A couple years back I remember reading an article about how fewer and fewer schools were still teaching kids how to write script (cursive). My first thoughts were, “How will kids learn to sign their own name? How will they read historical documents? Or even understand pieces of family history like my Grandpa’s letters home from his time in the Navy during World War II?” I find this seeming lapse in education completely baffling.
Last summer my cousin who is a high school teacher mentioned an article from The New York Times that she had recently read. We then had a very interesting conversation about how science was now providing evidence of something I had long known myself. Namely, that both printing and cursive writing are important. You can find a link to that and other articles at the BIC Fight For Your Write campaign website HERE. We also discussed how I was incorporating writing into the homeschool curriculum I am using for my girls.
When the opportunity came up to share the BIC Fight For Your Write campaign with our readers I jumped at the chance. Teaching kids how to write, helping them succeed because of all the benefits they receive from writing, is something I feel rather passionately about.
Did you know that handwriting improves cognitive development, improves reading skills, and increases memory recall? Oh yes, all those college students across the nation who have perfected their speed typing skills and want to have better retention of their class lectures from note taking should think about giving up the laptop and switching to pen & paper.
Handwriting also helps with eye-hand coordination, spatial perception, and language skills. The benefits of writing are many and because of this I was excited to get my girls equipped to enjoy writing this school year with some new tools from BIC. Today was our first day of school and one of the first things I had each of the girls doing was to practice writing.
With so many great tools from BIC it’s easy to find the right tool for everyone in your family! My 6-year-old was beyond excited to discover and begin using our 4-Color Mini Pen and her little sister was quick to lay claim to the BIC Kids Pen and Pencil which are perfect for her little hands and developing writing skills. While the kids had their new tools to practice with, I made sure that they knew the 4-Color Metalic Body pen was mine, along with the BIC Kids Stylus (which I found is perfect for using with my iPad but I’ll gladly share when they practice educational writing games).
You can learn more about the BIC Fight For Your Write campaign at their website. There you will also find tips, downloads, links, and tools to help your kids excel with handwriting.
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A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!!
One theSIMPLEmoms readers will win a BIC Back-to-School Product Set! Here’s how to enter:
angela higdon
September 17, 2014 at 11:40 pmI learned that I need to work with my kids for at least 15 minutes a day on their handwriting!
Tammy Woodall
September 17, 2014 at 11:33 pmI learned that a great way for Family’s to Fight For Our Write is to get children to spend time writing to help their confidence and helps provide a tool to demonstrate their creativity.
Sue Hull
September 17, 2014 at 11:22 pmI learned writing helps creativity. Thank you for the chance 🙂
Luna S
September 17, 2014 at 9:15 pmWriting Sharpens Critical Thinking Skills, I have my daughter practice her writing every day to help strengthen how her writing looks, to help her practice spelling and to keep her mind active.
wendy rozema
September 17, 2014 at 6:35 pmI learned that Handwriting sparks creativity, and students should do 15 min a day of handwriting! I will fight for our write by having my kids write more each day.
Claire
September 17, 2014 at 6:25 pmI learned that writing Sharpens Critical Thinking Skills.
Dawn Monroe
September 17, 2014 at 6:22 pmI learned that hand writing promotes individualis. We have a dry erase board that everyone leaves notes on.
megan tilley
September 17, 2014 at 5:29 pmI didn’t know writing helped kids be more confident. I will be trying to have my kids write based off a prompt once a week.
kelly mcgrew
September 17, 2014 at 4:35 pm75% of american students grades 4-12 scored lower than their grade levels on national writing exams.
Pam H.
September 17, 2014 at 3:40 pmI learned that experts recommend children spend at least 15 minutes a day practicing their handwriting. I’m going to start encouraging my kids to write more.
Marcia Goss
September 17, 2014 at 3:12 pmI learned that 75% of students grades 4 to 12 were writing at below grade level. My 12 year old granddaughter loves to write stories and plays, and I encourage her.
Helen
September 17, 2014 at 11:21 amwriting improves critical thinking and cognitive development
Diana Hatch
September 17, 2014 at 10:51 amI love all the fun writing instruments that make writing fun for kids!
brittani adams
September 17, 2014 at 10:41 amI have learned alot of kids are not ready with proper handwriting skills even at a college age. I will help my children spend more time (recommended 15 minutes) handwriting a day.
