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In the era of distance learning, children’s habits of writing on paper by hand are starting to erode. They are more accustomed to typing on electronic devices (gadgets).
In fact, writing by hand is a basic skill that is very important in the process of children’s growth and development, especially for brain development and memory. Apart from that, handwriting skills can also strengthen the development of other skills.
Writing by hand can improve children’s fine motor skills
In a study published in the journal Psychological Science by Johns Hopkins University (JHU), it was stated that writing by hand can improve children’s fine motor skills and improve their motor-perceptual skills. This has an effect on children’s literacy and numeracy skills becoming faster. Writing by hand is actually more efficient than typing on a keyboard or watching videos. This statement is the result of research by Wiley & Rapp on June 29 2021.
Widyaprada Associate Expert at the Directorate of Elementary School, Ministry of Education and Culture, Dr. Sugiyanto, S.IP also emphasized the importance of handwriting from an early age.
Apart from being beneficial for children’s brain growth and abilities, writing by hand also has an impact on overall mental growth.
“Writing by hand not only helps them understand information better, but also supports their motor and social development,” explained Sugiyanto. “Currently children prefer to use gadgets. I support writing by hand from an early age,” he explained.
“It can train them to focus more cognitively. So we can conclude that writing by hand is a fun physical activity,” concluded Sugiyanto.
Robert Vallet (1969) in the theory of Embodied Cognitive Development (ECD) also emphasized the same thing, that thinking or cognitive abilities originate from sensori-motor activities.
When the hand works with a writing instrument, the brain follows. Writing by hand is an effective way to make children more focused, creative, and improve their memory skills. Post-pandemic is a challenging time for the world of basic education. “Changes in behavior patterns and disturbances in children’s motor skills are challenges in themselves.”
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Based on the article above, some of the problems or problems that may be faced are:
- Change in Writing Habits: Children tend to shift from writing by hand to typing on electronic devices (gadgets). This can result in the erosion of the ability to write by hand, which is important for the development of fine motor skills and cognitive abilities.
- Limitations of the Benefits of Writing by Hand: Although the importance of writing by hand has been proven in studies, children’s preference for technology can reduce the time spent on physical activities such as writing by hand.
- Disturbances in Motor Skills: Changes in behavioral patterns due to excessive use of gadgets can potentially cause disturbances in children’s motor skills, which in turn can affect their cognitive and social development.
- Challenges in Post-Pandemic Education: Post-pandemic, children’s behavioral patterns and learning habits have changed. This challenges the world of education to adjust learning approaches, including in terms of developing children’s motor and cognitive skills.
- Limited Direct Interaction and Experience: Although electronic reading can provide extensive access to information, direct interaction with a physical book and the process of writing by hand are still important for the development of social, motor, and cognitive skills.
The conclusion from the article above is that even though technology offers easy access to information, writing by hand still has important value in the development of children’s fine motor skills, cognitive abilities and literacy. The importance of choosing the right books and literature was also highlighted as an important factor in maximizing the benefits of children’s learning.
Other challenges include changes in post-pandemic behavior patterns that affect children’s motor and cognitive skills, as well as limited direct interaction with physical books that can affect children’s social development. Therefore, there needs to be a balance between the use of technology and physical activities such as writing by hand to support children’s holistic development.
By understanding these challenges, parents and educators can take steps to promote a balanced education, select literature that supports children’s development, and facilitate the development of their fine motor and cognitive skills in an effective and sustainable manner.
Read the source article here
