The Secret Link Between Handwriting and Learning To Read Better

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Originally posted at The Edvocate by Matthew Lynch / June 28, 2023

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

This is not a bad thing, as writing technology is especially good for children 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, which means that it engages more than one of our senses. For example, handwriting engages the eyes and may also engage the ears if children are told to read as they write.

This activity is beneficial for children because, when multiple senses are engaged, different parts of the child’s brain are exercised. 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 a good thing.

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

This increases their ability to recognize all the letters of the alphabet, as well as different words. The process is slower, which is a good thing because it means that the longer the children 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 child’s ability 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

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

On the other hand, these positive results are not found among children who learn to write through typing or other technological devices. This is why 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 child’s focus and word recognition skills to become better readers.

The post The Secret Link Between Handwriting and Learning To Read Better appeared first on The Edvocate.