Audra O'Hara
September 17, 2014 at 9:19 amI learned that handwriting engages 14 different abilities including motor planning. I ‘fight for our write’ by encouraging my daughter to practice her writing daily.
Teresa Thompson
September 17, 2014 at 7:35 amI learned that writing Sharpens Critical Thinking Skills.
Cassandra Eastman
September 16, 2014 at 2:06 pmI learned that writing helps children become more confident! My kids are 3 and 5 and learning to write, I love to see how much they learn everyday.
Virginia Rowell
September 13, 2014 at 9:49 pmI learned that writing helps to build your confidence. Everyday, we will write about the best part of our day.
Cynthia R
September 11, 2014 at 2:16 pmBic is donating one pen per signature for anyone who signs their petition up to 100,000, they nice of them!
Ty
September 11, 2014 at 9:46 amI learned that writing builds confidence. I’ve always loved writing. I loved the cool notebooks so I had to write in them.
Nannypanpan
September 11, 2014 at 7:27 amI learned they have a petition to encourage writing in schools. I still make my son write thank you’s
Dawn Keenan
September 10, 2014 at 9:37 pmI found out that handwriting develops cognitive thinking.
Leela
September 10, 2014 at 9:25 pmWriting builds self confidence.. no surprise there! My kids always have pens and composition books on hand.
Marci
September 10, 2014 at 6:09 pmWriting builds confidence and something all kids need is confidence!
Leigh Anne Borders
September 10, 2014 at 2:44 pmAs a teacher, this is such a great article and thing. Writing is so important and having an assortment does help foster or encourage more involvement!
Carmen Van Deursen
September 10, 2014 at 1:41 pmI was sold at better school performance. Definitely when the time comes for my son to learn cursive I’ll take the initiative to teach him his very own autograph.
Heather Hayes Panjon
September 9, 2014 at 5:14 pmI Learned That Writing Builds Self-Confidence! I’m Going To Encourage My Family To Be Creative And Fight For Our Write!
april yedinak
September 9, 2014 at 4:58 pmI encourage my kids to write with colorful gel pens and journals. I also gave them calligraphy sets and taught them cursive to make writing fancy fun for them.
michelle koerner
September 9, 2014 at 1:23 ami learnedd handwriting can help improve cognitive development and sharpens critical thinking.
Jessamine D.
September 8, 2014 at 8:49 pmI learned that 75% of American Students grades 4 – 12 were writing below grade level on a national writing exam.
Melinda Stephens
September 8, 2014 at 3:38 pmI learned that writing sparks creativity.
Helga/billsn beaks
September 7, 2014 at 10:45 pmI learned that their mission helps kids in a variety of ways, like improving reading skills.
Bethany Kreiter
September 7, 2014 at 8:26 amWe are going to have the kids write birthday wish lists and write to cousins and family in other states.
Audra watts
September 6, 2014 at 7:20 pmWe have our daughter write letters to family members
Sadie B.
September 6, 2014 at 6:18 pmWe are going to have the kids write birthday wish lists and write to cousins in other states.
Sarah Hall
September 6, 2014 at 6:09 pmI learned that writing fosters creativity. I have my grandson send me letters thru the mail so that he will practice his writing.
Robin Wilson
September 6, 2014 at 2:49 pmI signed the petition to help with the Fight for Your Write
Jessica To
September 6, 2014 at 2:29 pmI learned that handwriting sparks your creativity. I try to have my son keep a journal over the summer to keep his writing skills up.
Stephanie
September 6, 2014 at 11:09 amI learned that that writing is also a critical learning tool for children!!
Nina H
September 6, 2014 at 12:24 amI learned they recommend 15 minutes of writing a day. We’re doing lots of letter practice with our kids!
Jessica H.
September 5, 2014 at 8:48 pmI think it is horrible that 75% of children in America in grades 3-12 write below grade level on national exams. I encourage writing in my girls by providing them with notebooks and fun pens. They love writing stories, so it is not that difficult to get them to write. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
wen budro
September 5, 2014 at 5:37 pmI learned that helping kids to practice writing skills helps them to be more creative and successful. This sounds like a wonderful campaign.
