Why Teach Your Child To Touch Type?
Helen Bowden, CEO of the BDA asks… “When was the last time you handwrote anything important, that was going to impact on the rest of your life? Not often I imagine, considering digital is now the norm. We always have spelling, punctuation and grammar aids integrated into the technology we’re using. (Without) specialist support for dyslexia, the result is lower academic attainment that often impacts on future life chances”.
And to really get the best out of using a computer, typing by touch is essential for Dyslexia and other needs, like Dyspraxia, Dysgraphia, ADHD, ASD. Typing by touch uses a different part of the brain from writing with a pen; the skill becomes unconscious and automatic, using powerful muscle memory. Touch typing has many benefits: a different, effective way to spell, words are patterns and finger movements programmed into the subconscious. It improves accuracy & speed, decreases cognitive load on the attention & conscious brain, freeing it to focus solely on what to write and it reduces visual stress keeping eyes focussed on the screen, not jumping between screen & keyboard.
Yorkshire Rose Dyslexia is promoting touch typing to help Dyslexic children in their region, working with local schools, running their own computer club to teach typing and helping parents to get their children learning at home. Pat Payne, YRD Chair, says “touch typing is one simple, measurable way to help Dyslexic children that can change how they do written work in just a few weeks – if only other things were as quick to solve. Children can learn at school or at home, or a combination of both. Just a few weeks of regular practice can show fantastic results”.
Of the many typing programs around, YRD uses Englishtype because it was designed by an Educational Psychologist specifically to help Dyslexic children learn to type and unlock all the extra benefits of typing using muscle memory. The multi-sensory design and unique colour coding of the keyboard makes learning easy & fun, and a variety of different activities to program the muscle memory with carefully selected, relevant & useful vocabulary. The children say they love learning with Englishtype, playing games & winning outfits for their onscreen typing companion.
Whether you teach your child to type in a few weeks or months, or longer, YRD recommends it is one of the best things you can do to help your dyslexic child.
English Type on the BBC!
Read the full article on BBC News website
Become a Member
At Yorkshire Rose Dyslexia, we believe in a dyslexic friendly society, that enables every neuro-diverse person of any age to reach their full potential.
Back to our blog