What has research indicated about handwriting and literacy?

Research has consistently shown that forming letters by hand significantly aids foundational literacy skills. This connection is rooted in the fact that engaging in the physical act of writing can enhance cognitive processes related to learning, such as memory retention and understanding of letters and their sounds.

When children learn to write by hand, they are often more likely to recognize letters, understand their shapes, and develop phonemic awareness, which is crucial for reading development. The motor skills involved in handwriting help reinforce the learning of letter shapes and improve overall reading fluency. This process of muscle memory establishes a deeper cognitive link between the written form of language and its phonetic counterparts, which supports literacy growth.

In contrast, the other options suggest various relationships between handwriting and literacy that do not align with prevailing research findings.