Learning to write as a child provides the skills for an adult to send emails, write business correspondence, create reports and send letters to friends and family. Proficient writing skills may be a critical factor when applying for jobs. All of these writing activities include generating ideas, creating informative sentences, connecting the thoughts logically and maintaining correct grammar. Parents play an important role in encouraging and motivating their children to continually improve their writing skills.
Step 1
Show your child that writing, language and words are intriguing to you. The National Council of Teachers of English reminds parents to show their children that words and language are fun. Point out interesting words and phrases that you come across in the newspaper, on the radio, in a magazine or from a book you are reading. Play with words and names when you name your pet. Create silly word games.
Step 2
Encourage different kinds of writing. In addition to class assignments, suggest that your child write a poem, a short story or a play. Put magnetic words on your refrigerator and provide opportunities for your child to put the words together in funny ways, create unusual-sounding combinations of words or create a poem. Find age-appropriate writing contests and suggest your child submit a story. Instead of store-bought cards, encourage your child to generate his own birthday wishes or words of encouragement.
Step 3
Provide multiple reading formats. At EduGuide, Mary Leyman--a language arts teacher--tells parents that reading is one of the best ways to improve a child's writing. Reading books, instead of computer or video games, she says, expands a child's vocabulary and widens her knowledge of the written word. In addition to having your child read novels, encourage your child to read magazines, poetry, newspapers, short stories and plays.
Step 4
Discuss how writing includes developing ideas, writing a draft, making revisions and editing. Often, children and teens think that quickly putting some words on paper is the final writing product. Share with them that writing is a process of refinement. Tell them that all writers have to make changes to their first drafts. Help them understand the importance of editing until the words are precisely correct by quoting Mark Twain, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
Step 5
Save your child's writing assignments and projects. When you display your child's writings or maintain a folder to keep them, it creates a sense of pride. Occasionally comment about any work that's displayed on the refrigerator. Ask your child to pull things from his saved writing folder from time to time and talk about what you liked about it and what aspects you think he can incorporate into future writing projects.
Things You'll Need
- Magnetic words
- Folder
