The Different Styles of Tutoring: A Must Read
Since every child is distinct and has an individual style of learning, the different styles of tutoring must be introduced and known to all parents. In this article, I highlight the different styles of tutoring with a focus on the most prominent styles used by teachers in recent times. Read this to the conclusion to get great insights on the styles that should be adopted for your child. What is a tutoring style? A tutoring style is defined as an educator’s approach to carrying out a lesson with a student or pupil. It is a method that is used by a teacher to ensure that every student digests what they are being taught. READ: The Do’s and Don’ts Of After School Tutoring The Different Styles of Tutoring 1, Visual tutoring Visual learning is a type of learning style in which students prefer to use images, graphics, colors, and maps to communicate ideas and thoughts. Therefore, to determine whether your student is a visual learner, you can ask them simple questions like whether they prefer movies or books. If they are a visual learner, they’ll choose movies. 2, Auditory tutoring Auditory learning means that a student learns most effectively by listening. They would prefer listening to a lecture over reading a textbook. As a result, auditory learners require aural input to make meaning of words, which is why they struggle with non-auditory tasks such as reading and writing. Furthermore, they enjoy listening to music, reading to themselves aloud, and asking a lot of questions to help them express their ideas. 3, Logical tutoring This is a method by which tutors teach the child using order, steps, and logic. They are also quite good at mathematics. Logical learners respond best to activities that require problem-solving and inference. As a result, they are adept at spotting discernible trends and patterns in what they learn and may easily form conclusions using facts. READ: Is Homeschooling a Viable Option in Africa? 4, Physical tutoring The physical learning style is characterized by utilizing the body and sense of touch to understand the world around us. Physical learners are also known as kinesthetic learners. They are almost as common as visual learners, and these students learn best via a hands-on approach. You can identify a physical learner by a restless demeanour, excellent body control, good spatial awareness, and good hand-eye coordination. 5, Social tutoring This is a process by which a child acquires knowledge and skills through social interactions. What this means is that for the child to learn fast, the tutor needs to create an environment where there is interaction with other children. Humans have a strong tendency to imitate each other, and some children seem to learn better in situations where there is plenty of human interaction. This is what is known as social learning, otherwise known as interpersonal learning. Therefore, if you’re tutoring a group of students, role-playing and group activities might help the social learners in the group. For other useful strategies to apply with your students, check out this resource for interpersonal learning. 6, Solitary Learning Solitary learning is the opposite of social learning. Solitary learners can be thought of as the “introverts” of the educational world — they prefer to learn alone. As a result, these type of children don’t adjust well to online learning environments, which are often collaborative. A student is likely seeking one-to-one tuition with you because they’re unable to learn well in a shared space i.e. classroom. These pupils are highly self-motivated to complete assignments on their own. READ: Handwriting and Typewriting: Its Importance for Children How many different styles of learning are there? The most common tutoring styles used are predominantly Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic/Physical. These are the commonly used techniques by tutors. Conclusion When getting a tutor for your child, as a parent, you must endeavor to ask the teachers questions as doing this helps you understand if the person is a professional and can adequately cater to your child’s needs. Furthermore, you will gain a thorough comprehension of your child’s interests and how they assimilate their schoolwork and other activities in real-time. As a result, while looking for tutoring services, look for companies with a proven track record. Research properly on companies that have the necessary facilities at comprehending a child’s neurology and learning patterns. Finally, with ParentalPal, you get the best tutors to groom your child. Thank you for reading!
