Dismissing Cursive Is Like Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater

Dr. Patricia Farrell
3 min readSep 5, 2023

Computers have many advantages, but there are several that cursive handwriting has over them, and we need to pay attention to them.

Photo by eleni koureas on Unsplash

In an era where technological advancements and digital communication predominate, cursive writing's value may seem to have diminished. Many contend that teaching cursive is an antiquated practice that is no longer necessary in the contemporary world. But, it would be like throwing out the baby with the bathwater to completely disregard cursive handwriting instruction. Writing in cursive has a variety of scholastic and cognitive advantages that should not be disregarded.

Particularly in the early years of a child’s schooling, cursive writing is crucial for cognitive development. Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which are crucial for brain development, are needed to learn how to write in cursive. Students improve their dexterity and fortify the neurological connections between their brain and muscles as they practice writing in cursive. This active participation benefits reading, math, and other academic subjects in addition to writing.

Moreover, writing in cursive encourages improved information processing and memory retention. Writing in cursive simultaneously stimulates several brain areas, leading to a deeper comprehension of the…

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Dr. Patricia Farrell

Dr. Farrell is a psychologist, consultant, author, and member of SAG/AFTRA, interested in flash fiction writing (http://bitly.ws/S94e) and health.