Old-School marble game tested as handwriting therapy for kids
NCT ID NCT07331675
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at whether playing marbles can improve hand grip strength and handwriting in children aged 6 to 9. Forty-six kids from grades 1-3 will be split into two groups: one will play marbles in one-on-one sessions, and the other will continue regular free play. Researchers will measure changes in handwriting legibility and speed, as well as hand strength, using standard tests.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Marble play game
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a low-cost, playful way to help children improve hand strength and handwriting skills.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 46 children, so results may not apply to all kids. The intervention is simple and unlikely to cause harm, but benefits may be modest.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 46 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Dec 2025
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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6 to 9 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Children enrolled in Grade 1-3 (typically aged 6-9 years) * Children with normal cognitive development, as assessed by school records or teacher reports * Students with average or below average handwriting fluency (based on teacher observation or pre-test). * Parental or guardian consent obtained for participation. * Regular school attendance and ability to participate in intervention sessions. Exclusion Criteria: * Children with significant visual or motor impairments that may affect fine motor coordination. * Participants with a known history of dust allergy or diagnosed allergic rhinitis triggered by dust exposure will be excluded. * Individuals with a current or recent (within the last 6 months) fracture of any upper, wrist, or hand) will be excluded. * Students with a history of behavioral issues that would prevent consistent participation in structured play.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Aamna Hassan
Lahore, Punjab Province, 5400, Pakistan