19/05/2022
Tips to help kids in writing!!
Most kids have a natural enthusiasm for sharing their ideas, but many still dread writing!
Does your child resist every attempt you make to encourage them into putting pen to paper?
If so, don’t fret — I am a brilliant writer now, but I never wrote for fun as a child and didn’t excel at school-assigned writing projects.
Behavior is communication, and kids don’t resist writing just to get on adults’ nerves (though it can certainly feel that way!)
So our first step as tutors is uncovering why a child doesn’t like to write?
Are they struggling to develop ideas?
Perhaps is it the physical act of writing that intimidates them?
Or does an adult over-correct their grammar and spelling every time they attempt to write???
Or maybe they feel like they don’t have anything of value to say?
How can you help a reluctant writer learn to love (or at least tolerate) writing? That is the question.
◾️Tip 1: Tailor Lessons to a Child’s Interests
When I was a kid, I drew pictures non-stop — the little writing that I did do on my own was typically narration to accompany my drawings. But that led to an interest in comics.
And then comics led to an interest in reading novels. See where this is going?
Consider what your child does unprompted — do they love to play Minecraft?
Or play with Barbies? Or Build Forts?
What do they like about these things? What ideas do these interests give them?
You can show them how ideas don’t have to be stuck in their heads or stay within the temporary boundaries of playtime.
Kids love to share information about subjects they’re both excited about and feel like an authority on.
Encourage your kids to incorporate their interests into their writing projects — they could write a Minecraft guide? a comic book featuring characters from their favorite shows? Even a script for a YouTube video! (and help them film it)
If your child enjoys math and science but not language arts, have them do a science project and then write instructions on how to do it, or write a short report about their findings!
You can encourage your child to write “what if…” versions of media they already like.
What if Captain America lost his superpowers? And what if Bluey moved to America?
Children are soooo imaginative and often love to develop new scenarios for stories that they ALREADY enjoy
I would be Providing reading materials based on a child’s interests.
For example: If your child plays Mario, maybe they’d like to read and write about piranha plants, plumbing, or Japanese video game creators?
Look at the components involved in your child’s interest and try to provide materials that expand upon them — interests are an asset in writing, not an impediment.
One final tip on your child’s interests — allow them time to engage with their interests without you stepping in and turning it into a lesson 🤷🏼♂️
Writing comes from experiencing life, and while lessons are a part of life, that’s not all there is to it.
Trust me….. they are ALWAYS learning. It’s not something they can shut off.
Besides, turning their interests into an unending lesson is an excellent recipe for resentment from your child and will turn them off to any further attempts from you to get them excited to learn.
▪️ Tip 2: Try Out Transcription
Many children who a reluctant to write will happily narrate a story for you if you’re the one doing the physical act of writing.
Let your child tell their zaniest story and write or type it for them as they go. Then - when they’re finished, read the story back to them and see if they want to make any revisions.
You can encourage your child to illustrate the story if they want too…. The goal here isn’t a well-crafted narrative or perfect grammar.
It is essential to let your child engage with a written story they created and show them that communicating ideas through writing has value.
Who knows? Once they see the revision process and reactions from an audience, that may give them the confidence to keep going.
And maybe that zany idea may take a turn toward something more serious and structured?
Or perhaps they’ll learn to refine that sense of zaniness — writing comedy is one of the most challenging genres of all!
However it plays out, remember that children are often unaware of what they’re capable of. Don’t miss opportunities to let them be pleasantly surprised by their efforts.
▪️ TIP 3: Use GAMES to Lower Intimidation!
Games are a great way to get kids writing without them even realizing they’re learning how to write!
Story Cubes are an excellent option for building narrative storytelling — roll the cubes and use the symbols to help make your story!
This is a perfect icebreaker for collaborative storytelling with children intimidated by writer’s block. Several versions are available, including a Harry Potter set for wizard-loving kids.
Taking turns telling a story is a classic, no-cost writing game that parents and children can do together. Have each writer playing the game come up with one sentence, and then the next person continues the story with their own sentence. Kids LOVE to one-up their parents to take the story to sillier places!
Want to level this game up? Try writing a few sentences on a piece of paper, fold your section behind the side facing up (so that it’s hidden from the person writing next) and hand it to the next player, providing the last word or two to get them started.
▪️ TIP 4: Model Writing Skills
Engage in your own writing projects and let your child observe your writing process rather than locking yourself away in the office.
Write a short story or an article at the kitchen table — invite your child to help you brainstorm and let them see you making outlines and revisions.
