Does Handwriting Still Matter?

Submitted by Sophia Brumby, Literacy Specialist for Preschool 3 – 2nd Grade

In today’s fast-paced digital world, is handwriting important?

While it’s true that technology has transformed how we communicate, handwriting remains an essential skill. Handwriting instruction is not about beauty or perfection. Our goal is to support students in developing automaticity with letter and word writing. Just like fluent reading frees working memory for students to focus on understanding what is being read; fluent handwriting provides an opportunity to focus on the content of what is being written.

In the Lower School, preschoolers learn the strokes to form letters and work with clay and sand to build hand muscles. Handwriting instruction continues in kindergarten as students work to put pencil to paper, developing proficiency and independence in carefully writing each letter of the alphabet. In the first and second grades, students build automaticity and handwriting fluency by practicing proper spacing and printing of words and sentences. Handwriting instruction continues into third grade with the introduction of cursive.

Read on to learn more about why handwriting is essential and some tips to support your child with handwriting at home.

Why Handwriting Matters

● Boosts Brain Development: Writing by hand activates areas of the brain linked to thinking, memory, and language. This process helps students improve focus and process information efficiently.
● Enhances Learning and Memory: Research shows writing things down helps children retain information better than typing. The deliberate pace of handwriting encourages children to focus and think deeply.
● Improves Fine Motor Skills: Handwriting strengthens muscles in the fingers and hands, which are essential for many daily tasks beyond writing.
● Prepares for Real-World Tasks: From signing documents to writing thank-you notes, handwriting remains a practical skill for everyday life.

How You Can Support Handwriting at Home

Here are some fun and simple strategies to support handwriting at home:

● Offer Choice: Let your child choose their favorite tools to practice handwriting – colorful pencils, crayons, or markers all work well.
● Start Small: For preschool and kindergarten children, focus on one letter at a time. Practice writing the letter with your pointer finger in sand or flour before putting pencil to paper.
● Write for a Purpose: Have your child write shopping lists, birthday cards, or letters to the tooth fairy.
● Incorporate Games: Play games like connect-the-dots, tracing, or mazes to strengthen fine motor skills needed for fluent handwriting.
● Use Lined Paper: Lines provide guidance for how to orient and form each letter. Remind your child when a letter should dip below the bottom line (g, y, j, etc.) and help them “bump” the top line when writing tall letters (l, h, k,
etc.).