Do you have a child who hates to write? We all know children for whom it would be a toss up in a decision about whether to get a shot at the doctor’s office, or write an essay. My son is one of these children. Writing is easily my son’s arch nemesis. Perhaps you recognize this child as residing in your own household. The one that balks that anything that even comes close to writing. You know- the one that when asked to write anything will immediately get that look across his or her face and you know it is going to be one long afternoon…
We have provided five different ways to promote writing, even when you have a child that hates to write. Now, we know that not every child will grow up to be the best selling author of the New York Times book of the year, but we also know that writing is important and a necessary life skill. Sometimes, children simply need some encouragement to practice this skill, and here are some ways to do it:
1. Encourage!
Writing does not have to be a threatening, grammar drilling, diagramming nightmare. Try to establish it into your daily routine. Keep it simple. Try unjournaling. What is unjournaling, you might ask? It is a series of writing prompts that are not threatening, but instead, require creativity and perhaps some artwork. These short prompts should not take more than 10 minutes to implement and are generally more engaging for the child. They invite the child’s response.
With the help of these simple ideas, children are invited and encouraged to write. Take the drudgery out of writing and encourage your child to find his or her own writer’s voice instead.
2. Motivate!
There are a few publications (such as the magazine, Stone Soup) that the submissions are written by children, for children. Why not check out what other students have submitted and work toward submitting their own work? I have also entered my children’s poetry into a local library’s annual poetry contest. (My son, the unwilling-writer actually won first place when he was in second grade. Talk about motivation to write more! He will still, to this day, willingly write poetry!)
3. Readers are writers.
Want to improve writing skills? Good writers read extensively. Writers will many times subconsciously model their own writing style after a favorite author. Want a better writer? Keep them reading! The best way to do that is to allow them to choose stories that they are motivated to read. And keep going!
4 . Don’t stress the small stuff!
If the child has to concentrate very hard with the correct way to hold a pencil as in the case where the child has been diagnosed with ADHD, certain sensory disorders, or if the child is dyslexic, don’t force the issue! Let’s face it, when most kids go off into the “real world” they are not likely to grab a pencil and start jotting down their memoir. Allow them to use a computer and word process their work or allow them to use voice-to-text software for the rough draft portion of writing. This is NOT cheating! This is helping the child find his or her voice in the form of written text.
5. Underscore the fact that every profession has some degree of writing involved in it.
Ask your spouse, family members, or neighbors to allow the child to have a peek at the writing that is involved in their daily work week. My husband, an engineer, will sometimes share his PowerPoint presentations with the kids and explain his roll in compiling, writing, and presenting the information to his colleagues.