The Importance of Child Education in Today’s World
In a world where parenting has become so mediocre and children are growing up with low morals, the importance of child education cannot be overstated. Education is a process in which one person obtains or imparts fundamental knowledge to another. It is also where a person learns skills for daily life, social conventions, judgement and reasoning, and how to distinguish between good and evil. Follow this article to the conclusion to learn about the importance of child education and the purposes that education serves as a whole. READ: Should Children Be Taught Life Skills? Yes or No Why is education important for a child? Education helps to finetune a person’s life goals and future well-being. Thus, every child must get educated. Here are some of the other most common reasons education is so important: Education helps people improve their communication abilities by teaching them how to read, write, talk, and listen. Education promotes critical thinking. This is critical in teaching someone how to utilise reasoning while making decisions and communicating with others. Education helps people meet basic work requirements and increases their chances of getting better jobs in the future. Education encourages gender equality and empowers girls and women. According to a World Bank analysis, an extra year of schooling for girls in Peru reduces teen pregnancy rates by nearly 7%. Education lowers child mortality. According to UNESCO, a child born to a woman with a high school certificate is 31% more likely to live past the age of five. What are the functions of education? Education serves several functions, including socialisation, cultural transmission, job selection, and logical thinking. Therefore, the underlying functions of education are the subconscious purposes of school, which can be discovered through the profound relationships that students form. What are the characteristics of education? The characteristics of education are; Development of the mind and self, Intellectual capability, Moral judgement, Aesthetic judgement, Self- realization, Individual freedom, Individual responsibility and self-control. READ: How to Mentally Prepare Your Child for a New School Year Conclusion The main objective of education for a child is to prepare them to navigate life and contribute to society as they grow older. This demonstrates repeatedly why every parent must guarantee that their children receive the best education possible, both intellectually and morally. Neglecting one part in favour of the other can have a knock-on impact on the child since kids must develop a moral compass that will allow them to integrate into society while still performing well academically. Thank you for reading!
How to Mentally Prepare Your Child for a New School Year
As a parent, have you ever thought about how you can mentally prepare your child for a new school year? What does mental preparation have to do with anything? You say. Well, you are in for a long ride. I recall as kids, many of us were happy to begin the new school year, primarily because we were tired of being at home all summer and we missed our school friends who lived in various states and longed to see them again. However, the situation has changed in recent years since children now have access to a wide range of modern technology that keeps them busy. They frequently opt to continue watching YouTube cartoons or playing video games with no regard for anything else. As a result, instilling a back-to-school mindset in them is difficult since they are disinterested. This article has been written to help parents and guardians learn the different tips needed to prepare their children mentally for a new school year. READ: How To Prepare Your Child For the New School Year How to Mentally Prepare Your Child for a New School Year 1, Entice them with optimistic thoughts Preparing your child mentally for the new school year begins with instilling in them positive thoughts. You have to encourage them to be enthusiastic about the upcoming academic year and to appreciate the perks of the situation. Practise daily affirmations with them so they’re excited to start school again. 2, Get them organised early As a parent, you must do your part to prepare your child mentally for school. This implies you need to get organised with everything related to their school activities and needs. Do not begin arranging your children’s back to school necessities a week in advance; this is not acceptable. Instead, prepare, implement your plans, and get everything they’ll need two weeks before or during the holiday. You may also use parent assistance services such as ParentaPal to help you arrange a good schedule for the school year. 3, Practice self-care Beloved parent, this one’s for you. The fact is, if you’re not psychologically on board, you can’t prepare your child mentally. Therefore, you need to let go of your stress and take care of yourself. Get a babysitter or whatever else you need to do for your child, then take a break from work and unwind. Plus, you can practise wellness by doing things like; Meditation Reading Listening to music Visit the cinema/movie nights Exercise & Yoga READ: Things You Need to Know When Choosing a School for Your Child How Do I Prepare My Nervous Child for School? 1, Reduce their anxiety by carrying out a recce. This implies that you would go to the school a few times before the start of classes to allow your child to explore the hallways, locate their classroom, and, if it’s feasible, have a meeting with their teacher. They will have an opportunity to become accustomed to the routine through repetition especially if they are new to kindergarten or pre-kindergarten. 2, Continue to interact with your child after the initial resumption day. You must always enquire about their time at school after the first day, and establish a channel of communication with your child. It is even more important you do this if this is the child’s first day and first time in a formal school wall. READ: The Do’s and Don’ts Of After School Tutoring Conclusion When you set your mind to it, it is simple to get your child or ward mentally set up for the start of school. This article has thrown light on certain issues that many parents disregard. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of parents’ being psychologically right to do the same for their children. Finally, you must instill solid communication skills and understand how to keep your kids excited about starting school. As children return to school, we hope this piece has helped you greatly in getting them in the right state of mind. Thank you for reading!
