How do we know that we are actually helping our children if we allow them to predominantly use computers and other devices?

Can we really say that children are well-educated if they can’t write using pen and paper?

Is it because technology-based writing is widely lauded through the media that pen and paper writing is becoming more and more unfashionable?

Laura Dinehart, an assistant professor of early childhood education at Florida International University, researches the development and early academic outcomes of children from 0 to 5 years and believes “that early writing skills can serve at least as an indicator of later achievement.”

In a study of over 3,000 preschoolers in Florida, Dinehart has discovered that 4-year-olds with well-developed handwriting skills are more likely to excel academically in elementary school.

Their ability to copy letters, numbers and shapes as pre-schoolers significantly predicted their results in standardised tests in second grade reading and maths, although the reasons for this as yet remain unclear.

The study is continuing to investigate why.

“We think it could be attention. We think kids that have greater attention skills could also have greater writing skills because they’re able to focus and they’re able to copy,” explained Dinehart.

Personally, I would expect also that many of these children’s families value education very highly, and that their parents or caregivers have provided them with strong support in all learning areas right through to the second grade. It will be interesting to see what the research shows.

I think Dinehart’s advice for parents of young children is excellent.

She advises them to provide their children with as many opportunities to engage with physical writing tools as possible, and to avoid getting swayed into thinking that electronic devices are more fun or educational.

She recommends providing a range of writing materials at home, such as paper, pencils, crayons, chalk & easel, and encouraging children to use them inside and outside, especially as part of imaginary play – eg, as ‘doctors’ writing prescriptions or ‘mums’ going shopping with a list.

She also stresses the importance of parents being good role models for writing – eg writing lists and notes for friends or family members by hand.

And she clearly states that if a child doesn’t want to write, they shouldn’t be forced to. Parents should keep providing the opportunities and the encouragement, and keep modelling.

Dinehart reminds us that what’s important here is the actual act of writing. We should not be talking about horrible handwriting or inaccurate spelling with little kids, but rather helping them develop a love of writing by writing for fun.

Writing help for 7-11 year olds

Their current quests revolve around designing toys that bridge offline play with online apps, and designing interactive and educational toys that involve “playful learning.” Both of these will contain elements that focus on teaching children of all ages to work as part of a team and collaborate.

Microsoft’s Games are hoping that

“…new experiences through interactive games with the Kinect gesture interface can enhance family interactions.”

So does this mean…

• There are findings that kids who have been swallowed up in digital media for years have lost the ability to communicate with their families?
• There is now enough concern about this and about kids’ other social issues for some technological giants to take action to try and address them?
• One of the best ways to address family and social issues is by educating kids using more digital media products?

Here’s an interesting statement from Microsoft’s Games:

“Learning through games or interactive media should improve children’s problem-solving skills, which is a break from today’s educational system of transferring information from teachers to students.”

If technological giants are now trying to share the load in our kids’ education & social skills development, but are actually unaware that today’s educational systems do not focus on transferring knowledge from teachers to students, but rather on building well-rounded individuals who have the capacity to meet future challenges and problem-solve for themselves, then maybe, just maybe, it’s all about…you guessed it.

Writing help for 7-11 year olds