Margaret Young at our stockist, The Paperie, is our guest blogger this week. This week being National Stationery Week Margaret tells us how important the Get Britain Writing Campaign is for children.

So the Stationery world has been buzzing with excitement for some weeks now – National Stationery Week (22nd-24th April) has linked with the National Literacy Trust – the only national charity dedicated to raising literacy levels in the UK – to promote the importance of writing by hand to teachers and children in particular as part of the ‘Get Britain Writing’ campaign. This is supported by the Government’s decision to reintroduce handwriting onto the Secondary School’s curriculum.

National Stationery Week organiser – Chris Leonard-Morgan says “Handwriting and stationery is for all ages, and children are the stationery users of tomorrow”.

He is, of course absolutely right – how many of us – parents or grand-parents, aunts or uncles, have kept the first ever note written to us by a ‘new writer’?  I don’t know about you but I treasure each and every single card or note I receive from my grand-daughters. There is nothing nicer than taking delivery of a card or note that reads: Happy Birthday Grandma love from …..… written in strange spidery shapes with each letter shakily formed and followed with kisses.  I have to confess too – I still hoard the letters and cards written by their parents 30+ years ago. Which is why, here at The Paperie, we have begun to stock lots of new stationery for children including Rachel Ellen, Belle & Boo and Hello Kitty – we are passionate about keeping the written word alive!
Yes, e-mailing or texting is deemed to be quicker – and each has its place – but sitting down and putting pen to paper takes thought, time and concentration. Encouraging our children to write, whether it be thank-you notes, keeping a journal or diary, or a special notebook where they can express themselves through poetry or story writing, is probably one of the most valuable skills we can pass on to them.
Re-discover the joy of writing with pens, pencils and paper and pass on this priceless gift to your children……………..#GetBritainWriting #LoveStationery #StationeryAddict