Handwriting Is Dead — Or Is It?

We are in a technology driven age where using an actual pen and paper is becoming rare if not non-existent. In fact, in most of our schools, learning handwriting is becoming a thing of the past. It’s just not being taught very often past 2nd grade. Educators are ditching handwriting in favor of teaching the use of a keyboard and typing. And cursive handwriting? Not even taught in most schools these days.

We’re watching this generation text and type notes directly onto a tablet. Rarely if ever do we see something handwritten. It used to be interesting to see another persons handwriting and signature and people often complimented people on their style of writing. It helped characterize a person and made them unique. It is also said that you can learn up to 5,000 different characteristics just by analyzing a person’s handwriting!

So if we’re losing handwriting, is that a dying art that we won’t see again? Are our children able to explore their creativity if they are only working in digital forms? Psychologists have proven that writing and typing on a keyboard use distinct separate brain patterns and produce different results. Are we exercising that creative side of drawing and writing?

Is handwriting dead? Because sometimes you just NEED to write. You need to get it all out there and make room for more in your brain. And if you haven’t tried doing that, I highly recommend it! Some call it “brain dumping” and recommend writing down everything that is on your mind. Clearing out your thoughts and getting your thoughts organized.

What’s that? You don’t like your handwriting or your kids handwriting? Practice makes perfect they say! Sometimes I love just sitting and coloring and writing and drawing with my kids. I think it also helps for them to see me doing it as well. It sets a good example.

I also really appreciate hand writing with my own children because we are big fans of writing thank you notes. Call me Southern, but it’s what I love and how I was raised. I love passing this down to my children. And fun thank you cards that Mommy designs doesn’t hurt either.

Handwriting in some opinions may be dying but hand lettering certainly is  not. In fact hand lettering is experiencing a renaissance with our generation like nothing before. Hand lettering books are flying off the shelves in stores, people are buying journals and travelers notebooks to practice in and it has become a sort of therapy. One of my good friends told me the other day that she practices hand lettering because it is a hobby that is unlike her job and is relaxing to her.

Did you know that National Handwriting day is January 23rd? This week I encourage you to put pen to paper. Write a letter to someone special to you. Start a journal. Do something to inspire and relax. I want to join you too! I’ll be posting a writing prompt over on Instagram each day this week. Write something based on that prompt. If you’d like to share, tag me on social media with the hashtag #writeyourlove.

I’ll be giving away a Tales of a Peanut prize pack to someone who participates during the week. The pack includes a Handwritten Heritage set, some of my favorite Le Pen pens, a kraft box to store your stationery in, a collection of “Happy Day” notecards, and some fun washi tape!

Let’s get to writing!