Kids fail to get a grip on a pen
A GENERATION of digitalage children is growing up unable to hold a pencil or write correctly.
Occupational therapists report a growing number of desperate parents are seeking treatment for their children, fearing they will be unable to cope with writing for long periods during exams.
Therapists report that handwriting legibility among school students has plummeted by 20 per cent over the past decade, as tech- savvy children learn to swipe or type before they even pick up a pencil.
“Children are growing up without the strength in their hands or arms to hold a pen or pencil for any length of time,” Sydney occupational therapist Katrina Davies said. Ms Davies, who provides help to students in 104 Sydney schools, said she had seen a “significant increase” in the number of children requiring occu- pational therapy to help improve their hand strength and motor skill development.
With Naplan ( National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy) starting to phase in online testing from this year, she fears the number of children with poor handwriting will increase — coming to a head when they have to write for the HSC exams.
Child psychologist Nicole Pierotti urged parents to “unplug the kids” from their digital devices during the school holidays and encourage them to pick up pens and pencils.
“I have no doubt that the research of the future will show us that children have learned through technology, but at a price,” she said.