How To Prepare Your Child For the New School Year
As the new school year draws near, every parent whose child is still enrolled in either primary or secondary school will be getting ready for the upcoming term. There would be a lot to do to make sure that the transition from a long summer break to another school session goes smoothly, as a result, it makes sense that things could feel a bit overwhelming for you as a parent at this point. We are talking about the purchase of numerous school supplies, including books, lunchboxes, shoes, and new uniforms. Fortunately, these unplanned times are over. To find out how to get your child ready for the upcoming school year, you should read this article. READ: Things You Need to Know When Choosing a School for Your Child Here is How To Prepare Your Child For the New School Year Step 1: Draw up goals and expectations A good method to get your child started is to assist them in making plans and setting goals for the upcoming school session. Instill in them a can-do mindset so that they can overcome obstacles and achieve all of their goals, no matter how little. Find out from your child what grades they anticipate earning in the many classes they will be taking. This ought to be carried out following their introduction to the subjects at school, particularly if they are unfamiliar with them. Start by having a discussion with them about what they hope to learn and accomplish over the first term of the session. Next, work with them to create SMART goals. Step 2: Set up an achievable schedule To maintain structure and balance for your family and children by creating a realistic routine that takes into account your work, children’s study routines and extracurricular activities, family life, and other responsibilities. Step 3: Get all stationeries ready With step 2 completed, it is time to begin purchasing all of their school supplies for the year. At this point, we’re talking about books, pens and pencils, art supplies, uniforms, bags and shoes, new stockings, new lunch bags, and much more. Step 4: Employ an after-school academic support service As a parent, it’s important to understand your child’s learning patterns and identify their strengths and weaknesses. If their weaknesses significantly impact their academic progress, it may be time to consider child academic support services. Organisations like ParentalPal offer tutoring and mentorship sessions for your child. You can also schedule a consultation to help guide your child’s academic success responsibly. READ: The Do’s and Don’ts Of After School Tutoring Conclusion In all you do to prepare yourself and the children for the upcoming school year, you must make sure to create a well-structured and balanced after-school routine. This routine must incorporate activities like play time, studying and homework time, naps, housework, and relaxation time. To create this, it is essential you carry out personal research and comprehend your children learning styles. This is a needed instrument for fostering kids’ growth. Thank you for reading!
The Do’s and Don’ts Of After School Tutoring
After-school tutoring is essential for students who wish to excel in their academics and gain confidence among their peers. Therefore, parents and students alike must learn the dos and don’ts of after school tutoring. Every parent must ensure their child receives extra tutoring outside of the school setting, as research has shown that this activity helps to keep the child ahead of their peers intellectually, mentally, and morally. In this post, we will go over the dos and don’ts of after-school tutoring so that you know what to expect as a parent when hiring a teacher to coach your child. READ: Is Homeschooling a Viable Option in Africa? The Dos of After School Tutoring When signing up for after-school tutoring for your child, as a parent, you must encourage them to: 1, Make mistakes. This allows them to readily grasp the metric of failure without feeling like a failure. Instead, they become even more determined to succeed. Making mistakes is acceptable in private tutoring since it is personalised, as opposed to the school setting, when a teacher must attend to several pupils at once. 2, Questions are welcome. Unlike in a typical classroom, guessing, asking questions repeatedly if you don’t understand, and sharing creative ideas are all encouraged in after-school lessons. 3, Access to all study resources and more. This is a very crucial part of after-school tutoring. In comparison with a school setting, where there is a timetable for engaging with resources, whether academic or otherwise. During extra lessons or coaching, the child can use any resource provided without hesitation or interruption. 4, Come unprepared. This is a critical dos that you should be cognisant of as a parent. With after-school sessions, your child does not need to be fully prepared at all times, nor do they need to know everything. The main point of extra coaching is to help your kid achieve academic and moral success. As a result, your child should come to these lessons prepared to ask questions without fear when they arise. This can sometimes be difficult if you employ a tutor who does not fully understand this aspect. Nevertheless, ParentalPal provides teachers who are specialists in their field, guaranteeing that the child’s shortcomings are thoroughly built into strengths. READ: Should Children Be Taught Life Skills? The Don’ts of After School Tutoring As a parent, you are responsible for making sure your child doesn’t do the following when you pay for after-school tutoring: 1, Neglect their classwork. Most of the time, because there is a tutor, parents forget that the teacher’s role is to supplement the child’s current knowledge from school and simplify it for the child’s understanding. Instead, you will find that the child abandons schoolwork. The result to waiting for the after-school tutor instead of finishing it themselves under the supervision of their parents. As a consequence, not paying attention in school cannot be replaced by tutoring sessions, nor are tutors expected to complete assignments for the student. The classroom teacher is still their primary source for mastering all content and evaluations. However, the lesson teacher will serve as an anchor to help the child stay grounded academically and socially. 