Behind the Art and Skill of Cursive Handwriting ✍🏼

Image Credit: energepic.com

I know that I’ve played this tune time and time again, but I am grief-stricken over the fact that due to the insane surge of modern technology, the art of handwriting and good penmanship has disappeared from schools. I am dismayed we are now living in a world where penmanship is becoming a lost world of beauty, art, and hand-written communications. The good thing is that there is a handful of schools, teachers, parents, and tutors who are implementing the technique and practice of handwriting with their students and children. I applaud that.

There is an even brighter light shown on the importance of handwriting and its connection to neuroscience pointing to the benefits of writing by hand.

One recent post on Psychology Today, for example, notes that “handwriting stimulates [the genesis of] complex brain connections essential in encoding new information and forming memories.” Studies employing high-density electroencephalogram technology point to the conclusion that note-takers, grocery-list compilers, and those who make calendar entries by hand are more likely to better retain the information. Entering information by hand also heightened the speed of recall by as much as 25% (not relying on a smartphone or personal information management” software).

The act of learning to write handsome, fluent calligraphy, and personal letters expresses creativity, individuality, personality, and communication skills in an artistic and regal way. Since cursive writing was required to be learned by second grade, my mother would always have us practice our writing, especially when she would tell us it looked like chicken-scratch. UGH! But you know what? I am so glad that she did. Perhaps that’s why I do a lot of writing, doodling, and journaling by hand every day, for the fringe, health, and lifestyle benefits.

Still, we can find balance in traditional handwriting instruction, coupled with digital literacy. It doesn’t have to be one without the other.

Image Credit: Katya Wolf

91 thoughts on “Behind the Art and Skill of Cursive Handwriting ✍🏼”

  3. When I was little, cursive handwriting had to be used at school. It was compulsory. Today it seems that some people don’t know how to use it well, and that at school they allow children to write in capital letters.

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  4. My mom and older sister have incredibly beautiful penmanship. My little sister and I… well, not so much. LOL I love this post, ChickiePie! I do think there is something to be said about handwriting. 🩷🌷🌺

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  5. My father had beautiful handwriting, adorned with flourishes that reflected his artistic talent. It looked old-fashioned, to be sure, but it was a pleasure to read. Cursive writing is quicker than printing. It may take more time to teach cursive, but printing everything seems old-fashioned and slow. I don’t see the benefit in it. But then, music and art have been slashed, too, in our schools, which denies children the benefit of creating and expressing themselves.

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  7. Thank you, Kym, for writing about the importance of using pen and making handwritten notes and letters.
    All the letters written by the people in my family two generations back, looked like art as they are beautifully presented and a wonder to read. In history there were always letters written by hand and preserved, even turned into books because of their value to our knowledge and their visual beauty. I practiced calligraphy long time ago, and will again after encouragement from you, Kym. Thank you!

    Joanna

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  10. I’ll admit that I have awful penmanship, but at least I can write! There was a funny and sad segment on Jimmy Kimmel last week asking 20 year olds to address an envelope. None of them knew how to do it!! Maggie

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  11. so many teenagers and twenty year olds have no idea how tot red cursive or write it. LOL
    I made my kids learn, and they all have journals. We will not be solely dependent on our phones.

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  14. Thanks for raising this issue, Kym. I was shocked when I learned recently that cursive handwriting is not taught in schools in America. All my drafts are first handwritten, then typed to my computer file. My creative process works best this way.

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  15. I couldn’t agree with you more, Kym!!! It truly is astounding to me and yet now I can barely write anymore which is so frustating but I still do it cuz theres noting like a hand written letter. I Love these videos as well. Sharing with my kids. Crazy! Maybe they will make sure they teach the babies or I will! Thanks so much for sharing this vital information my dawwwwwlink💕

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  16. My hands are so swollen with RA, writing now is like holding a pen with my hand balanced on a ball — not a pretty picture — but I love writing still with pen and paper and try to write handwritten cards and notes. Even if it looks like chicken scratch! 😂

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  17. shared sentiments, Kym… handwriting lessons are a necessary requirement in schools here…for now. the recent talks and workshops training teachers on technology for teaching and learning is scary…so much may fall away sadly.

    thanks for sharing , Kym 🤍🌷

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  18. I enjoyed this post. Handwriting is indeed important.

    It’s wonderful to receive a handwritten letter… my sweety says whenever she would receive one she’d carry it around for hours in an apron as part of preparing to savour the words and sentiments inside.

