Handwriting is good for the brain!

Here is a piece of serendipity, which adds to what I wrote in  my last blog:https://afiveelementcompanion.blogspot.com/2025/01/thoughts-on-writing-my-books.html

After posting my blog, I read a lovely but sad book review of Christine Rosen’s The Extinction of Experience.  This bemoans the fact that “handwriting is disappearing”. Apparently more and more children throughout the world are no longer taught how to hand write, and in particular, how to move on to do joined-up writing (cursive).  This made me realise that all computer-generated writing is in stand-alone letters.  Soon nobody will be able not only to write personal letters but to read those of others, and particularly those of other ages.  

The book also emphasizes the importance of the brain activity involved in handwriting. Copying out notes in class by hand rather than using a computer-generated cut, copy and paste function forces the brain into greater activity as it has to work to select what it wants to copy.   

 

So I can understand a little better why I find handwriting such an essential part of my writing routine.  I am obviously using my brain more than I would be if I stayed at home typing on my computer – no bad thing at my age!