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.
This is awesome, I was obsessed with BIC growing up and now so is the boychild. I can’t wait to stock up for the school year.
I think hand writing is definitely a great skill to have. I find so many kids are losing it to all the typing. I encourage my kids to keep a journal.
Love these pencils! I’ve noticed they don’t put much importance on handwriting anymore. No cursive at all nearly unless the teacher wants to teach it. out of four kids only one was taught in school… Glad I taught it to them!
A dying art. Which is too bad because how will people sign their names in the future? It’s too bad they don’t really bring it back to school.
Writing hasn’t been replaced by computers quite yet, and I’m not sure if it ever will be completely. I truly believe being able to communicate, whether orally or written, is vital.
Love this campaign! My daughters love to write, thank goodness, but they don’t have the best handwriting, unfortunately. It seems like that isn’t a big focus at school. We’re trying to work on it, though!
I’ve been working with my kids on writing a book. They have so many stories and characters…it’s been fun!