Why is good handwriting crucial?
Handwriting is an essential skill for both children and adults and the importance of handwriting must never be underestimated. Children, students, teachers, lecturers, parents feel happy, confident and inspired by good handwriting skills and listed below are 10 reasons why good handwriting is the crucial?
1.Handwriting activates the brain more than keyboarding
In younger children, there is a lot of evidence to show that handwriting activates the brain more than keyboarding because it involves more complex motor and cognitive skills. It has been shown that handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of letters. Therefore, it is really important that children practise writing letters and words as this not only helps handwriting but improves reading and spelling.
2.Handwriting is a predictor of success
Handwriting is a predictor of success in other subjects, because good handwriting has a positive impact on grades. Children can have a very hard time writing in print because many of the letters look similar, particularly b and d. Also, it can feel very uncomfortable and disjointed writing in print. Cursive handwriting helps students, both young and old, including those who have dyslexia. Each cursive style of writing offers each letter a very different look and a simple font allows the pupil to write in a flowing, comfortable way. The Magic Link letter font has been created with this in mind; letters do not have a lead-in stroke, which often confuses children. Instead, there is a small link, called the ‘magic link’ after certain letters, which improves speed and flow. This can decrease their dyslexic tendencies and make children feel more confident in their handwriting abilities.
3. Handwriting speed
Speed is an important factor of handwriting as many standardised assessments are based on written work, particularly in time-limited written examinations. Without fast and legible handwriting, students will miss out on learning opportunities, under-achieve and may fall behind. Good handwriting remains as a major form of assessment for many formal qualifications.
4. Illegible handwriting can cause poor self-esteem
Poor self-esteem can trigger loss of confidence. Children who experience difficulty mastering handwriting may avoid writing and produce poorly written work. Children with poor handwriting will find it hard to proofread their own work. They will then fail to spot their mistakes and their confidence may dip even lower. Examiners need to decipher what is written. Otherwise, pupils will achieve lower marks, even where the content may be good. Many state standardised assessments and handwritten essays emphasise the importance of handwriting. Without fast and legible handwriting, students may miss out on learning opportunities and under-achieve academically.
5. Handwriting is critical to creative text
Clear handwriting text affects both fluency and the quality of the composition. Legible writing that can be produced comfortably, at speed and with little conscious effort allows a child to attend to the higher-level aspects of writing composition and content. Handwriting contributes to better writers. Children who have mastered it are better, more creative writers.
6. Handwriting is crucial for note- taking
For the older pupil in secondary school and at university, handwriting is crucial for note- taking. Taking notes by hand is vital for all students of all ages because it improves attention, comprehension, and results. Students’ notes must be self-legible, otherwise, they are worthless. The use of iPads and laptops are becoming increasingly popular in this generation, however, even in this age of technology, it’s been proven that handwriting helps with learning.
7. Handwriting helps us to process more easily
Research psychologists Pam A. Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel M. Oppenheimer of the University of California, Los Angeles, who did a fascinating study investigating just how terrible laptops are for note-taking in classrooms. Handwriting can help us slow down and fully engage with our thoughts. Studies have shown that handwriting is better because it slows the learner down. By slowing down the process of taking notes, you accelerate learning.
8. Judgement about personality
Good handwriting is essential long after graduation and continues into adulthood. In our modern world, in all walks of life, people are judged by their handwriting. Jotting down a shopping list, writing a birthday card, taking down a phone message, completing a form at the bank, filling out immigration forms…. handwriting is part of our daily lives. It is on show to others and may be used to make judgements about us.
9. Accurate communication
Learning to write letters and numbers correctly is especially important when writing down email addresses, website URL’s, and phone numbers. One wrong letter or number can prevent communication. Good writing skills can help you in life. If you’re trying to get a job, good writing skills make you more desirable to the employer. One of the first things an employer looks at is your cover letter or resume. Good handwriting is crucial to accuracy and presentation.
10. The key to confidence and success
Good handwriting is the platform for achievement in the workplace and self-assurance in life. It is, and will remain, the key to progress and success and is an essential skill throughout life.
The Magic Link Handwriting Programme teaches neat, cursive joined-up handwriting in 30-simple steps and is perfect for primary and secondary school pupils. Created by Lee Dein, a speech and language therapist and dyslexia tutor. Follow the 30-step course online, Amazon UK as well as face-to-face teachers in London and UK.
