Do you remember learning cursive? Can you recall signing your name for the first time? What a “grown up” skill to read and write in cursive! And yet, it seems that handwriting is becoming a lost art, despite various studies showing it is a crucial skill that benefits children in numerous ways.
Three Benefits of Handwriting
Handwriting builds fine motor skills and coordination. The act of holding a pencil and forming letters requires both fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. These skills are essential for other activities like tying shoes, buttoning clothes – and even using technology.
Handwriting enhances reading skills. The physical act of creating letters through writing improves a child's ability to recognize letters and their sounds. It’s a form of kinesthetic learning. Increased letter and sound recognition naturally helps improve reading fluency.
Handwriting aids in comprehension. If writing can help improve reading fluency, it makes sense it can also aid reading comprehension. When we write notes by hand, we are activating the area of our brain that drives language and memory. This activation, coupled with the fact that note taking, story writing, and even doodling requires a certain level of critical thinking, means the process of writing is enhancing comprehension and retention of material.
Tips for Practicing at Home
Simply stated, handwriting boosts brain development in language and working memory. Move from print to cursive handwriting, and the benefits are magnified given the increased speed with which cursive allows us to write.
To practice handwriting at home, create a dedicated and comfortable space for writing. Encourage your child to write regularly, whether it's a journal entry, a letter to a family member, or notes from their reading. Let your child pick out fun writing materials. Colorful pens, pencils, and fancy notebooks make writing time feel special. If your child’s dislike of writing stems from the physical act of writing itself, work on strengthening the hand muscles in other ways that may be more engaging. Create with playdough, make bracelets by stringing beads on a thread, or play with a stress ball.
Remember, practice doesn't have to be lengthy; even spending 10 minutes a few times a week will make a difference. Make a point to get your own journal out and write alongside your child and now you’ve got quality time too!
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