Who still writes by hand in the Netherlands? With more than half of Dutch households, 51 per cent, owning one or more tablets, and ownership of computers, smartphones and laptops even higher, you might think we hardly ever pick up a pen. Well into the 1990s, typewriter mistakes needed correction fluid. Someone with neat handwriting could easily compete with heavily corrected sheets of paper. Now, technology makes it easy to type legibly, share text and correct it without mess. So why learn to write by hand?
There are at least seven good reasons.
- A workout for the hand. Writing requires coordination. As many as 29 joint components and 35 hand muscles are involved in writing a piece of text. It takes practice and keeps those skills active.
- Brain training. Writing by hand can help you remember things better than typing them.
- Achievement takes effort. Learning to write shows that effort produces results. Join letters to make a word, add words to form a sentence and organise sentences into paragraphs. It takes work while encouraging thought and learning.
- Coordination. Writing from a young age develops fine motor skills and hand–eye coordination, which also help with using other devices. Research has linked handwriting skills with later computer and laptop use.
- A personal note. Whether jotting down a phone number or writing someone a card, a handwritten message can feel much more personal.
- Affordability. Tablets and smartphones may be getting cheaper, but they cannot compete on price with a good BIC pen and a notepad.
- No power required. If your battery runs out, you are travelling somewhere remote or technology lets you down, it helps to be able to make a legible note.
My advice is to pick up a pen and notebook from time to time, even if only to keep your handwriting readable. If your handwriting is particularly attractive and you want more personal-looking text on your laptop, consider digitising it.
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