2, Don’t rush the child. More often than not, when a tutor is coaching the child after school, parents hope for a miracle and for the child to understand all of their curriculum quickly. This is unreasonable and wrong. On no account should a child be pressured or throttled with excessive learning simply because you, the parent, want speedy results. This will further undermine the child’s confidence and enthusiasm for studying. 3, Don’t become nonchalant. This one is primarily for parents who rest easy after hiring tutors for their children. Many parents get so complacent and out of touch with their child’s academic pursuits. This is because they believe they have a tutor in the picture, and they do not need to fret or be concerned about anything else. The fact that you paid for a teacher to coach your child does not absolve you of your responsibility as parents. You still need to help your child acquire knowledge more by employing video tutorials, reading useful websites, and enquiring your friends for resources that can increase their love of learning. 4, Talk down to students. As a parent, you should never be so preoccupied that you are unaware of the tutor’s relationship with your child. Many of these tutors can be unprofessional at times, thus, you must follow up with your child in real-time to learn about the tutor’s character and how they interact as teacher and pupil. READ: The Effects of Gentle Parenting Conclusion When done right, after-school tutoring may be an excellent tool for boosting children’s confidence. It is a necessary evil that many parents will have to incorporate into their plans to ensure that their children excel in their various pursuits. Most importantly, it enables struggling children to keep up consistent study attempts outside of the traditional classroom setting. As a result, if parents notice that their children have difficulty in any subject, they should seek after school tutoring services to support them on their academic journey. Thank you for reading!
Should Children Be Taught Life Skills? Yes or No
Do you think children should be empowered with life skills? Our generic answer will be Yes, they should. And you are correct. This is because life skills must be instilled in kids from an early age as they will contribute to their overall success and personal development. Thus, ensuring your child is ready for the future is extremely important as it will help them develop excellent communication skills and understand interpersonal interactions, teamwork, and problem-solving outside of the classroom. The most important life lessons should be taught to children gradually, which is why this article has been tailored just for parents and dummies. To find out more about the significance of instilling life skills in kids, read through to the end. READ: What Should Children Do During the Summer Holiday? Learning or Fun What Are Life Skills? According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), life skills encompass psychosocial and interpersonal competencies that enable individuals to make informed decisions, solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, empathise with others, and manage their lives healthily and productively. Life skills can be used for personal or social acts, as well as environmental changes that promote health. Why should children be taught life skill sets? Building a strong foundation: A solid foundational background helps children academically by boosting their capacity to learn and retain information while also preparing them for future job success. Employers are increasingly searching for life skills, and having a diversified skill set gives them a competitive advantage. Promoting responsible citizenship: Life skills extend beyond academics. They help children become well-rounded persons with a strong sense of self-awareness. By developing emotional intelligence, decision-making skills, and healthy habits, students will be better able to contribute effectively to their communities. Additionally, it will also help them emerge as strong global citizens who understand and value variety. READ: 4 Activities to Keep Your Children Occupied This Summer Holiday Future readiness: In this day and age, adaptability is essential. Communication, cooperation, and problem-solving abilities are essential for dealing with issues at school and beyond. Become independent thinkers: Teaching life skills to children empowers them to think independently. They get the confidence to communicate clearly and concisely. Partnership and Teamwork: In today’s interconnected culture, children will be well-prepared for cooperation in school and the workplace if they learn to team up, connect, and resolve conflicts. Problem-solving mindset: Developing a problem-solving attitude prepares children to face challenges with resilience and ingenuity. Conclusion Children benefit greatly from incorporating actual life skill set into their curriculum of study. Therefore, acquiring knowledge in financial literacy, communication, and critical thinking help children prepare for issues they may face in the real world. Consequently, prioritising problem-solving and interpersonal skills improves students’ academic achievement and equips them for success outside of the classroom. Education in life skills goes beyond academics; it develops compassion, perseverance, and agility, creating well-rounded people who can succeed in a variety of situations. Finally, the emphasis on life skills in school benefits a student’s entire development and future success. Thank you for reading!
