Zion Blog

On this blog we share with you educative and thought-provoking writeups from our staff and students. Read, Enjoy, Learn & Re-learn.

The importance/advantages of teaching kids how to type

Sep 12, 2020

Learning to write on a computer or tablet can improve a child’s reading and spelling skills while enhancing muscle memory in the fingers. It can also boost academic performance for students, position them to secure jobs in the future and reinforce literacy skills for students who struggle with certain learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. Before we get into the best typing program for kids, let’s tell you why it’s important for kids to learn how to type. 

Typing helps kids improve their language skills 

Typing is a hands-on motor activity that engages both sides of a child’s brain. Touch typing particularly, which is a multi-sensory approach, improves a child’s level of focus as well as English language writing and spelling skills.

A study published by Wiley Online Library in 2018 investigated the effect of a touch‐typing course on the spelling and narrative‐writing skills of elementary school students. The results showed that touch typing has a positive effect on spelling and narrative-writing skills, which are part of the basics of language learning skills.

Typing helps prepare kids for later grades and boost academic performance 

Teaching kids to type from a young age will benefit them as they progress from elementary school until they graduate from university. Since the majority of their grade assessments are expected to be typed, kids who are familiar with using the computer keyboard or touch-typing will be able to complete school work more efficiently, perform online research with ease and take online exams in shorter time frames.

Essentially, becoming an efficient typist can boost confidence in kids and make them more likely to perform well academically.

Typing helps prepare kids for future careers

A study by Microsoft in 2014 showed that 43% of bosses think that typing efficiently is a crucial work skill. As technology advances, it is likely that being able to use keyboard-based devices and gadgets will become even more crucial even beyond administrative roles.

 

According to Professor John Sutherland at University College of London, “Typing is an incredibly important skill both in a personal and professional context. If it is a skill you lack, you are very much limiting your chances in the jobs marketplace.” The best way to prepare your kids for the years to come is to ensure that they learn essential typing skills and can adapt to the times.

Typing is therapeutic and beneficial for kids with learning difficulties 

Kids struggling from ADHD or other developmental challenges such as dyslexia find it more comfortable to touch type as opposed to writing by hand. Helen Boden, Chief Executive of the British Dyslexia Association said in this article that “touch-typing can give dyslexic children the kind of automaticity they struggle with when learning to write by hand.” Also, in situations where a child might feel anxious or struggle from dysgraphia, which makes it painful to hold a pen or pencil and write on paper, learning to type can help with producing better work.