Writing by Hand

In today’s digital world, the act of writing by hand is steadily vanishing. Keyboards and
touchscreens have replaced pen and paper across schools, workplaces and homes. Recent
studies show that nearly 40% of Gen Z struggle with basic handwriting. This shift is however,
not just about convenience; it’s changing how we think, learn and connect with the world.
Handwriting is more than just a practical skill – it is a deeply personal form of expression. Each
person’s handwriting reveals individuality and emotion.
More importantly, research shows that writing by hand engages the brain in unique ways,
enhancing memory, comprehension and learning. According to Linguist Walter Ong (1982)
writing is necessary to help the human mind achieve its full potential. It allows the writer to
‘concretize abstract ideas and to connect the dots in their knowledge.” Students who take
handwritten notes retain information better as handwriting forces slower, more deliberate
processing. A study by Klein and Boals (2001) found that when adults wrote about significant
life events their memory for such events is improved. Journal writing is one of the strategies
used for emotional wellbeing. Short term focused writing can, according to James Pennebaker,
a cognitive psychologist at the University of Texas- Austin, benefit anyone-from persons who are
dealing with terminal illness, victims of violent crimes, new college students struggling with the
transition from high school, and many others.
Handwriting is a complex motor skill that relies on the development of bones, muscles and
coordination. The hand contains intricate bones and a network of muscles and tendons that
enable precise movements, like fine finger movements, stability and grip. Developmentally, a
whole-hand grip develops between 12 and 18 months and the child can hold a writing
instrument, but not in the pointed way needed for writing. Tracing lines and circles at 2-3 years,
they develop eye-hand coordination. Hand dominance is usually established at 5 years; and
writing becomes more consistent and legible with improved speed and efficiency at around 6-7
years of age. Before the age of 4, the bones are mainly cartilage and start to harden only after
that. That is why children under the age of 5 may struggle with writing or drawing, since it defies
the natural development of the hand as well as brain functions. Dr Carla Hannaford in her book,
Smart Moves – Why learning is not all in your head, mentions that if you look at X-rays of the
hands during development, you will notice that the intricate bones of the area near the wrist-the
carpals are not fully developed until about age twenty. The more developed these bones are, the
easier it is to hold a pen or pencil to write. If the child has had a lot of sensory-motor activation
of the hand, writing can more easily be taught at about the ages of eight to ten. Dr Hannaford believes
that premature introduction to writing is a major causative agent in the writing blocks that many
students and adults experience.
The rise of digital technology has transformed how we communicate and learn, but it has also
contributed to the decline of handwriting. While digital tools offer speed and convenience,
research shows that handwriting activates broader brain networks, supports deeper learning
and enhances memory and creativity. A balanced approach – blending handwriting with
technology – can help can preserve the cognitive and developmental benefits of writing by
hand.