There's nothing like the joy of writing to spark a child's imagination. But writing can be a bit of a drag for some kids.
It can be tedious and full of rules that they don't understand. But there are ways to make writing fun and exciting for kids. Here are nine tips on how to do just that.
When you create a supportive, encouraging environment for your children to develop creativity and self-expression, you are helping them become better writers.
They will be more willing to write if they know that what they produce will be appreciated by their parents and teachers. In fact, according to educational experts, praise from home may have more impact on a child's confidence than any other source.
Praising your child often helps them feel good about their writing efforts—and inspires continued effort too.
Keeping a journal is a great way to express thoughts and ideas while also working on improving a child’s writing skills.
Encourage your kids to keep a journal, or start one yourself so you can take turns. A well-kept journal offers valuable insight into your child's thought process and provides an outlet for feelings that might otherwise be hidden or kept bottled up inside.
Plan an outing with your child to pick out the perfect notebook together, then help them set aside time every day (or even just once a week) to write in it.
It may make sense for you both to have the same type of notebook—a bound blank book works well—so that there are no barriers between you when it comes time for you each to write in it separately.
Whether your child is practicing writing letters, numbers, or words, it helps to have an area dedicated solely to this activity. It's important that the space be free of distractions so they can focus on completing their writing tasks.
Sometimes children need a lot of practice with letter formation and won't see improvement unless they regularly write in their special place.
If you find that your child needs to practice using graphite pencils instead of pens or markers (because these are difficult for them to control), make sure that you have some pencils available.
Set aside time every day for your kids to use their writing space—but don't force them if they don't want to go there!
One of the best ways to help your child learn how to write is by having them keep a journal. Ask them to write about something that happened during the day or an experience they had, such as going to the zoo or playing at the park with friends.
If you go on holiday, have your kids take turns writing stories about what they did each day and how they felt about it—and encourage them to use their five senses in their descriptions.
When you're back home from the holidays, ask your kids if they want anyone else in the family (such as grandparents) to read what they wrote.
A great way for young children who are still learning handwriting skills is to have them dictate their stories into a recording app on your phone and then let someone else type it up for them—that way everyone can enjoy reading it later!
Writing regularly is one of the best ways to improve literacy skills for kids.
Whether it’s writing a grocery list, writing in a journal, or composing a letter, practicing writing every day will go a long way to improving your child's writing skills.
Research has shown that the more often children write over time, the stronger their ability becomes to express themselves clearly and creatively when they need it most—in school assignments or other important written communication.
If your child is interested in a certain story or book, suggest ways to make it even more exciting.
For example, if they are crazy about dinosaurs and love the Jurassic Park movies or books by Michael Crichton, you might ask them what kind of dinosaur they’d like to create for their own fantasy novel.
Making up stories can help your children learn new vocabulary words and improve their reading skills.
There are lots of reasons why writing letters is a good idea. For one, it’s a great way to keep in touch with distant family members such as grandparents and cousins.
It also makes for an excellent learning opportunity for kids who like to learn how to write. What better excuse do you need than learning how to write “Grandma” or “Uncle Nick”?
Pen pals are also a fun idea. You can set up accounts on pen pal websites and then swap messages with other kids around the world while practicing your English writing skills.
Maybe they live in another part of the same country, or maybe they live across oceans; either way, this is a great (and free!) way of making friends without having any face-to-face contact. You could even send each other presents in the mail if you don't know what else to talk about.
Here's a site sharing some ideas on where you can find pen pals for your kids.
Knowing how to write is an important skill. Many children struggle with writing because they don't get enough practice, or it's not something they see modeled at home.
You can help your child become a better writer by making time for them in the evenings and on weekends. When you make writing time a priority, it will be easier for your kids to improve their skills.
Making that commitment—and sticking to it—will make all the difference in how well your child does at school and in life later on.
Reading to your children doesn’t have to be a once-a-night ritual. In fact, the more often you can read together, the better—even if it’s just for a few minutes at bedtime or first thing in the morning.
Start early with babies and toddlers so they get used to spending time reading with you from an early age. As they grow into preschoolers and beyond, encourage them to pick out their own books as well as read along when they're reading aloud.
Many children who are avid readers themselves go on to become strong writers later in life; that love of reading gets passed down through many generations!
In summary, writing is a great way to express ourselves and improve our skills. As parents, we can help our children learn how to write by providing them with the opportunity to do so.
This article provides some practical tips for encouraging your child in this area, but if you have any questions about our tutoring programs that you think might be helpful for your child, please feel free to call us at 5260 1816.
Each week we open up 5 spots for a free assessment, learning consultation, and 2 weeks of free maths and English tutoring. Valued at: $248. Call us to get started.
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