The Effects of Gentle Parenting
As a parent, you must have heard of the parenting style called gentle parenting. However, do you understand its effects and what it means to praticise this kind of parenting style? Can you consciously affirm that you have been practising gentle parenting? Moreso, understanding the effects that come with embracing this parenting style in your household? Follow this article till the end to learn the effects of the gentle parenting style and how it will impact your life as a parent in raising your child right. READ: The Different Stages of the Human Brain Development Meaning of Gentle Parenting Gentle parenting is a parenting style that emphasises connection, empathy, respect, validation, and constructive discipline. It emphasises the need to create a safe, nurturing atmosphere that supports the emotional needs of children while also setting clear and consistent boundaries. Effects of Gentle Parenting It builds empathy and validation As a parent, when talking to your kids, it’s important to acknowledge their feelings, including the negative ones. According to a publication by Bowlby (1982) and Sanders & Mazzuchelli (2017), doing this helps them feel understood and supported, and nurtures a secure attachment bond. It reinforces positive discipline Gentle parenting uses positive discipline techniques that emphasize encouragement, problem-solving, positive reinforcement, and teaching children valuable life skills (Nelsen, 2012; Eanes, 2012). This approach is opposed to inflicting pain and leaving negative impressions on children’s minds, which can lead to increased frustration, sadness, and guilt. It creates clear boundaries with choices Gentle parenting does not imply permissiveness. Thus, it entails establishing clear and consistent boundaries while providing children with age-appropriate options within those constraints. This promotes autonomy and teaches kids to make appropriate decisions (Grady, 2019). It builds strong bonds and connection Gentle parenting is founded on developing a solid and healthy relationship with our kids. Therefore, open communication, trust, and a secure space are all facilitated by this connection, which gives kids the confidence to communicate their ideas and feelings without fear of being prejudged (Siegel & Bryson, 2011; Sanvictores & Mendez, 2022). Why it is hard for you to adopt gentle parenting In actuality, this parenting approach requires a great deal of patience on the side of the parent. One of the unique challenges it presents is accepting, that your reality differs from that of your child’s. Therefore, you are looking to rewire how you think about raising your kids, and the way you handle conflict and expectations – which is a very tough task for many parents to do. Law 101 of gentle parenting is to unlearn and relearn! Or, catch yourself before you act! This is because this parenting style requires you to be actively involved in assisting your child in questioning, analysing, and processing their behaviour. You do this rather than taking over for them or attempting to force them to embrace the parenting style you grew up with. READ: Handwriting and Typewriting: Its Importance for Children Conclusion To successfully embrace gentle parenting, you must be willing to unlearn a lot of behaviour and establish acceptable boundaries with your children. Therefore, recognising the triggers that set off your child’s negative behaviour is critical in this parenting style. Consequently, we recommend that all parents learn to be patient when dealing with their children. If you are having difficulty implementing this parenting style in your household, you can seek guidance from child support companies like ParentalPal. Thank you for reading!
