The Importance of Handwriting:
I recently came across a copy of an article printed in the New York Times that I had kept from my graduate school days. I had saved this stapled artifact since 1998 so I had to take another read in order to better understand why on earth a girl (me) who loves to get rid of everything that isn’t tied down, hadn’t purged it decades ago.
The article titled, Cursive, Foiled Again: Mourning The Demise of Penmanship, by Edward Rothstein, immediately proved to be something worth reflecting upon as I began to plow through its content. The article argues the importance of handwriting and the fear of it becoming a lost art due to the rise of the computer.
When I was finishing up my graduate degree there was already plenty of talk about whether writing would maintain its importance in education as word processing seemed to be taking over the educational system. Did kids even need to learn how to write anymore? What was the point of writing when there seemed to be so many advantages to using a computer? Was the actual act of pencil to paper writing really at risk of becoming obsolete and if so should occupational therapists turn their attention to assistive technology and keyboarding leaving writing in the dust?
As I continued to read I recalled what a significant concern this was way back in the dark ages of 1998 and felt surprised by the fact that people continue to debate the topic today. I can safely say that in my experience working with children for over 20 years and focussing much of that time on the component skills required to write, there is still a ton of writing required at school. Poor handwriting continues to generate more referrals for occupational therapy than nearly anything else, especially within school based practice. Writing is still incredibly relevant and watching my students struggle to produce written work is something I witness and attempt to help tackle almost daily.
That said, even though I work on writing on a daily basis with my students and even though I believe they need to be able to produce written work, I also realize that accommodations and modifications via technology are now widely available and of great benefit. As I further pondered this, I decided I really wanted to challenge my belief and force myself to articulate if writing really is important, then why? When my solo brainstorm did not provide me with an adequate answer, I decided to further explore the topic with my know it all friend, Google. Here is the breakdown of what I learned.
1. Handwriting reinforces our reading and language processing skills. Writing by hand allows us time to slow down the thought process and think about the words, how they are spelled, and the structure of each sentence all making the writer more adept at the language they are using.
2. Even with all the technology integrated into schools today, writing still forms an integral part of our education system.
3. Handwriting has many cognitive benefits as it reinforces our reading and language processing skills.
4. Handwriting can improve our memory. It has been argued that while typing notes may allow us to focus more on what we are actually listening to, research has found that writing creates unique pathways in the brain causing those who write their notes by hand to remember the content more than those who typed them.
5. Handwriting is less restrictive as pen and paper can allow you to think more freely when doing things such as brainstorming. When you have a blank page and a pen, and no restrictions as to where you can write it allows you to link things together, circle, important points, add side notes etc. While this can be done on a computer too, doing so can stifle your creative flow.
6. Handwriting forms a unique and irreplaceable part of our culture. Handwriting styles are unique to the individual as well and simply cannot be replicated with a keyboard.
7. Studies show that writing improves memory. Students retain learning better when working with new ideas through handwriting versus typing.
8. Learning the alphabet by interacting with each letter in many different physical ways helps students imprint and retain the letters and the letter sounds for easier recall when learning to read. Learning on a screen engages at most two physical channels- eyes and finger tips. It is not possible to tell one letter from another by the shape of the keys. Learning letters through writing involves numerous tactile experiences engages both fine motor and larger muscles of body
In sum, the idea that kids absolutely need to learn to write, at least as best as they possibly can, appears to be more than just a mindless belief. The benefits of writing are numerous and its utility a fact. Technology most certainly has its place in our children’s lives and a significant one at that, so providing a strong foundation in both is certainly ideal and will allow our kids the greatest success.
