Exciting questions, clear answers
What value does learning to write by hand have in the development of children? What impact does handwriting have on personal development? How do children learn to write correctly from a motor skills and teaching point of view? What are the best tools for helping children to learn to write – keyboard, touchscreen or pen?
Our panel of experts from a range of disciplines grappled intensively with these and other questions. Here are their opinions.
"Parents who write show their children child the meaning of and sense in writing."
Prof. Wolfgang Steinig
Professor of linguistics and language teaching at the University of Siegen
"For children, writing means finding calm."
Peter Walter
Headteacher
"The presence of smartphones prevents boredom. But boredom is the driver of creativity."
Rainer Wassong
Practising occupational therapist and author from Mönchengladbach
"Writing by hand promotes brain development."
Prof. Renate Zimmer
Professor at the Institute for Sports and Movement Science at the University of Osnabrück
"Writing loosens blockages and puts people into a flow state. People experience writing by hand positively."
Dr. Angela Thamm
Head of the Institute for Play and Language in Aachen
"Handwriting is meditative and relaxing."
Kristina Kroll
Primary school teacher from Worms
"Writing by hand [requires] deeper reflection, which is important for personal development."
Prof. Guido Nottbusch
Professor of primary school teaching at the University of Potsdam
"Handwriting is experienced as closeness, because something is being created from the person themselves."
Prof. Wolfgang Steinig
Professor of linguistics and language teaching at the University of Siegen