What Should Children Do During the Summer Holiday? Learning or Fun
There have been many debates regarding what children should do during the summer holiday. Should the entire experience be fun or should it be more educational? Which side do you endorse? Although this question has gone unanswered for years, there has been an unspoken rule that kids should spend their summers studying and preparing for the upcoming school year. It has become the norm in countries like Nigeria, where academic achievement is highly regarded. Thus, that something is considered the norm, doesn’t mean it is the best. To get practical insights on what children should do during the summer holiday, read this article to the end. Learning or fun? Which should it be? The misconception many Nigerian parents have is that something fun can’t also be educational. This is completely incorrect, and theories have repeatedly demonstrated that children require just as much leisure as they do study. As a result, it would be dishonest to suppose that a child’s desire to play a video game, visit an arcade, or go to the beach will make the child not brilliant. This is not true because children can learn a lot even while still doing things that have little to do with their academic pursuits. Consider a child who spends the entire summer volunteering at a game reserve, where they can learn about various creatures and their categorisation. This is educative, and it would have an impact on their performance in school. Therefore, one could argue that striking a balance is always the wisest option. The summer holidays can be used for both academic and recreational activities. A child does not have to suffer or be limited to a single activity; they can do whatever they love while catching up on their academics. As a parent, it is your job, to make sure that these children have a consistent routine that allows them to maintain order and balance. READ: Is Homeschooling a Viable Option in Africa? Learning activities not limited to only school work include; Volunteer work at shelter homes, churches, schools, and more. Taking up vocational skills like cooking, baking, sewing, and many more. Join a language class and develop bilingual skills. Acquire new 21st-century in-demand skills like coding, animation, graphic design, AI, and more. Joining a book club and reading amazing novels. Fun activities that can be integrated into leisure time include; Traveling and taking day trips for sightseeing and window shopping. Pursue a hobby like dancing, learning an instrument, or playing sports. Have movie nights and trips to the arcade. READ: 4 Activities to Keep Your Children Occupied This Summer Holiday Conclusion As a parent, you must understand the need to maintain a balance in your child’s academic and recreational pursuits. These are the tenets that you must learn and put into practice as their parent and guardian. Developing and sustaining this equilibrium enables an all-encompassing childhood experience and transition into adolescence. Thank you for reading!
Is Homeschooling a Viable Option in Africa?
Is homeschooling a viable option in Africa? This is yet to be seen, however, it is an idea whose time may just be around the corner. Thus, many variables have influenced the schooling landscape in recent years, such as globalisation, high inflation, declining economic power, and the emergence of flexible and remote work arrangements. Furthermore, traditional educational systems have been significantly impacted by these global changes. With these modifications, homeschooling has become a respectable substitute for parents who want to give their kids a high-quality education. Keep reading to learn more about how homeschooling integrates into the African context. Globalisation and Remote Work Settings The rise of globalisation and remote work settings has transformed the way we work and learn, creating new opportunities for families to embrace homeschooling as a flexible educational option. READ: Things You Need to Know When Choosing a School for Your Child Benefits of Homeschooling The anecdotal evidence below emphasises the advantages for African families Personalised Learning: It allows parents to tailor their children’s education to their individual needs, interests, and learning styles, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the material. Flexible Schedule: Research conducted by the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) indicates that homeschooling provides families with the flexibility to create a schedule that accommodates their unique lifestyle and cultural practices. Access to Diverse Resources: Homeschooling provides parents with access to many educational tools, such as online courses, apps, and interactive materials, allowing them to tailor their children’s education to their preferences and learning needs. Challenges of Homeschooling While it offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges and considerations for parents in Africa: Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: In Africa, only South Africa has laws governing homeschooling, and only Sierra Leone has banned homeschooling. The idea/practise is not illegal in other countries but there are no laws or policies made to govern homeschooling yet. Research conducted by the Home School Legal Defence Association (HSLDA) highlights the importance of understanding the legal and regulatory frameworks governing homeschooling in different countries. Access to Resources: Limited access to educational resources and materials may pose challenges for homeschooling families, particularly in remote or underserved areas where infrastructure and internet connectivity are lacking. Cost of skill required to supervise learning: Online tools are excellent for teaching and offering practice opportunities; nevertheless, a qualified instructor can still be needed to fill in learning gaps, particularly for kinaesthetic students. READ: Handwriting and Typewriting : Its Importance for Children Conclusion As the global landscape of education continues to change, homeschooling becomes an increasingly attractive choice for African parents who want to give their kids a tailored, high-quality education. Regardless of financial or geographic limits, parents can enable their children to flourish academically and personally by taking advantage of the flexibility and adaptability it offers. Finally, African parents can open up a world of possibilities for their kids though restricted pursuit of knowledge and empowerment. Thank you for reading!
