Are Handwritten Notes in the Digital Age Still Important?

🖋️ Are Handwritten Notes in the Digital Age Still Important? 📝

I would love to know your thoughts on this topic.

Are they still a thing?

Do you still enjoy writing and receiving a handwritten note?

When did you last receive a handwritten note?

This post is inspired by an old friend of mine who runs a beautiful card-making business. Not only do I love her designs but I love the fact that the art of letter writing is still fashionable. After spending time with her over the weekend, I revisited some of the handwritten notes I've received in the past of which I have kept many.

Handwritten notes and letters have always played an important part in my life.

For my first teaching post I remember having to write an application form by hand with an accompanying handwritten covering letter. I followed up my interview with a handwritten thank you note. During my gap year my main way of corresponding with home was through snail mail. A large proportion of my 20s was spent dating an army officer and we wrote handwritten letters to one another throughout each of his overseas posts.

These days I rely more on email but I continue to send little handwritten thank you notes, postcards when I am on holiday and of course handwritten cards to mark special occasions.

So, in this digital age, are handwritten notes still an essential skill for children to learn?

Personally, I believe that fostering the skill of letter writing in children is essential, whether done digitally or by hand, depending on individual circumstances. I teach a few students with Dysgraphia, making handwriting a challenge, but that doesn't diminish the importance of well-crafted emails and digital notes. The act of writing, in any form, nurtures communication skills, sparks creativity, and, above all, shows gratitude and courtesy.