At Indiana University, children were evaluated with an MRI machine (spaceship), using a specialized scan that spots neural activity. The children who had practiced printing by hand demonstrated more enhanced neural activity than those who just looked at the letters. Virginia Berninger, a professor of educational psychology at University of Washington, explains that handwriting requires sequential finger movements, which activates massive regions involved in thinking, language and working memory. Another recent study showed that in grades two, four, and six, children wrote more words and expressed more ideas when writing essays by hand instead typing, where a whole letter is selected with a keystroke.
At Emerge, we work with children of all ages to develop fine and visual motor skills. Beginning with pre-K children, we use the Handwriting Without Tears program to develop writing skills.