Children need to know that adults don’t just sit down at the keyboard and rattle off a brilliant narrative at their first attempt. Writing is a process for everyone.
Not a natural collaborator?
Are the kids making you too nervous about writing?
I get it — trust me. Push past it anyway. Reframe this time in your head as downtime... with WRITING! 😃
Or even treat it as a lesson for your kids, just one that happens to include your latest draft.
Whatever you need to do, you’ll soon find the payoff. Whether you realize it or not, your kids are interested in what you do and often find it downright heroic. Watch their eyes go wide as you let them in on the secrets of your craft…. they’ll want to follow you there.
▪️ TIP 5: Let Children Write How They’re Comfortable
Many adult writers don’t write sitting at a desk! If your child wants to write standing up, walking around, sitting in the sandbox or laying on the floor, let them.
It’s much easier to write where you’re comfortable, and the idea behind teaching a child writing isn’t to train them to sit for long periods; it’s to teach them how to convey their ideas through written words.
Many people…. adults and children…. write better in unconventional settings, or use fidget toys, music, or other sensory aids while writing.
Let your child experiment and discover what they need to write their best work!
Does it seem like they’re not comfortable anywhere? There are many environments I’m nervous about writing in, and not everyone will gravitate toward conventional ones.
Experiment with them. Why not hand them a smartphone and let them write with their thumbs? This is a new generation, after all. Recently I just found out, to my shock, that I like writing on my phone myself.
Sometimes the wrong keyboard can throw me off — some keys are too high or too flat for me.
Or maybe your child can’t stop moving, no matter what. Have you tried setting a laptop on a treadmill? Or let them shout out their story into a voice recorder while they’re bouncing on the trampoline. Whatever the case may be, if they never seem comfortable, don’t assume there isn’t a solution!
▪️ TIP 6: Allow Time for “Nothing”
Much of the actual work of writing looks like nothing to an outside observer. At least half of my “writing” time is spent researching or staring into space, organizing my thoughts.
Don’t pressure your child to be actively writing words down the entire time they’re working on a writing project — that will discourage them from continuing (as in, the exact opposite outcome we’re aiming for).
Please encourage your child to draw out their ideas, build models of their characters with clay, pace around the room, or do whatever else they need to do to engage with their narrative.
Don’t be alarmed if your child is sitting there seemingly doing nothing at all — that’s when some of the best writing work happens.
I can vouch for this. My husband thinks it looks ridiculous, but I can easily pass an hour without moving at all, then, all at once, pump out five pages of my thoughts in one go!
Not every writer does this, but don’t be surprised if you encounter it. There’s much good to be said for “thinking on paper” and “writing toward” an idea.
It can work! Just not always, and not for everyone. Neurology is funny, and no two writers are wired the same.
Also, remember, playtime is inherently educational. Let the kids step away from the writing and pondering. It doesn’t mean they’re abandoning the project. Let them take breaks. Toys are tools, and playing pretend is how children — not to mention some adults — make sense of the world.
▪️ TIP 7: Lower Your Expectations
That sounds negative, doesn’t it?
But on the other hand, are high expectations really a good thing? Even if we don’t verbalize them in front of our children, we are still capable of unintentionally insinuating that our children should be doing more or better.
Children pick up on that whether you think they’re paying attention or not.
Lower your expectations instead — or better yet, have none at all. Of course we think our children are capable of great things, but don’t assume they’re ready to right now.
Your child may be fixated on the thought of playing Minecraft again the moment you interrupt them with an assignment.
I mentioned above that I was never a writer as a child and didn’t ace many school projects involving writing. I was the kind of student who wouldn’t do a thing if nobody could tell me its purpose in a way I could understand.
Don’t assume a child who does this is just being difficult. Try to find what that child is passionate about — I guarantee you, it will be something. Then find a way to use that as fuel.
Not every child is going to love writing, and that’s okay! The world would be incredibly dull if we all had the same interests and skills.
Remember that writing is about communication, and you don’t need perfect grammar and spelling to communicate clearly. No one wants to engage in an activity where they’re constantly being corrected.
Consider whether or not the length of your writing lessons is appropriate. One to three minutes per year of age is the average amount of time a child can focus on a task, which means that your seven-year-old may only be able to spend seven minutes doing focused writing.
When they’re done, they’re done!! And remember…. they’re not off to goof around afterward. They’re experiencing their world and honing their interests, which are necessary skills for a writer of any age.
If you have a child who is struggling with their writing skills, please don’t hesitate to reach out 🦋 🖊 📚
Send me a direct message and let’s get the ball rolling!!
