Why Is Handwriting Important & 10+ Red Flags
Does your child’s school still teach handwriting?
And I don’t mean just spend a month or two on it. I mean actively include handwriting in the everyday curriculum. Hopefully yes, but likely not as much as they should. But why is it even important in this digital age. I mean, students use computers for many of their assignments, so what is the point of dedicating quality class time to handwriting instruction?! Well, I’m glad you asked 😉
Handwriting is a KEY component of literacy. Some argue just as important as reading. Because in essence, it IS! Reading is the decoding of a word, whereas writing is the encoding. So, to exclude handwriting from curriculum is missing a HUGE piece of literacy.
Likewise, studies show the value of writing by hand. Research clearly links an increase in retention of information when written by hand vs typed, and other research indicates an improvement of reading skills, spelling, and written composition when learning print and cursive handwriting.
But what do we do when our child struggles with writing by hand? Maybe their teacher has pointed it out, giving them lower grades because of illegible writing. Or maybe your child avoids writing altogether, is frustrated by it, or their confidence suffers due to their messy handwriting. Often these are signs that something is going on that is impacting your child’s written output.
Here are some handwriting red flags to look out for that might indicate a problem:
Irregular formation of letters
Poor spacing with letters or words
Difficulty translating thoughts to paper
Written output doesn’t match verbal output
Difficulty with sentence skills: grammar, punctuation, capitalization, etc
Illegible output
Academic concerns with written work
Avoidance of writing
Frustration with writing
Difficulty keeping words on the line
Inconsistent sizing of letters
Poor spelling
Awkward pencil grasp
Fatigue or discomfort when writing
If your child is experiencing any one of these symptoms, it can indicate a barrier to their learning. Often written output is the tip of the iceberg, so it is necessary to dig deeper to problem-solve the cause of their struggles and get them the help they need.
Though writing often seems “easy” for many of us, there are SO many underlying skills that go into handwriting. And when one or more of these skills are lagging, our student can struggle.
The good news! These barriers can all be improved through a combination of remediation, accommodation, and modification.
Guest Post
Kelli Fetter is a pediatric occupational therapist, Certified Handwriting Specialist, and founder of Handwriting Solutions. She offers handwriting tutoring virtually and in-person. Find out how Kelli can help your child build these valuable writing skills on her website and follow her on Instagram.
