Handwriting was a big deal when I was a kid. We spent hours upon hours trying to perfect our skills in this.
But times have changed over the years. Today's kids aren't doing as much handwriting.
The biggest reason is because of the shift to technology.
Devices such as smart phones and laptops in schools has reduced the time children spend handwriting.
Today's kids spend a lot more time typing than they do handwriting.
In today's culture, learning how to type on a key board is far more essential than learning to write out things by hand. Many schools have removed handwriting instruction since it is becoming less relevant than typing. While handwriting has not become completely obsolete yet, it is used less frequently due to digital communication. It appears that penmanship is going the way of a lost art.
Fast forward ahead and we will see talking overtaking typing. Voice assistants have led to a significant decrease in the amount of time people spend writing by hand. Does this sound familiar?
"Hey Siri."
Hit the "mic" button and speak what you'd like to put in writing.
Google and Android devices await your spoken command.
It is like the telephone on the wall. Less and less used and then not there anymore. -Tracy Bendish, ABA therapist for Jefferson Public Schools in New Jersey.
These findings reveal changes that are gradually happening. Today's kids are growing up in a digital world which affects how we communicate with them.
In children's ministry, it is important that we keep tabs on these type of changes. This can affect how we successfully communicate God's Word with kids.
Are we trying to do handwritten ministry in a digital, typing world? Our message doesn't change...but how we share the message has to be adjusted at times to communicate effectively for today's kids and families.
