With schools in around 190 countries across the world closing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are facing a formidable challenge: keeping their children occupied and developing at home. Overnight, students have had to adapt to new routines and parents have taken on new responsibilities as teacher and carer, often all while juggling their own work commitments or financial worries. Adults and children alike are turning to their screens for a sense of normality, a way to pass the time and to work and study. For parents, giving a child a screen is sure to keep them from bouncing off walls for at least a few hours, providing some much needed respite from 24/7 childcare duties. But many parents are feeling guilty and concerned about the amount of time their children are spending on devices. How much is too much? The WHO recommends that children under the age of 2 should have no passive screen time whatsoever as excessive use has been linked to language processing delays. Older children, around 2-5 years of age, should be limited to around 1 hour each day. There is no such guidance for older children but excessive screen time is often linked with poor quality of sleep, eye strain and inactivity and weight gain. While all of this is true, never during these studies did a global pandemic come into the equation.

As we spend more time on digital devices and less time with pen and paper, could the future of handwriting be under threat? With the temptations of typing, scrolling and swiping, how can we ensure students develop the necessary fine motor skills they traditionally develop through handwriting?