Coloring in – Pilot Pen Packs - CareforKids.com.au®

Giveaway – Pilot Pen Packs
Are our kids in danger of losing creativity and the ability to write with the increased use of computers?

Do you find it increasingly hard to write an actual letter or card or even jot down a to-do list that's reasonably legible? Has your handwriting deteriorated as your words per minute on the keyboard has improved? And do you find yourself much more at loss for words on paper than on the screen? This is all to do with the increased use of computers over handwriting so that using a pen feels more and more alien. And think what it would be like if you never really got to grips with handwriting in the first place.

If your child is at a pre-school or child care facility that has computers and encourages familiarization with them for literacy and numeracy, that's great. But beware over use of computers at a young age because a new report by Pilot warns that too much use of computers for writing and creativity before writing skills have been properly mastered, could lead to children becoming creatively stunted, feeling inadequate and never really learning to write properly.

The Pilot Pen Creativity Report put a spotlight on the potential long term issues that computers may have on children's development, not only in terms of their creativity but in other important life skills.

The report suggests that with the increased computer support in schools and pre-schools children may begin to develop a dependency on computers leading to a 'false confidence' that in turn could produce a feeling of inadequacy in their own academic abilities and vulnerability when using pen and paper.

There is adequate research to show that the method children use for writing lengthy pieces has an additional impact on the creative flow of their ideas. Using software that immediately tells children to correct errors like spelling and grammar will disrupt their thought patterns and consequently stunt their idea formation. Not only this but the report further reveals that children who hand write are able to produce almost twice as many ideas as those using computer technology to write a creative story.**

Research for the Pilot Pen Creativity Report was overseen by leading Sydney child psychologist, Kimberley O'Brien, who said: "It is common for children to be using computers for much of the day, particularly in private schools. While computers are fine to support them, this research shows that if there isn't enough focus on traditional handwriting children under 10 years may not realise their full creative potential."

"Parents often seek psychological intervention for children with learning difficulties or for those whose handwriting is considered illegible by their teachers. In my opinion, children need to practice and develop their handwriting skills before they move on to working with a computer, otherwise basic writing skills will never be achieved," shares Kimberley.

In my experience it also seems that boys would be much more likely to succumb to handwriting inadequacy and all that it entails than girls. Girls are far more likely to sit with a pen and paper and write or draw for hours anyway, which must put boys at more of a disadvantage or just means they need more encouragement to write and draw than girls do.

Pilot Pen is committed to supporting creativity in children by offering the Pilot Pen Creative Writing Scholarship.

We have 3 Pilot Pen packs to give away valued at $50 each and each pack includes everything your child will need to get started on their creative writing stories.

The packs include pens from the BegreeN range, like the B2P, which is made from recycled PET bottles, so your children are also being environmentally conscious as they write!

To enter, please tell us in 25 words or less why you think your kid could be a creative writing genius?!

For more information on Pilot Pen and the Scholarship program with details on how to enter visit: www.pilotpen.com.au

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**All references can be found in Childhood Creativity in Decline? Putting the Spotlight on the Issue of Supporting Creativity in Children. The report was written by child psychologist Kimberley O'Brien in collaboration with Pilot Pen Australia.