Ways to Get a Child Interested in Writing

Does your child think of writing as a chore? Perhaps the following article will give you some writing ideas on how to show your child that writing can be enjoyable.

Journal Writing
Go shopping with your child for a nice notebook, which they can use as a journal. Have the child pick out a notebook that they like. Each day encourage them to write down their thoughts or feelings about something that happened that day or whatever else they feel like writing about. If they want to, they can share their entries with you. If the child decides to share the journal with you, do not correct any spelling, grammar, etc. errors that you may see. The idea is to allow the child to realize that writing can be enjoyable. It would be a good idea, if you as the parent would also have your own journal. Writing in the journals is an activity that you can share with your child. Hopefully, this writing idea activity will show your child that writing can indeed be enjoyable.

Postcard Writing
If you are planning a vacation, before you leave, help your child make a list of the people to whom they would like to send a postcard. You can prepare a list of the proper spelling for each person on her or his list along with the complete address of each person.

Once on vacation, have your child pick out the postcards they would like to send to the people on their list. Back at the hotel, or wherever you are staying, have them write out the postcards. Depending on your child's grade level, you may have to write the addresses on the postcards because of the limited space on the postcards. Very young children can write a simple greeting, such as "hello" and then sign her or his name on the postcard. They will be happy to know that someone they care about will soon receive a postcard that they wrote all by themselves or with a bit of help from you.

Writing Contests
Sometimes schools have writing contests in which students can participate. These writing contests are a great opportunity for your child. Recalling back to the various writing contests that my students participated in, many times each child received a certificate of participation, which is a nice reward, even if they do not win the contest. Entering a writing contest gives a child a sense of achievement and once again reinforces the fact that writing can be enjoyable.

Writing a Mini Story
Have your child draw a picture and then have them write a mini story telling what the picture is about. Very young children can write one or two sentences, while older children can elaborate more. If your child has grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. these stories and pictures are nice to give to them so that they may share in the learning activity of the child.

Hope that you are able to use one or more of the writing ideas shown above with your child. Hopefully your child will realize that writing can be enjoyable and not a chore.