Why is it so important to teach children how to type?

Keyboarding is a way of life today, not only in schools or in the workforce, but also as a means for communicating with others, for sharing ideas, for expressing thoughts. Currently, typing is the primary means of interfacing with a computer. It is estimated that by the time elementary-aged students enter the workforce, the majority of all jobs will require the effective use of computers. There is also proof that a person who uses the two-finger "Hunt and Peck" method to type takes significantly longer than a person who has mastered touch-typing techniques. Hence, people who don't know how to use computers and who aren't efficient with a keyboard will be at a major disadvantage in the job market. Therefore, learning how to use the keyboard properly is an essential 21st Century life skill that students must develop.

Research shows that learning how to type should be taught to students at an early age, before bad habits form. This early introduction of typing skills reduces bad habit development and provides additional benefits in English Language Arts that include improvements in spelling, writing, and reading comprehension. Data shows that students who learn how to touch-type early develop writing skills quicker through word processing because it facilitates the review and revision process through the use of editing.

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