Writing and reading are core parts of a child’s learning. It’s used not just for English assignments but also for essay writing, comprehension exercises and many more skills in their future education and in careers.
I’ve teamed up with a senior school in Milton Keynes to show you ways to practice creative writing with your child at home.
Use the seven senses
A lot of teachers, when giving children a creative writing exercise, start with encouraging the class to use a few of the seven senses in their writing to give them a head start. Ask your child to imagine themselves in another country or planet to begin with. They may have more creativity and motivation to write a short story.
Get them to write about their favourite things
Does your child have a hobby, favourite TV programme or other interest that is a huge part of their life? Asking them to write about things they’re familiar with and enjoy gives them a huge motivation to write their thoughts down on paper.
Give them a set of questions that they could answer for you, but keep them open-ended. For example:
- How do you feel when you are doing their favourite activity?
- What is your favourite part about the activity?
- What do you want to learn more about?
Pic Credit: Pixabay
These can be added to their writing practice or if they have an assignment from school to write about something they enjoy.
Get the right tools
Before you start writing, gather the tools you need, such as a pad of paper or a journal and pencils or pens. To make this activity even more special, consider investing in writing tools that will last a long time. Consider getting high-quality engraved pens dedicated to journaling. Although it may be unnecessary, it helps make your child’s introduction to literature special and memorable. Writing can be a fun bonding moment for both you and your child.
Use a form
There are a number of forms you can download and print that will give your child a way to fill in the blanks before they start writing full sentences. They often include sections about the main feelings of a character, if they hear or smell anything in the distance, where they are located, what the area looks like and more.
These can then be used to piece together what your child will eventually put into a short story. Use these forms to continually repeat the process until they become comfortable with writing by themselves.
Note: This is a collaborative post
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