How to encourage your child to write

Getting your child excited about writing can be a rewarding journey that sparks their creativity and enhances their communication skills. One effective approach is to make writing enjoyable and relevant to their interests. Encourage them to write about topics they are passionate about, whether it's their favourite superhero, a recent family trip, or an imaginary adventure. As with reading environment is everything - providing them with a variety of colourful writing tools and notebooks can also make the process more appealing. Additionally, incorporating writing into fun activities, like creating a comic strip or writing a letter to a friend or family member, can make it feel less like a chore and more like play. Celebrate their efforts by displaying their work or sharing it with others, which can boost their confidence and motivation. Remember, the key is to create a supportive and pressure-free environment where they feel free to express themselves and explore different ways to communicate. All writing is writing!

Tips for success:

1. Canvas

As some of you with lipsticks, white walls and curious children know, anything can be seen as a writing opportunity! Ensure that what your child is writing on is interesting - tracing paper, tin foil, duplicating paper, post-its, chalk board, envelops, white t-shirts or just BIG paper...add books too as a stimulus for writing.

2. Utensils

We tend to provide one of 3 things for children to write with - pencil, felt tip or crayon. The most success I’ve had with writing is when you provide a writing utensil that looks and feels different. My classrooms have been full of stick pencils, ones I’ve glued Lego men onto, scented pens, fountain pens... and even those lipsticks.

3. Purpose for writing

Finally, and most importantly; plant the seed and they will write! Picture the scene - a reluctant writer has spent time making an amazing train track - it’s time to tidy it away and the child is pleading otherwise. The child is told that if they want to keep it they will need to write a sign that says, “Please do not touch my train track...” That child is racing to get some paper and a pen!