The Learning Success Blog

Children today are doing much less handwriting than children did 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Before computers became commonplace, handwriting was much more important for everyone. Back then schools put considerable time and attention on making sure students developed their handwriting. 

I recall entering cursive handwriting competitions when I was a young child (I went to primary school in the 1950s), and the sense of pride for the kids who were judged the neatest writers.

Now, typing on computers and tablets is replacing the act of writing by hand for many students (and adults).

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Is your child ready to begin school?

If you could remember back to your first year at school - Kindergarten or Prep depending on where you lived  - you may recall it as a relaxed opportunity to learn, amongst other skills, the formal pre-reading and maths skills needed for first grade. Back then these were generally taught through guided play activities.

Today, however, young children often find themselves in increasingly rigorous academic programs beginning as early as kindergarten because current policy demands that schools meet higher standards. Parents are increasingly looking for school readiness programs for their preschoolers.