How to teach kids to write by hand, and why it still makes sense to do so

Help your child get excited about writing as a way to gain independence, and celebrate successes as they learn. — Photo: Christin Klose/dpa-tmn

Learning how to write takes time, whether it is holding your pen properly or ensuring all the letters are on the same straight line.

These days, some children roll their eyes, wondering why they still need to be able to write by hand when everything tends to be typed or dictated into a phone.

Adults also have differing views on this issue as the digital world continues to develop. In Germany, Professor Emeritus Friedrich Schönweiss has developed a diagnostic and support tool for spelling, at the University of Münster. The education researcher and media educator explains why he still considers writing by hand to be important – and gives parents specific tips on how to support their children.

Do children today still need to learn to write with pen and paper?

Friedrich Schönweiss: Absolutely, in fact it should be a matter of course. Even in a highly technological age, it is indispensable. It would be naive not to consider the many new possibilities offered by keyboards, tablets and voice input. However, these should not be viewed simply as "modern" or "old-fashioned and dispensable," but as additional new options.

In order to be able to use a keyboard at all, learning to write correctly is an absolute prerequisite. Studies also repeatedly show that this must be done by hand, with pen and paper. Only by literally grasping the individual characters, developing a feel for differences and subtleties, and quickly combining or deciphering groups of letters can the technology be used properly.

And should children also learn cursive writing?

Schönweiss: Yes, the transition to cursive writing is essential as only then is the process of learning to write complete. You can prepare to learn cursive through exercises and mandalas, and children also enjoy it.

Once children have mastered cursive writing, they can concentrate much better on the content of the writing process or its results. We see this reflected in other subjects, such as maths word problems.

What actually constitutes "good" handwriting?

Schönweiss: The criteria are actually quite clear: both writers and readers must be able to clearly identify the result later on. This requires automated, relaxed and unforced movements, uniformly recurring characters, clear distinctions between upper and lower case letters, and sufficient differentiation between similar or easily confused characters.

By reproducing the ideal core of each letter, the writing automatically becomes legible. Of course, confidence in spelling also plays a decisive role in legibility.

Do you have any tips for parents on how to support their child in learning to write?

Schönweiss: First of all, it is important that parents do not just let their child do it, but support them. They are also welcome to do this in consultation with the teacher. But give your child and yourself enough time.

Spend enough time on the first playful stroke and writing exercises. Initially, concentrate only on individual letters and their ideal form and allow your child to automate the movements.

When holding the pen, make sure they use the three-point grip, with the thumb and index finger holding the pen and the middle finger serving as support. Insist on this grip consistently. However, as soon as your child starts to tense up, take a break and then pay attention to their pen grip again.

Establish small rituals - you could for example ring a bell every now and then during homework time, prompting your child to check their posture.

Make handwriting part of your everyday life by writing postcards, shopping lists, short messages, "research reports," recipes, game instructions, travel reports and the like.

How can parents motivate their children?

Schönweiss: All parents can assume that their children are motivated to begin with - or that they can be motivated if they understand the purpose of the effort and the challenge is one they can master. However, it is not uncommon for this initial curiosity and willingness to learn and constantly improve to be lost.

Parents should then convey to children that they are ultimately working for themselves and that by learning to write, they are becoming more independent, able to exchange ideas with others and learn more and more about the world.

It is very important that parents do not become impatient and do not focus too much on achieving the desired result. It is not possible to prescribe learning success. Even if it is clear that success is not possible without effort, encourage your child and support them so that they can take small steps in their learning, and then appreciate these as real successes together. – By Christina Bachmann/dpa