In the good old days, kids used to learn handwriting as a subject in school. However, in today’s digital world, learning to write by hand may become obsolete because of all the new gadgets and fancy technology. 

This is not bad, as writing technology is especially good for kids with dyslexia and other issues. However, new research has come to light that shows a surprising link between handwriting and learning to read better.

The Benefits Of Handwriting

Handwriting is a multisensory activity that engages more than one of our senses. For instance, handwriting engages the eyes and may also engage the ears if kids are told to read as they write.

This activity is beneficial for kids because different parts of the kid’s brain are exercised when multiple senses are engaged. This improves the whole learning experience, and as we all know, experiential learning is always better than just rote learning.

Handwriting Vs. Typing

Handwriting may be a lengthier process than typing, but research shows that this may be good.

When kids learn to write letters and words by hand, it stimulates their brains and makes them better learners. 

This increases their capacity to recognize all the letters of the alphabet and different words. The process is slower, which is a good thing because the longer the kids spend time handwriting, the longer their brains are stimulated. This will retain what they learn for a longer time.

Another reason why handwriting may be better than typing is that it is a lengthier process that increases the kid’s capacity to focus. Unfortunately, digital devices tend to do the opposite, so learning to write through typing is not the best idea.

Handwriting Makes Better Readers

Well-substantiated research shows the link between handwriting and better reading outcomes for young kids. It was found that kids who learn to write by hand do better when tested for their reading skills. These kids also do better in spelling bees!

On the other hand, these positive results are not found among kids who learn to write through typing or other technological devices. It is imperative to teach handwriting even in the digital age.

Concluding Thoughts

Learning to write by hand may seem like an outdated practice compared to typing, but the reality is that handwriting increases a kid’s focus and word recognition skills to become better readers.