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  20. Girl, I don’t have a severe case of ole “arthur” who I divorced 36 years ago…LOL 🤣😝😂 but I try to write to keep the ole joints lubricated a little. Oh the things we do for relief! 🖐🏼

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  22. Honey Luisa, I completely agree with you. I was in the market a few months ago and sometimes I will write a check for my groceries (yes, I still write checks every now and then)! 😜 But the cashier had to get a manager to come approve my check because I guess she thought it was coded or in a different language. When I asked her about her signature, she said she just prints it out. Girl, that blew my mind! 😲🤔😫

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  23. Honey KymberNoodle, my mother and sister had the most perfect penmanship. Mine evolved into a creative, artsy kind of handwriting. It wasn’t calligraphy, but interestingly I had someone to pay me once to address all of the envelopes for their wedding invitations. It was a nice little side-hustle and of course that was about 40 years ago too. 😂😜🤣 Nowadays, everyone uses printed labels. 💻

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  24. I remember years ago asking the question on Facebook the last time my friends had received or sent a handwritten letter or post card…I don’t remember any of the specific answers, but that lead to an on-line conversation that went towards a friend who owned a store that sold writing materials – pens, pencils, stationary – that became one of the longest threads I think I’ve seen….and thinking about that now, the passion and the desire to bring back the art of communication by mail, waiting for that letter or card..I remembered having penpals from other parts on the planet and waiting for that reply….but, well, it’s an act that has disappeared…now we want instant and if that email isn’t answered or responded to NOW we start question the menaing of existance….writing, the act, made us think….that quote, think before you write, read before you think

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  25. Absolutely Dawn and I agree with you. It’s alarming that the elimination of these tools, like music, art, and cursive writing is suffocating individualized creativity, that is not computer or AI generated. I think these basics should be extracurricular activities parents and guardians need to insist children be a part of if they have been dropped from their basic curriculum. ✍🏼🎨🎻

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  26. Oh my dear Grace, how marvelous. 🥂 We have grown accustomed to doing everything with the keyboard and manual creativity tends to take a backseat because computers tend to be a faster way to communicate. You have warmed my heart with your journaling by hand. Yet girlfriend, watch how your creativity elevates with this process. I appreciate you Grace. Thanks again. 😁💖✍🏼

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  27. Oh my goodness Joanna, thank you so much for your historical and lovely thoughts my friend. 🙏🏼 You have now reminded me to look for my calligraphy practice box. I bought calligraphy felt tip pens many moons ago to address the envelopes of cards and letters I mailed out. I tried finding them a few weeks ago, but interestingly the pen section in our office supply store has shrunk down so alarmingly. I am going to see if I can find them online because I can’t use my fountain pen all of the time. Thanks so much for chiming in my dear Joanna. Keep writing my friend. ✍🏼💖🤗

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  28. Nope. From the sound of parents who I’ve spoken to, they eliminated cursive writing out of schools a while back. I didn’t think this was possible but I believe this is nationwide. It’s sad honey, but between that and the book bans, we are raising kids who are falling short on basic literacy skills. 😠😱😩

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  30. What? Addressing a basic envelope? 😲 Now Maggie, that is sad beyond measure. Now honey you have shocked me like a lightning bolt on that one. Interestingly, Jimmy gave some people a quarter to order them two free pizzas on a pay phone! Honey, they had no idea where to insert the coin or how to use a pay phone. We’re in trouble! ✍🏼😫😱

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  31. There you go Queen B! I am so excited to hear that your kids will be in the “know.” I think about what would happen if we ever had a major power outage where we couldn’t get on WiFi. Our power went out for hours here many years ago, and we couldn’t use our phones once they started to die. No electricity. Fortunately, I still had a landline in my office, a gas grill to cook on and a ton of emergency candles. I love the way you roll sistah girlfriend! ✍🏼📞🥰

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  33. Girl Maggie, there’s nothing wrong with needing a little help for our punctuation and grammar check. I still do the same thing too girlfriend, so you ladybug are not alone! You’re good! 😁💖🤗🥂😘

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  34. AMEN Rosaliene! And I too learned that cursive writing has been eliminated from the basics in school. I think this is so scary, but I keep pads and notebooks laying around with my thoughts and doodles on them. I agree, this helps me with my creative process too. It’s my preferred method to be honest! Thanks sistah girlfriend. 🤗💖✍🏼✨🥰

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  35. Oh my Energizer G’mama, I guess nothing should surprise me like this but it does. I am so glad to be a part of the Baby Boomer generation where it was not an option, but a requirement (The 3 R’s)

    Yes honey, get those babies practicing when they can hold a pencil. ✍🏼 I think you will be amazed for sure! Hugs and smooches dawwwwlinkkkk! 🤗💖😘🥂😁

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  38. Wonderful share, Kymmy. 🖋️ One of the many things I love about reading my grandfather’s WWII letters is seeing his cursive writing which allows me to connect with his memory in an intimate way. Thank you for the clip – interesting research. I preached this message to my students… take notes, it helps with learning! I prefer to start my poems in my journal. Pen to paper. 💞 Thank you for this! 😊

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  39. Honey, my sister also had RA so bad. I could tell a change in her writing, but it wasn’t horrible. When I would visit her, she was always writing or drawing with a pen and paper. I love your dedication my friend.

