Ive never had good penmanship, I cant even hold a pencil correctly (at least thats what ive been told). So I wouldnt be able to tell with myself. But it does make sense as to why it would make kids lose their skills.

I think it's probably a good thing they are developing computer skills more than handwriting. All my life my chicken scratch has been causing me problems, recently so less and less because everybody wants everything typed. Maybe my chicken scratch helped pioneer the transfer.






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Well, on one hand it probably will have some sort of negative impact on writing, much like access to a calculator has a negative impact on math. However typing is so much easier to read than most people's chicken scratch.

I remember reading somewhere though that kids of the next generation will essentially mature faster due to the access of computers and the Internet. They have easier access to learn about things they are interested in, as well as having everything they could need as a whole at their fingertips.

This could be total bologne, but I couldn't see having a "World Encyclopedia" in your house hampering anyone's learning. I've learned things that I would have never found out if the Internet never existed, and I'm more or less past my childhood "information spunge brain" stage.

I do also remember learning in University that people roughly my age as a whole score higher on IQ tests because of Video Games. One of the things that IQ Tests measure is Spacial Rotation, and people in the 1930s didn't have video games to build that part of their thinking process, so essentially young whippersnappers such as myself that have played a foolish amount of video games would outscore a senior citizen in an IQ test, even if they were in their prime more often than not. So in all likelihood when I'm of senior citizen age, the young whippersnappers as a whole will probably score higher on an IQ Test due to having greater access to the Internet and whatnot at a younger age.

I kind of went off topic there, but it's similar to how humankind is seemingly unable to build any sort of beautiful architecture any longer. Everything is big boxes now since we've seemingly lost the ability. Is this a bad thing? To a degree, same as losing any amount of basic handwriting legibility, but it's also a sign of the times, and sometimes you just kind of accept that certain aspect in life will pass up by whether we like it or not. *shrugs*

Right now and in the future writing might just even become obsolete considering typing is generally so much faster and legible. My handwriting suck though so maybe it has something to do with technology.

Honestly, it only effects it if they do not have to write by hand often. My handwriting hasn't really changed since I starting using computers... it has always been hen-scratch. Sadly, working for the Census for two months did more to improve my writing than twelve years of school ever did just because of how anal retentive my field supervisor was.

No, what I noticed being effected more than anything is my spelling. I have grown so accustomed to spellcheckers and auto-correcting software such as what is included in Word that I find myself making way more typos than I used to. Sometimes I forget how to spell words that I have known how to spell for years. That is what disturbs me.

As for Geeogree's rather disturbing observation... that is why I am writing a book.

I don't think children are losing their handwriting skills because of typing on a keyboard. (At least not me anyways)

MegaHarv : I agree with you… Like I said I believe it all boils down to what an individual child needs to comprehend better. I think it needs to be thought out more before anyone can say anything for or against technology or hand writing.

I am a writer so I can certainly see both sides of the argument here. One thing that bothers me about some of the studies some research groups conduct about learning is that it seems to focus less on what children actually know and more on basing the studies conducted on generalizations.

I have horrific presentation and handwriting skills but school's the only place I need to write anything now, so it dosen't bother me

It is always good to work on your hand writing from time to time even if you don’t have to make use of it every day. I had to work really hard on my hand writing as a child even had to take occupational therapy in school to work on my hand writing and even though I use computers for my work I still end up taking notes from time to time depending on what I am working on and such. Although as I said I believe it boils down to how a child learns and what makes it easier for a child to comprehend better, I still think hand writing is a necessity. Besides you never know when you’re going to need to fill out paperwork of some type etc

I believe the current generation may still have okay handwriting skills, but emphasis on computer use isn't exactly helpful. In the future I think kindergarteners will be typing on computers instead of writing on paper. That's when handwriting will die out.

No, not at all are they losing handwriting skills over typing on the computer. If anything typing on the computer increases their vocabulary and will to want to write and explain themselves. I think this is the reason why computer class is always required to graduate.

I think that it does affect their handwriting. I've seen the results, as I've been a student assistant before. It's very noticeable. Their word knowledge is huge, but they aren't great spellers and their handwriting stinks.

I don't think so. I think it's just that kids don't spend enough time practicing hand writing. I mean, look back 50 years, there were kids that had crappy hand writing too. I think that typing actually helps you expand your vocabulary and helps your spelling in some instances.

thank good i was born in the last good generation 1982

Woo! Thats a good question. No, I still have good handwriting and I'm taking typing class right now.

My life isn't digital and I haben't been typing for a long time, but I still have bad handwriting. I think it depends on your genes.

Nah...I'm like the only kid who has bad handwriting in my school (didn't take OT when i was a kid ). Anyway, soon computers will be the primary way of writing, so why stop it?

I'm not exactly sure. MY handwriting skills were always crappy before I started using computers.

At least our computer typing skills get better. I think our handwriting skills stay the same.

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I dont think so...maybe it weakens it, but I dont think it eliminates the skills to write