Darlene Jones-Nelson
September 5, 2014 at 11:15 amI am going to make my kids practice writing for 15 minutes a day! I would bet the reason why kids are terrible at handwriting is due to the computers.
Danielle Papsis
September 5, 2014 at 9:39 amI learned that that writing is also a critical learning tool for children. Writing helps kids become better readers, boosts their confidence and sparks their creativity. I’m going to help my daughter learn how to write.
Gina M (Wild Orchid)
September 4, 2014 at 9:36 pmI learned that you can “make up games around writing. Have kids practice signing their autograph to give to mom or dad”
Entered the rafflecopter form as “Wild Orchid”
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Diane Cooper
September 4, 2014 at 6:10 pmI was shocked to learn how many students are below their grade level in writing skills. I love all the tips parents can learn from BIC Fight For Your Write Website.
Seyma Shabbir
September 4, 2014 at 6:08 pmI learned that “Writing helps children become more confident, creative and awesome”! That is true!
Sindy Murray
September 4, 2014 at 12:16 pm75% of students grades 4-12 were writing below grade level!
Masooma
September 4, 2014 at 12:02 pmI learned that 75% of American students in grades 4-12 were writing below grade level!! I’ll make sure my kids practice their handwriting everyday to beat that statistic!!
Michele P
September 4, 2014 at 12:33 amI learned that experts recommend at least 15 minutes daily of writing for students… and we are going to fight for our write by having my daughter keep a diary or journal and my grandsons will write their names and practice things I have written for them by tracing the letters.
Amanda Alvarado
September 3, 2014 at 10:50 pmI learned that handwriting can boost a child’s confidence and spark their creativity. Dd has to write every day for homework so we make sure she does it every day (even when she has a homework pass and doesn’t have to). She is not liking writing so it’s a struggle!
Shemp DeYoung (@shempgames)
September 3, 2014 at 8:16 pmI had no idea how many pens & mechanical pencils Bic had for little kids.
Cheryl
September 3, 2014 at 7:47 pmI learned that writing Improves Cognitive Development. We write letters and cards as a family.
Daraya
September 3, 2014 at 4:58 pmI learned that handwriting engages 14 different abilities! My children Fight For Their Write every day by writing or drawing! 🙂
Mayla M
September 3, 2014 at 4:51 pmI like tip #2! Have an assortment of colorful pens, pencils and markers on hand that will make kids want to spend more time writing.
D Schmidt
September 3, 2014 at 3:36 pmVisited the site and learned research has proven that there is a positive correlation between better handwriting skills and increased academic performance in reading and writing.
I just started homeschooling and handwriting is something we are taking very seriously.
janetfaye
September 3, 2014 at 2:59 pmI learned that handwriting sharpens your critical thinking skills. I help Fight For The Write by practicing handwriting with him because his school is not teaching them.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Kimberly
September 3, 2014 at 2:59 pmI learned that it sharpens critical thinking skills and I will incorporate a lot more writing into our everyday activities: writing thank you notes, grocery lists, wish lists for birthdays and Christmas, letters to out of town relatives, etc.
Natalie F
September 3, 2014 at 1:58 pmI checked out their Tools and Tips. I like the “Give kids a fun assignment that requires them to write. Make a birthday wish list or write a letter to someone famous.” I think making a Birthday list, Christmas List, letter to Santa or things they are thankful for etc. would be a great way to inspire them to write.
Patricia
September 3, 2014 at 12:40 pmWriting is important in communication. Writing sparks creativity.
chickie brewer
September 3, 2014 at 12:00 pmI learned that it sharpens critical thinking skills.
Darlene Owen
September 3, 2014 at 11:41 amI learned that handwriting Improves Cognitive Development
beth
September 3, 2014 at 11:24 amI learned that you should set aside a specific time each week for writing and I believe we will do just that.
Tonya C
September 3, 2014 at 11:20 amMy daughter writes stories everyday. She started a joke book yesterday and kept us all laughing. My son writes a short journal every day or other day and draws a picture. It’s fantastic writing practice! Plus helps with his memory!
latanya
September 3, 2014 at 11:04 amI learned that it is important to have an assortment of colorful pens, pencils and markers on hand that will make kids want to spend more time writing.
Miranda Welle
September 3, 2014 at 10:49 amWe will Fight For Our Write by having the kids write in their journals every day. 🙂