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  40. Oh my gosh Destiny, I completely understand where you’re coming from. It seems like there isn’t a real challenge anymore. I think they are missing out on some critical life skills. 💖 It is sad! 😥

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  41. Oh Steve, I love that. Listen, I really do miss those handwritten notes and cards I used to receive. It says to me that the person sending it, gave a lot of thought to their communication. I don’t like text messages, unless it’s important. It still takes me too long to write a text because I am concerned about spelling. I know, I’m old-fashioned too, but unapologetically! I love your sweetie’s response! 🥰💖🤗 Thanks for chiming in! 🙏🏼

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  43. Thank you for that heartwarming reality check Anneta. Creating with our hands, devoid the overuse of digital devices, is stimulating to the brain and the spirit. There are some things from the past that’s critical to our survival in the present and future. Thanks so much for your insight my friend. 🥰🙏🏼💖✍🏼😊
    Kym

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  44. Booyah Warren! 🤜🏼🤛🏼 Now honey, you said a mouthful there and your message is not one that I am surprised by. 😱 Yep, we are a “gotta have it right now” society, and even with so-called professional communications via email, I am simply shocked that so many people don’t proofread before hitting the send button. Now, I am not talking about informal communications, but professional ones. But honey Warren, etiquette, no matter what kind seems to be a thing of the past these days. It’s so sad! 😥💖🙏🏼 Thanks for chiming in!

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  47. Oh Michele my Belle, I am so there with you. And having those letters that you share from your grandfather in his own handwriting, is a personal and intimate connection with him. And he did that without a spellchecker. You inherited his talent. 😊🙏🏼✍🏼 I am so glad I held on to some of my mother’s writings and my sister’s letters. They are still present in spirit so I can understand where you’re coming from. I appreciate your wonderful share and I applaud you for holding on to special traditions of learning, and creativity. Thanks so much my Dancing Queen! 😘💖🥰🙌🏼🤗

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  51. Wow! Wow! Wow!
    My dear friend Kym a big thank you for share this, just with a pen and peace of paper
    we can get many amazing benefits for our brain Awesome pos!
    From Behind the Pen to the world you are wonderful Ambassador of Poetry.
    I love hand writing but don’t practice very often, now thank’s to you i will.
    Have a lovely, relaxing, cozy evening, cheers with a cup of tea. Abrazote mi amiga!
    Hasta mañana!

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  52. From behind the pen, a bleeding heart’s soliloquy, inked on the pages of time. Yeah, so much has changed, and so much will continue. But, the ability lives, we just have to seize the moment! A wonderful topic, to stimulate thought!

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  57. Youngsters not learning to write cursive and in the same vein, not able to “read” cursive is a sad, very sad, disservice to us all.
    Of course I learned cursive and loved learning it. And I’m not bad at all. Learned the beauty of it from my mother.
    I also learned shorthand. Loved it. Used it often back in the day. But I’ve forgotten shorthand.
    Never cursive. Wish they’d bring it bad. It’s everything the video and your words say it is. Bring. It. Back. Please.
    Thanks for the post. Xo

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  59. I agree with you 💯 Michele! There are certain things that keep us in tuned with life, reality and overall survival. When we throw away simple, basic, and valuable tools, and talents that are critical to our relevancy we come up at the end of the line and we fall behind painfully. I appreciate it Professor! ✍🏼💖🥰

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  65. Oh my dear Queen of Erotic Romance and Mystery, I am so delighted that this message resonates with you. I am so sad to see our current generation using less and less of their handwriting skills. Hopefully they won’t completely lose their ability to write with their hands. I appreciate ya mi amiga. Enjoy the rest of your lovely evening my dear. Abrazote! 😘🙏🏼🥰💖😍💐✨☕🌺🥂

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  69. Honey Luisa, I think it’s a little more dismal than we think, yet we always have the power to change and chart a new course. I appreciate your rumination my friend. 🥰🙏🏼😁🥂😘 We always need a voice like yours!

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  70. One of the bright spots Selma, is that many grandparents are making their grands practice it. My girlfriend is making all of her grandsons write in cursive. It’s one of the things she has on their “to do” list when they visit her, then she rewards them by taking them to the beach!!! 😜 Thanks my friend and keep on writing baby!!! ✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼

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  77. Thank’s my dear Ambassador of Poetry and Kindness. It’s true our current generation using less handwriting… I like to do it, lets Ise our notebooks wil a beautiful paper and let’s writing positive things.
    Appreciate you as well. Have a wonderful and relaxing evening dear.
    Abrazote! 🙏🥰💖😍💐🧁🫖☕🥂✨🌟💤💤💤 Sweet dreams!

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