Parents often worry about how much time their children spend in front of screens. But what if educational screen time helps handwriting instead of harming it? In this post, I explore how my own child’s writing improved through interactive apps and how you can make tech a tool, not a distraction.

A Little Story About JoJo, Gran Gran, and Our Curious Pre-Schooler

My pre-schooler has always been surrounded by writing—chalkboards, whiteboards, crayons, pencils, notebooks. My husband and I are both big writers and list-makers, so he’s grown up watching us constantly jot things down.

He started tracing letters on his own and learning to sound out simple words. But it wasn’t until we hit the road (and relaxed our “no screen” rule while travelling) that something clicked.

We downloaded the BBC CBeebies app on the Amazon Fire tablet, and he discovered JoJo and Gran Gran’s letter tracing game. He was hooked. For 20 to 30 minutes, he’d sit tracing letters with his finger, repeating sounds and cheering when he got them right.

But here’s the magic: when the tablet went away, he’d go to his paper and start writing the same letters, sounding them out all over again.

The screen didn’t distract from handwriting—it reinforced it.

 How Educational Screen Time Helps Handwriting

Screens can help in several ways when used intentionally:

• Engagement: Children love interacting with tech. Bright visuals and instant feedback make handwriting practice exciting. 
• Multi-sensory learning: Many apps combine visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic elements to support letter formation and phonics. 
• Transferable skills: With the right guidance, children can apply what they learn digitally to pen and paper. 

And there’s growing research to back this up.

 Research Highlight:
Studies have shown that tracing letters with a stylus activates the brain’s motor and reading circuits more effectively than passive watching or typing.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11943480/

 My Top Recommended Writing Apps

If you’re curious about giving it a try, here are some of my favourite digital tools for handwriting practice:

1. BBC Bitesize & CBeebies Games (FREE)

A treasure trove for early years. The JoJo & Gran Gran letter tracing game has been brilliant for my son. It supports:

• Letter recognition 
• Phonics blending 
• Fine motor skills
    Try BBC Games 

2. Kaligo

Created by teachers and therapists, Kaligo offers AI-powered handwriting feedback with:

• Letter formation analysis 
• Posture and grip monitoring 
• Personalised exercises
   Explore Kaligo 

3. LetterSchool

A fun and intuitive tracing app. Great for pre-school and KS1 learners who are developing letter shape familiarity.
 Download LetterSchool

4. GoodNotes + Apple Pencil

Perfect for older children who want to practice creative writing, journaling, or spelling practice in a notebook-style digital format.
 Check out GoodNotes

5. Procreate

It is not a handwriting app, but it is brilliant for reluctant writers. Kids can illustrate stories and add their own captions, bringing their writing to life.
 Discover Procreate

Remember: educational screen time helps handwriting only when paired with active paper-based practice.

 Research-Backed Benefits of Handwriting

Despite all the screens in our lives, handwriting still matters. Here’s why:

• Boosts memory: Writing by hand strengthens neural connections related to memory and learning. 
• Supports reading: Children who write letters by hand develop stronger reading skills. 
• Improves focus: Handwriting requires coordination, patience, and attention to detail. 

 “The act of physically forming letters helps the brain process and retain information.”
— Frontiers in Psychology

 My Tips for Parents

Want to make the most of handwriting apps?

• Use a stylus or tracing pen to mimic real handwriting movements. 
• Encourage your child to repeat on paper what they’ve practised digitally. 
• Keep practice sessions short but consistent; 5 to 10 minutes goes a long way. 
• Celebrate effort, not just perfect writing.  

 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!

Are you using digital tools to help your child write? Have you found a game, app or activity that works wonders?

I’d love to hear from you—leave a comment or tag me on Instagram at @scribblethesquirrelhq

Let’s show parents that screen time can be meaningful without having to be mindless.

 Share this with a parent who wondered, “Can screens help my child’s handwriting?”
Together, let’s rewrite the narrative, one letter at a time. 

Also, if you want personalised advice or support with handwriting, contact me via my contact page; I’d love to hear from you!