Children Love Gadgets More Than Writing: What Can Parents Do About It?

  •   Wed, Nov 12 2025
  •   By Lorraine Rosario

November 12, 2025 

Books, paper, pencils, and pens have all lost their usefulness. An attention-grabbing device or gadget in every home is a mobile, tablet, or laptop. The consequence: Children take time to develop early writing skills. Infants are also attracted to screens. The main problem arises: when children put their heart and soul into devices, where will it take them?

Many children have lost the very essence of writing in a book. As a child, I remember the excitement we had when writing in a new notebook. Flipping through the pages of a new book was always fun. Gen Z and Gen Alpha get thrilled by unboxing gadgets like tablets and smartphones.

The Internet is now so affordable that children can easily access it. My son comes home and tells me that all his friends in school have more than 2 gadgets. It has become a prestige issue to own a mobile or tablet at an early age.

Dell, Apple, and Acer are top brands in many homes and kids' conversations. They stand out more than brands like Natraj, Camlin, Moped, and Doms. Today, kids are better at browsing and scrolling than using books and paper. My kids often complain of hand pain after writing a few pages. They don't realise the risks of using gadgets for a long time.

What can parents do at home to improve their children's behaviour and inspire them to write? Let’s see the nine ways to encourage children to write:

1. Separate space for writing: A dedicated area with writing tools and no distractions helps to increase the attention span of children.

2. Start reading and writing early: Building these habits young helps kids develop reading and writing skills. Joining a local library is a great way to encourage this.

3. Pre-writing: Kids who struggle with writing can begin with simple pre-writing skills. They can start by drawing lines, connecting dots, or using a sensory tray to trace letters.

4. Role model: When parents write in front of children, young children slowly develop a habit. Another good way to encourage them would be to show them the written matter, if any of your childhood.

5. Preparing the To-Do List and Journaling: Ask kids to make a to-do list for their daily tasks. Have them check off items as they finish. Also, give rewards for completed work. Older children can maintain a journal of their own, which can contain written matter as well as art. It can be happiness, gratitude journals or anything of their choice

6. Role play: Play teacher-student games for fun, where all the children will be happy to write. If your child is bored, they can play the game of waiter and customer. They can take orders as in a restaurant and write them on paper.

7. Memory Art: When kids go to fun places like parks or beaches, let them share their experiences. They can do this through a drawing or a write-up. Go for a nature walk; ask them to write down anything they see using the letters of the alphabet.

8. Celebratory cards: Let every occasion in the house be it a birthday or anniversary have a cake and a handmade greeting card with a thoughtful message. Let's bring back the fun of sending greeting cards to those we care about. Creating fun greeting cards for birthdays and festivals encourages kids to use paper, pencils and art supplies more.

9. Write stories: Ask children to write imaginative stories. If they get stuck, suggest topics they love. This will help them to think of some funny and creative ideas.

Early writing skills help kids improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Parents are children’s first and best teachers. If we want the best for our children as they grow older, let us stress the importance of early writing at home.

When we continue to engage in these activities with our little ones, we will see genius in every child and in every household. Give these activities a try and ignite the spark in every child!!

 

 

 

 

 

 
By Lorraine Rosario
Lorraine Rosario is an academician. She hails from Mangaluru and resides in Dubai. She loves to pen articles on topics which interest her. She is also a sustainability enthusiast and loves to imbibe it in her day-to-day living.
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