How to teach kids to write by hand, and why it still makes sense to do so

Learning how to write takes time, whether it is holding your pen properly or ensuring all the letters are on the same straight line.

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These days, some children roll their eyes, wondering why they still need to be able to write by hand when everything tends to be typed or dictated into a phone.

Adults also have differing views on this issue as the digital world continues to develop. In Germany, Professor Emeritus Friedrich Schönweiss has developed a diagnostic and support tool for spelling, at the University of Münster. The education researcher and media educator explains why he still considers writing by hand to be important - and gives parents specific tips on how to support their children.

Do children today still need to learn to write with pen and paper?

Friedrich Schönweiss: Absolutely, in fact it should be a matter of course. Even in a highly technological age, it is indispensable. It would be naive not to consider the many new possibilities offered by keyboards, tablets and voice input. However, these should not be viewed simply as "modern" or "old-fashioned and dispensable," but as additional new options.