Handwriting and Typewriting: Its Importance for Children
Handwriting and typewriting, are important for a child’s learning and development. How do they correlate to the growth of a child? Let’s find out. Recently, child guardians have failed to provide the necessary monitoring and patience to teach children proper typing posture and finger placement/movement. Children are taught at a young age to build their physical and mental muscles through a variety of activities. The results of these exercises assist the child to develop the capacity for the next level of performance. Handwriting is one of the accomplishments that children strive for as they develop their fine motor skills, and having strong handwriting is extremely beneficial to children for a variety of reasons. Read this article to the conclusion to learn the importance of handwriting and typewriting for children. Benefits of proper handwriting for children Development of eye, mind, and hand coordination The process of forming letters correctly and consistently by a child involves seeing a picture of the desired letter and trying to replicate that letter in the nicest possible way. You find children writing, and erasing letters or words to correct by themselves only because the letters written did not come out well or the letters of the word, as we say, are not sitting nicely on the line. Children begin to create mental images (in the mind) of how they want their words to look, they coordinate their hands to form what’s in their mind and their eyes vet the outcome. Developing coordination of these senses by age 5-6 is paramount and beneficial for use in other aspects of life. Development of independence in achieving tasks Teachers and parents have so much to teach children. 99% of the time, the children must have the opportunity to execute/practice on their own. This gives them a sense of independence and the fortitude that they can go at it alone. Development of coordination between thought and expression Children are advised to process their thoughts mentally or out loud before they express them in writing. This is not always the case especially as they begin to experience speed drills in school and among friends. Writing by hand slows them down just enough to achieve clarity and accuracy while expressing their ideas in the expected time frame. READ: The Different Stages of the Human Brain Development Development of functional brain activities Research carried out by Karin H. James, and Laura Engelhard showed evidence of brain development during handwriting vs typewriting. In the research, “preliterate, five-year-old children printed, typed, or traced letters and shapes, then were shown images of these stimuli while undergoing functional MRI scanning. Therefore, these findings demonstrate that handwriting is important for the early recruitment in letter processing of brain regions known to underlie successful reading. Development of cognitive processes It also helps a child’s memory retention, comprehension, and information processing. Definition of their personality With practice corrections and tweaks during handwriting activities, children build a sense of self through mental notes of how their writing comes out, what they like about it, and what they’d like to change. Over time, they see that they cannot help further changes and they stick to the latest result. Typewriting for children With innovation and future workplace readiness in mind, typewriting has become an increasingly in-demand need and gaining priority in conversations as a skill that children need to learn earlier than later in schools and homes. As important as this skill is for older children, we passively direct the children at it without getting them to learn the discipline that it promotes, as listed below Right body posture. Mental speed that comes with correct use of finger placement. Multitasking – their ability to read type and correct all at the same time. Boost of confidence in the use of digital tools and technology. Preparing children for higher efficiency in future work life. Efficiency in digital communication. Learning lifelong skills. READ: Things You Need to Know When Choosing a School for Your Child Conclusion In light of this and the future that you are preparing the kids for, parents and educators need to make a deliberate effort to guarantee a smooth transition from teaching handwriting to teaching typewriting. This can be executed in a smooth manner as an expectation for a specific age or as a promotion of study spaces where students switch from pencil to pen to devices for taking notes. Thank you for reading!