Cursive Handwriting: Benefits and Drawbacks from the Perspective of Dyslexic & Dysgraphic Students
Heather Down 14 April 2025
Over the last term, I’ve introduced some of my learners to cursive handwriting. The students I’ve chosen to trial this with have already mastered print, and their handwriting is generally tidy. One of my students, in particular, said he hated how his handwriting looked “babyish,” and I wondered alongside him whether practising cursive might support a more mature-looking style of writing.
But like anything new, there are both benefits and challenges—especially when working with neurodiverse students. I thought I’d run through some of the positives I’ve seen, as well as the areas where I’ve found the main difficulties.
The Benefits of Cursive
Cursive handwriting can be really helpful for many children, including those with dyslexia or dysgraphia. Because the letters are joined together, cursive creates a smooth, flowing movement that helps build muscle memory and can make writing feel more natural. For some with dyslexia, it also helps reduce common letter mix-ups like b and d. The connected letters can make spacing between words easier too—although in the beginning, I’ve noticed some children leave large gaps, often linked by long lines. This usually improves with practice.
Cursive also means fewer pencil lifts, which can make writing less tiring and help children get their thoughts down more easily. Because it requires focus and coordination, cursive can also support attention and help strengthen fine motor control over time. While it’s not the best fit for every child, many do benefit from learning cursive—especially when it’s taught step-by-step and with encouragement.
The Challenges of Cursive
While cursive can be helpful for some students, it’s not always the right choice for everyone—especially those with dyslexia or dysgraphia. From what I’ve seen while teaching it, learning cursive can be quite overwhelming at first. Each letter requires a new movement pattern, which can be a lot for children who already find writing difficult or who struggle with working memory. In some lessons, I’ve had to pause and ask myself, “What’s the real goal here?” Sometimes, sticking with print is simply the better option.
For students who have only just become confident with printing, switching to cursive can feel frustrating and even knock their confidence. Another consideration is that cursive isn’t always taught or reinforced in schools anymore. If students only get five minutes of cursive practice a week and don’t see it used anywhere else, it can be hard for them to retain and apply.
Lastly, it’s important to consider that neat handwriting—whether cursive or print—can sometimes mask deeper learning needs. Just because a student can produce tidy writing doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve mastered spelling, phoneme-grapheme correspondence, or the writing process. That’s why I always check in on the foundational literacy skills, too.
Is Cursive Especially Good for Dyslexic Students?
It depends. Some dyslexic learners do benefit from cursive—especially when it’s taught explicitly and systematically. The rhythmic nature of cursive and the reduction in letter reversals can support fluency. But not all students respond the same way. For those with more significant fine motor challenges (as is often the case in dysgraphia and dyspraxia), a print or keyboard-first approach may be more appropriate. It really comes down to knowing your students and what works best for them.
For students with dysgraphia, cursive can be a double-edged sword. It may reduce the number of pencil lifts and help streamline writing if motor planning is intact—but for those with weaker fine motor skills, the complexity of cursive strokes can make things even more frustrating. In this case, I often go with the old adage: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Recommended Reading & Articles
Here are a few research-based or practical articles if you’d like to dig deeper:
- Why Bother With Cursive? (International Dyslexia Association)
- Why Cursive Handwriting Is Good for Your Brain (Psychology Today)
- Continuous Cursive – Cure or Curse? (National Handwriting Association)
- How Young Is Too Young To Teach Cursive? (Reading Rockets)
Final Tips for Parents and Tutors
- Introduce cursive after students have a solid grasp of letter-sound knowledge and reasonable control in print.
- Use multisensory methods to support learning.
- Always consider the individual needs of the student. For some, cursive will be empowering. For others, sticking with print or using assistive tech might be the more supportive choice.
By Heather Down 14 April 2025