Good Handwriting Skills Lead To Stronger Academic Performance
Research has proven that there is a positive correlation between better handwriting skills and increased academic performance in reading and writing. A study published in the Journal of Early Childhood Education and Development looked at 1,000 students when they were in pre-K and then later in second grade. They found that pre-K students with good fine motor skills—from handwriting instruction and practice—outperform their peers on both reading and math by second grade.
Good Handwriting Helps Kids Focus
Researchers have stated time and time again that you can’t underestimate the value of those “other” skills—that is, the ones that don’t show up on a formal test. Fine motor skills (especially through handwriting) are definitely included in those skills, as cited in a 2012 study in the journal Child Development. They write, “handwriting supports executive function by engaging a child’s attention and developing her ability to focus.”
