The writing’s not on the wall for children’s handwriting

The writing’s not on the wall for children’s handwriting

New campaign launches to help Kiwi kids put pen to paper

While more than one third (36 per cent) of Kiwi kids are busily preparing to handwrite their Christmas wish lists, just under half of Kiwi parents (44 per cent) are concerned about their child’s handwriting. What’s more, the majority (65 per cent) of New Zealand parents believe the skill of handwriting will become a "lost art” in 20 years’ time, according to a new study commissioned by BIC New Zealand.

The survey found more than one third of concerned parents (39 per cent) were more focused on the quality of their child’s handwriting and the fear it would attract unwanted judgement (27 per cent) rather than its underlying cognitive development benefits, suggesting a critical gap in their understanding of the skill’s real benefits.

BIC ambassador and acclaimed literary advisor, Louise Park, says handwriting regularly from a young age provides a foundation necessary for literacy skills later on in life.

“When you write something by hand, there are all these different parts of your brain that light up and engage – your brain doesn’t get the same workout from simply typing on a keyboard,” said Ms Park.

“This study confirmed the majority of parents agree that handwriting is a basic step in communication, aids comprehension skills, and improves mental processes and developments, however, 76 per cent believe kids can express themselves just as well when using technology.

“This suggests that more attention should be given to handwriting’s real benefits – it’s not just a fun way for kids to record and share their bottomless imaginations. Studies have proven it improves muscle memory, cognitive development and helps to develop fine motor skills, particularly in formative years.”

“Moreover, research continues to show children who handwrite have improved reading skills, self-confidence, creativity and critical thinking skills[1] – it is a fundamental building block for the future of their education.”

Pioneers of the pen for more than 60 years, BIC is this month launching its Bright Futures are Written by Hand campaign to encourage and celebrate the skill of handwriting among primary school children, and shine a light on its cognitive development benefits to ensure its place in the future of Kiwi kids via a new interactive website.

BIC Marketing Manager Oceania Laura Grufas said the study found more than half of parents (62 per cent) felt there weren’t enough occasions for their children to practice their handwriting in today’s digital age.

“Handwriting – whether it’s for homework or just for fun – is an important vehicle for communication and helps kids become better readers, boosts their confidence, and sparks their creativity and individuality,” Ms Grufas said.

“Shining a light on the many benefits of handwriting is at the heart of our Bright Futures are Written by Hand campaign, and we hope it will get parents and kids to pick up a pen more and more – for the fun of it but also for the significant developmental advantages.”

The study also found that almost half of Kiwi parents (45 per cent) see technology – such as the use of iPads in the classroom – as a benefit rather than a hindrance to a child’s development, however Ms Park said finding a balance between the two is key.

“76 per cent of parents agree the benefits of handwriting cannot be replaced by technology and the reality is both are extremely important to a child’s learning and development. We need to find ways to get the best of both worlds and spark a love affair with writing by hand early on in life because it uses processes and skills that simply cannot be replaced by a keyboard,” Ms Park continued.

And while the majority of children are still using pen and paper to undertake traditional writing tasks such as birthday cards (95 per cent), Christmas lists to Santa (93 per cent), keeping a personal diary (87 per cent), and thank you letters (88 per cent), more than half of their parents admit to their children opting for an electronic gadget (65 per cent) or time in front of the TV (80 per cent) over a handwriting activity (15 per cent).

To remind kids, their parents and teachers about the importance of handwriting and encourage them to put pen to paper, BIC New Zealand has launched its new website complete with fact sheets and exercises suitable for children aged five to 11. For more information, visitwww.bicbrightfutures.com.

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