Developing the Love of Writing

We all know how important it is to be a good writer in life.  How do we get our children on the right path of becoming good writers? We need to make writing fun! Whether it is a new hobby, sport, or school, kids love things when they are fun.

There are many things we can do to encourage a joy of writing in young children. It helps to make writing activities a normal part of their regular routine. When you are doing your grocery list, ask them to write down some healthy snacks and a few treats they would like to buy in the grocery store. In turn, they will have their own list to help you shop at the store, which then lends itself to separate math, science, and nutrition lessons.

Get them writing by having lots of paper on hand for book making, letter writing, and thank you notes.  I don’t know about you, but when the paper or cards are pretty, I am even more in the mood to write a letter or a thank you. How about a pen pal? When I was young, it was the height of excitement getting a letter, let alone a letter from around the world, from a girl my own age. Well-known children’s magazines like “Highlights” sometimes feature a section for free pen pals for children. There are other many other online resources.   Journal writing is another great way to get children writing. Not only is it a place to practice writing skills, but also it is a wonderful outlet for your child’s feelings.

Like anything else, it helps your child do something when they see you do it. If you regularly write thank you cards or journal, they may too. When it is normal for you, it is normal for them.