5 Ways to Improve Your Kids Writing Skills
Writing is an essential skill that all students must master. Not only is it a focal point of elementary school learning, but it helps students express their ideas and opinions. We live in a period of social media, smartphones and voicemail. This means that even if you do not enjoy writing, you have a variety of other ways to communicate with others. These include videos, photos and emojis. Therefore, it’s also no surprise that students may no longer be given as many opportunities to better their writing skills.
At the end of the day, if you aspire to complete post-secondary, get a better job, communicate well or own a business, knowing how to be a strong writer is crucial. It will prove your ability to build an argument, organize your thoughts, communicate clearly and synthesize ideas from numerous sources. Those who are good writers are also more likely to be better at thinking through problems and identifying patterns.
The only way to improve your writing is to not get discouraged and continue practicing. Expressing thoughts in written form is not always the easiest thing to do. Luckily, there are ways that parents can support their children’s writing skills at home.
Below are five tips you can use to help your child build his or her skills:
Create a list of vocabulary words to learn and practice each week. Incorporate these words in your daily conversations and ask your child to write a story.
Develop a habit where your child could do small daily writing tasks. This includes having them write the shopping list, a letter, or start a journal. As they progress, encourage them to write longer passages. For example, does your son or daughter want extra time on the computer? Ask them to write an explanation of the reasons why.
Read to your child. Reading and writing accompany one another as good writers often expose themselves to a handful of topics and writing styles. Have your child read to you and model good reading to your child. In addition, have conversations about what you are reading. Your child’s teacher and librarian can help you choose books appropriate for their age and reading level.
Connect with your child by showing interest in their ideas. Encourage their creativity and stories by being an enthusiastic audience. Pay attention, ask them questions, and compliment them, even for the small things. This may include the proper use of a word, an interesting plot or a creative character.
Make it fun by playing creative writing games. This could include Taboo, Scrabble, Boggle, or Mad Libs. A second idea would be to collaborate in writing a story together
Writing well is not a gift or a talent one is born with. Rather, writing is an important life skill and can be learned by anyone. Incorporating it into your everyday life and making it fun and interesting will make a big difference in the long run.
If your child needs extra help improving their skills, consider an online tutoring program to develop their writing and comprehension skills. The file-sharing capabilities and chat functions would be beneficial in your child naturally practicing their reading and writing proficiency, all while receiving many of the same benefits of meeting face-to-face.
