Page 19 - BOSS Today Issue 40

SPECIAL FEATURE BOSS Today #40

STABILO International

Chris Reynolds, UK Country Manager

What benefits do you see coming from on the content of what is being written - skills, and making handwritten notes
the relaunch of the Writing Instrument and so speeds up the learning process. is also known to improve memory
Association? and retention. Handwriting has been
Twofold: first, as a joint body of What handwriting products do you produce back on the curriculum since 2014:
manufacturers promoting the benefits for the education market and what features in year 1 of Key Stage 1, children are
of handwriting as a core skill that do they have? required to “hold a pencil comfortably
everyone should have. Secondly, to help The STABILO EASY Start range is and correctly” and this is achieved
maintain that writing instruments that a comprehensive range of writing at a stroke with STABILO EASYgraph
are either manufactured or imported instruments designed specifically to pencils, as the child automatically holds
into the UK meet the British and improve handwriting, and has left the pencil in the correct way, leaving
European safety standards and will and right handed ergonomic pencils, teachers to focus on letter shape
continue to do so after Brexit. rollerballs, mechanical pencils and training.
fountain pens. Developed in conjunction
What makes a good handwriting pen for with leading ergonomic scientists What advice would you give dealers wishing
children? and the Schreibmotorik Institute in to sell handwriting pens to the education
One that is designed to improve Germany, they all feature those key market?
handwriting by promoting the best components that aid a child’s writing Come and talk to the pen experts at
grip, help control pressure and control development (see above). Children also STABILO, our pens and pencils are
speed. It therefore has to be balanced, like to use them: they come in a variety Teacher Approved and we are always
have an ergonomic grip zone, promote of colours as well as in practical class happy to help!
the dynamic tripod grip and have a packs to make school ordering easy. At
specific version for both left and right STABILO we also place great emphasis What support can you give these dealers?
handers. Spring loaded tips or thick on quality manufacturing, from the inks We have a lot of resources on
pencil leads help teach about pressure, we use, to the mechanical parts and the handwriting and learning to write: point
while rollerballs and fountain pens quality of varnish on a pencil. of sale, dedicated displays and training
help to control speed. These facets are on the features and benefits of each
important because, after a child has To what extent has demand for handwriting product. We advertise and promote
learned the letter shapes and gained pens changed recently, and why? our products every year at Back to
some experience, it is important for Demand for STABILO handwriting pens School on TV, in store, in the press and
them to develop legible handwriting and and pencils has grown significantly. on social media. From individual pens
an optimal, relaxed, pen hold, which There is now more emphasis on on a blister card to class packs; all of a
makes it easier for them to concentrate developing children’s fine motor dealer’s needs are met.

been rewritten, and its scope for writing association element is the less interested in writing and more
membership has been widened to serious part: but Write4Life is the into texts and mobile phones. But,
include art and craft products, as marketing message that we want before you can text, you have to learn
well as distributors and specialist the new WIA to deliver - to engage to write, and at the end of the day
trade bodies. WIA members must be children at a young age to grow up writing is something that absolutely
a member of the BOSS Federation, using writing instruments into later everybody needs to be able to do
which means that WIA membership life.” throughout their lives.”
is effectively free, but also that BOSS Indeed, it is clear that Craik sees Indeed, there is a hidden danger that
membership is being supported by the the Write4Life message as the most the WIA feels the need to address:
revived association. important – and exciting – part the physical act of writing teaches
of the transformation of the WIA: children how to spell correctly, but
Write4Life “There is a perception amongst youngsters who only write using an
“It’s been quite a slow burner, but young people that they don’t need to iPad, smartphone or PC will be less
we’re getting there!” says Craik, “The use pens nowadays – that they are likely to learn how to spell because

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