Writing sparks creativity. It boosts self-confidence, makes better readers, and can help improve critical thinking skills. There are so many reasons children should learn to write. It’s quite frankly outrageous to me that some schools no longer feel it’s important to teach kids to write. I am so happy to partner with BIC® in the fight to save handwriting.
I was so shocked recently when my 16 year old niece, who is an honor roll student, had difficulty reading a birthday card from her grandmother that was written in cursive. It was by no fault of her own. Her school simply didn’t put an emphasis on handwriting. When I was her age I spent hours journaling and writing in my diary. Today’s kids do everything electronically and online. I am so glad my son graduated before they stopped teaching handwriting.
My youngest niece goes to a magnet school with a focus on technology. The school gave each child an iPad that students use for all classwork and homework. This is great, except for the fact that they aren’t teaching students handwriting. Teaching students handwriting has pretty much become extinct. Don’t get me wrong. Technology is great. I love it and am a bit of a tech geek myself, but technology shouldn’t come with such a big sacrifice.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do at home to encourage writing and save the art of handwriting. I think making homemade cards with a handwritten note inside for birthdays and other occasions is a fun way brighten the day of a friend or family member, and encourage creativity at the same time.
When doing your back-to-school shopping, I encourage you to pick up some BIC® Mechanical Pencils. They come in so many fun and exciting colors and styles for making writing more fun.
Here are some more fun ideas for getting your child to write at home:
1. Purchase or make a journal where your child can write about the day’s events and how they feel.
2. Challenge your kids to come up with a genius invention and write it down in their journal. Share their ideas with your family.
3. Encourage your child to create their own comic book.
4. Write silly fill in the blank stories. This is a fun activity for the whole family.
5. Take time outside with your kids and create your own eye-spy game. Write down everything you see!
How do you encourage handwriting at home? I would love to hear your ideas.
Join BIC on their mission to save handwriting and Fight For Your Write.
I would like to invite you to join the BIC® Fight For Your Write Mission to save handwriting by visiting BICFightForYourWrite.com and signing the pledge to save handwriting to support the cause! For every signature BIC will donate one pen or pencil to AdoptAClassroom.org. (Maximum donation of 200,000.) Plus, when you take the pledge you are entered to WIN a $1,200 BIC Prize Pack to help you and your family write more at home. No Purch Nec., U.S. only, 18+. Ends 9/14/2015. For details and full rules visit www.bicfightforyourwrite.com.
BIC® Mechanical Pencils have been helping kids reach their potential for over 30 years. Join BIC® this year as they celebrate 30 years of success. Because when kids write, things click! To celebrate they are having a “surprise 30th birthday” Sweepstakes on the BIC Pen Pals Facebook Page.
Take note of these dates for the “surprise 30th birthday” Sweepstakes:
1. 8/6 Giveaway: No Purch Nec., U.S. only, 18+. Ends 8/6/15
2. 8/16 Giveaway: No Purch Nec., U.S. only, 18+. Ends 8/16/15
3. 8/28 Giveaway: No Purch Nec., U.S. only, 18+. Ends 8/28/15
4. 9/10 Giveaway: No Purch Nec., U.S. only, 18+. Ends 9/10/15
Become a BIC® Handwriting Hero! I hope you’ll take the #BICFightForYourWrite pledge. Also, join the BIC Fight For Your Write mission to save handwriting by writing with BIC Mechanical Pencils!
Compensation was provided by BIC via MomTrends Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of BIC or MomTrends Media.
I had to write out a form for my son not long ago and my hand cramped up from all that writing LOL. I hardly ever write anymore.
It is very important for children to be able to read and write in cursive. Many of my middle school students come to us not knowing how to do so.
In our schools, the kids learn it starting in 3rd grade.
I remember in grade 5 we had to get 5 gold stars in order to be able to use a pen. We all practiced really hard with our handwriting to earn that pen.
I hardly ever write anymore, too, so when I wrote a letter to my son’s teacher, my handwriting was so bad. I love Bic and I need to practice my writing again.
I am so with you on this. I think it’s important that we teach kids to write, and it makes me sad that future generations won’t have handwritten letters handed down to them.
My 10 year old loves to write. She has so many notebooks that she creates stories in.
It still blows my mind that they’ve stopped teaching kids how to write in cursive. Maybe they don’t need it in this modern time, but it still seems strange that they won’t know how to do it!
Don’t let writing fall by the wayside! I think it is absolutely abhorrent that they aren’t teaching cursive in schools anymore!
It’s amazing how much we DON’T write anymore (especially as bloggers). But, I can’t resist a good pen or pencil. I have enough to last a lifetime
I can’t believe that they have stopped teaching handwriting! That’s insane. I mean I knew they stopped but can’t believe they did. I love to write and I still fill up notebooks with ideas and thoughts!