Why the sensation of touch is so powerful when learning to read and write

“Pat the Bunny,” the 1940 classic touch-and-feel book, is still in print—a testament to the value of touch in introducing infants and toddlers to the world of reading. Later, when children reach school age, a common technique for teaching the alphabet is using hands-on manipulation, such as forming letters out of clay. But as these students get older, the role of touch diminishes—to the students’ detriment. Today’s reading assignments are heavily digital, and use of computer keyboards...