Children struggle to hold pens/pencils due to excessive touchscreen use
According to a new study, children are struggling to use pens/pencils because of the excessive use of touchscreen phones. Touchscreen is damaging their dexterity, specialists have claimed. Excessive use of phones and tablets is preventing children's finger muscles from developing sufficiently, making it increasingly hard for them to hold pens and pencils, UK doctors said. Here's more about it.
What do experts have to say?
"Children are not coming into school with the hand strength and dexterity they had 10 years ago," said Sally Payne, the head paediatric therapist at the Heart of England foundation NHS Trust in the UK. "Children coming into school are being given a pencil but are increasingly not being able to hold it because they do not have the fundamental movement skills," added Payne.
Ironically, schools encourage using tablets too
Prunty, who runs a research clinic at Brunel University London that investigates key skills in childhood, including handwriting, said that increasing numbers of children may be developing handwriting late because of an overuse of technology. The early years curriculum has handwriting targets for every year, different primary schools focus on handwriting in different ways - with some using tablets alongside pencils, Prunty further said.
Strong control needed to be able to grip a pencil
"To be able to grip a pencil and move it, you need strong control of the fine muscles in your fingers. Children need lots of opportunity to develop those skills," said Sally Payne, the head paediatric therapist.
