Texting Stuff Like “gr8″ Makes Kids Better At Spelling

So when your kids send text messages, they use abbreviations with letters and numbers, like g-r-8 for great and 4-g-o-t for forgot. And you probably think they're becoming brainless, English-mangling fools.

But believe it or not, a new study by Coventry University in England found out that when kids text message using abbreviations..that accually makes them better at real spelling. Here's why.  When a kid is figuring out how to abbreviate a word, it requires them to think about how the word is ACUALLY spelled, so they can properly shorten it. And makes the correct spelling sink in.