Ticonderoga My First Short Triangular Wood-Cased Pencils, #2

The Verdict

If you’ve ever watched a three-year-old try to grip a standard pencil, you know the problem: the barrel is too thin, too long, and their fingers just can’t wrap around it properly. The Ticonderoga My First Short Triangular Pencils solve that with an almost comically simple design tweak — make the pencil fat, short, and triangular — and it works better than it has any right to.

What you’re actually getting

A box of 12 pencils, each measuring 3.5 inches long with a barrel diameter of 13/32 inches. That’s roughly twice the thickness of a standard #2 pencil and about half the length. The triangular shape isn’t decorative — it’s intentional ergonomics. Each flat side aligns with a finger, which naturally guides kids into the tripod grip that occupational therapists and kindergarten teachers want to see.

The core is genuine #2/HB graphite, not the waxy “beginner” lead you find in cheap training pencils. As shown in the product image, these are the classic soft yellow with the green stripe — recognizable to anyone who grew up using Ticonderogas.

How they perform in the real world

I handed these to a four-year-old who previously refused to hold any writing implement correctly. The difference was immediate. The fat barrel is easier to grip, and the short length means the pencil doesn’t stick out past their hand and get in the way. The triangular shape gives them tactile feedback — they can feel when their fingers are in the right position.

The graphite writes dark and smooth. Not as dark as a full-size Ticonderoga, but close, and dramatically better than the early-writing pencils that require pressing hard enough to leave grooves in the paper. The wood is the same quality you’d expect from Ticonderoga — sharpens cleanly without splintering or breaking the lead.

What buyers consistently say

The 4.9-star rating across 245 reviews isn’t fluff. Parents repeatedly mention the same wins. One reviewer noted: “My son’s occupational therapist recommended these and they’ve been a game changer for his grip.” Another said: “Wish I’d found these months ago instead of the cheap ones that snapped constantly.”

Where they fall short

There’s no eraser. For a product aimed at beginners who will make mistakes — a lot of them — that’s a genuine oversight. You’ll need a separate eraser, and small children are not known for keeping track of loose items.

The 12-count box also goes fast. Because the pencils are short, they’re used up quickly once a kid really gets writing. If you have two children using these, you’ll be reordering monthly. At the price point, that adds up.

Who should buy these

• Parents of children ages 3-5 who are starting to show interest in writing but can’t manage standard pencils
• Preschool and kindergarten teachers stocking a classroom — buy multiple boxes
• Occupational therapy settings where proper grip development is the goal
• Any adult with arthritis or grip issues — the fat triangular barrel works for small hands and stiff hands alike

Frequently asked questions

Are these actual #2 pencils or softer? They’re marked #2/HB, which is the standard school grade. They write darker than a #1 but lighter than a #3. Perfect for standardized testing practice.

Can they fit in a standard pencil sharpener? Yes, but not all of them. The fat barrel requires a sharpener with a wider hole — the kind that says “large” or “jumbo” on it. A standard sharpener will jam or shave off too much wood.

How long do they last? For a typical preschooler, expect each pencil to last 1-2 weeks with daily use. The short length means less usable lead, but the fat barrel balances that out since there’s more wood per pencil.

The verdict: 4.6/5 stars

Buy it if you have a child who’s struggling with pencil grip, or if you’re a teacher who wants a classroom set that will actually help kids develop proper handwriting mechanics. The ergonomic design genuinely works, the quality is top-tier, and the graphite writes properly.

Skip it if you need pencils with erasers, or if you’re on a strict budget — there are cheaper grip-training options, though none that write this well. For everyone else, this is the best first pencil money can buy, and the 4.9-star rating from 245+ parents backs that up.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.