05/28/2025
A recent study has confirmed that young children learn letters and words more effectively through handwriting than using keyboards. Researchers taught 5- to 6-year-olds new letters and pseudowords in two groups: one practiced writing by hand, while the other used keyboards. The children who practiced writing manually performed significantly better in recognition, writing, and pronunciation tests, especially with unfamiliar word sequences.
The study highlights the importance of graphomotor movements—how moving the hand to write helps reinforce the shapes and structures of letters. Handwriting exercises seem to play a crucial role in developing these skills, helping children absorb and remember letter and word structures more effectively.
Additionally, the research found that freehand writing, where children copied words without guides, led to the best learning outcomes. In contrast, typing on a keyboard had less impact on letter recognition and pronunciation. The study suggests that, while technology can complement learning, handwriting should remain central to early literacy education.
The researchers concluded that handwriting is essential for building foundational literacy skills. With the rise of digital tools in classrooms, this research serves as a reminder that traditional pen-and-paper methods are still highly effective for young learners.
