5 Powerful Benefits Of Cursive Writing

Any writing with pencil and paper engages attention much more than a computer. But especially cursive writing. It's because the pencil never leaves the paper in the midst of each word. This does not mean I'm against something like touch-typing.

Cursive Writing For Brain Development

There are many benefits of cursive writing:

Visually beautiful;
Improves memory;
Trains fine motor skills;
Requires focused attention; and
Can encourage a stream of consciousness while writing.

I got interested in cursive while working at a Montessori school. I had to slow down because the children were learning something new and doing it in English as a second language. That slowness turned out to be part of the appeal. Practicing slowly is valuable because it lets the movement become smoother and more automatic.

In and Out of Stream Of Consciousness

If your pencil is sharpened and you keep your hand and fingers relaxed, it becomes natural to hold the pencil further away from the page. That allows you to write more quickly and lets free thought flow with less resistance.

How Do Beginners Learn Cursive Writing?

The best way is to model someone else doing it. If they are ready to take action, print out some sample cursive letters:

Start with lower-case letters;
Move on to upper-case letters; then
Practice in your own time and style.

The 3 Types of Cursive Writing

Looped cursive writing — some letters are written with loops to keep everything connected;
Italic cursive writing — joining the letters is discouraged but each has the look of cursive;
Connected cursive writing — joined italic cursive writing and usually the quickest.

How To Improve Cursive Writing

It should be an enriched exercise for a child or adult, not a requirement. Ideas include finding a pen-pal, using it as artwork for cards, writing in soil or sand, and simply experimenting. When mistakes begin to increase during a session, either stop or slow down.

Additional Cursive Writing Tips

If certain letters repeatedly cause difficulty, practice those ones in particular.
Stick to simple text that isn't very long — short, regular sessions are better than forcing a marathon.
Go easy on yourself or your child. It doesn't need to be perfect, just consistent.

Thoughts On Self-Directed Learning

We're all in the same boat, children and adults, exploring our curiosity to discover and learn. That freedom to practice and develop your own style is the point. You can read more about self-directed learning here. Mick.