Christmas Time Is Handwriting Time

Christmas offers the perfect opportunity to take time away from ‘tap and go’ technology and practise the art of handwriting a greeting card, letter or gift tag, say experts.

“Handwriting is following the growing trend for crafting, colouring and mindfulness activities. In fact we have seen a 200 per cent increase in sales of our prestige range of fountain pens & inks in the last twelve months,” said Mr Scott Thornton, managing director, Pilot Pen Australia.

Handwriting expert, Barbara Nichol said the handwriting trend is part of a sense of nostalgia people are feeling over skills that are being lost due to ‘tap and go’ keyboard culture.

“The drive to resurrect and retain our cultural heritage and a need to communicate beyond the keyboard, is contributing towards the resurgence in handwriting popularity,” she says.

Ms Nichol said that Christmas is the perfect time to practise your handwriting.   Here are her top tips:

1. Pen Power – opting for a fountain pen can give your handwriting a polished look.  Unlike a ballpoint pen, a fountain pen requires no pressure, so the ink flows smoothly and freely.

2. Grip – ensure you are holding the pen properly using a tripod pen hold which ensures the fingers are free to flex and rotate.  Work on improving your pen hold separately from the practice of letter formation as it is too difficult to perfect by learning together.

3. Down the Line – practice your letter formation using a set of grid lines.  This will help ensure your writing covers upper, middle and lower zones.

4. Stroke Style – always start and finish on an upstroke.  This is the golden rule of letter formation.

5. Train Track – ensure your down strokes are parallel and never meet.  Practice using a slope-card.

“If you have children or teenagers, encourage them to practise their handwriting this Christmas too.  Whether it’s a letter to Santa or a grandparents greeting card, taking the time to pick up a pen and write by hand, helps take children away from the keyboard and allows them to express themselves whilst practising their handwriting,” says Ms Nichol.

For further information visit: www.pilotpen.com.au

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