EPISODE: Why Handwriting Still Matters: Brain Development, Literacy, and Learning with Holly Britton from Squiggle Squad

In this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, we’re joined by handwriting instruction specialist Holly Britton to explore why handwriting still matters, especially for elementary and middle school students growing up in a digital world.

With children typing more than ever at school, it’s easy to assume handwriting is becoming obsolete. But research and classroom experience tell a very different story. Holly explains how handwriting plays a critical role in brain development, literacy, motor skills, and learning, creating a powerful connection between the hands and the brain that typing simply can’t replicate. 

Holly also shares why correcting handwriting in the moment is so important for parents, and how small, early adjustments can prevent bad habits that become difficult to break later. You’ll gain practical insight into what to look for, how to support your child without frustration, and why handwriting instruction is about much more than neatness.

Whether your child struggles with handwriting, resists writing tasks, or you’re simply wondering how much handwriting still matters today, this episode offers research-backed guidance and practical strategies parents can use right away.

Holly’s Bio and Resources

Holly Britton, M.Ed., is a curriculum designer, handwriting specialist, and instructional advisor

with teaching experience in grades K-8. Her passion for learning and teaching came organically

over 18 years of educating her own four children, teaching in classrooms, and serving as a

curriculum director at a private school. She is the founder and creator of Squiggle Squad, a TK-

2 handwriting curriculum. She continues to work with teachers and children to improve literacy.

Holly has over 26 years of private and public educational experience. She lives in the Sierra

Nevada mountains where she relishes time with her friends and family including her horses,

Shasta and Dash. 

⁠www.squigglesquad.com/blog⁠

Instagram: @squigglesquadhandwriting

@hollyonhandwriting

Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/squigglesquad⁠

LinkedIn:⁠ www.linkedin/in/hollyhandwriting⁠

FREE Resources: 

Check out this episode when it launches January 15, 2026 on our podcast, What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use!