12 Strategies To Motivate Child Writers – I’m A Mom
Child writers generally show, from the first years of life, a great interest in reading. It is in this activity that the bases for starting to elaborate their own stories are acquired. Therefore, one of the most important tips to encourage writing skills is to encourage a love of literature.
We already know that children are an inexhaustible source of ideas and stories that their imaginations create. This is precisely the raw material that must be used to develop the ability to capture them on paper. Below, you’ll see some useful recommendations for accompanying your child writers in their creative processes.
How to encourage children writers to develop their skills?
1. Offer a variety of materials. Choose pencils of different shapes and colors, pretty papers with textures, markers and blackboards, for example. As simple as this strategy may seem, it can multiply children’s motivation for writing.
2. Adapt a space at home that is free from distractions. This will certainly allow your child’s concentration to be 100% focused on listening to the ideas their brain is screaming out.
3. Help them increase their vocabulary. Without a doubt, children need simple and straightforward instructions during their early years. However, as they grow, you can use more sophisticated terms to communicate with them. So, use synonyms and new words as this will give them more tools to express their ideas.
4. Integrate writing with other areas. Describing math problems or scientific tasks will help them see that everything can be written. Child writers can also practice using a journal in which they report their everyday experiences.
5. Invite them to use writing in their daily lives. Ask them to send small notes or letters to their friends and family. You can also ask for their help writing the shopping list or sending an email. Thus, they will be able to understand that writing is an important and necessary skill.
6. Teach them to appreciate different types of text. Show off magazines, comic books, storybooks, articles and hieroglyphics. Unconventional forms of writing are suitable for teaching the value of communicative intent and the universality of language.
7. Share writings as a family. Spend one night a month doing an open mic activity. During this time, children and parents will be able to read and share something they have written.
Recommendations from a Writer
8. Take into account the interests of children writers. If your child likes sports, let them read and write about their favorite football player or tennis player. If he likes music, invite him to compose stanzas.
9. Bringing the classics closer together in a fun way. We have always seen Don Quixote or the Odyssey as dense and difficult to understand books. However, there are currently many versions for children that will help them see traditional books in a friendly way.
10. Boost creativity before perfection. Especially in the early stages of the writing process, the idea is more important than the linguistic form of the message. First, it is necessary to give children security to write and, later, to correct grammatical and syntactic errors.
11. Try to get some of your child’s works published. Whether in the school diary or in the refrigerator at home; children will be happy to know that others are reading what they have written. Another good alternative is to create a blog to share with family and friends.
12. Play question and answer games. Make up questions about reality, about imaginary situations and ask them to answer or resolve these problems. Value their words and praise their creative outlook on life.
Child writers need support and motivation so they can make the most of their skills.
Get involved in this process and help them build this habit that is so important to everyday and academic life. Make writing a fun activity, not a chore that becomes a torment for them in the future.
