5 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Writing Skills Many people think that writing is a natural talent. However, not all of today’s creative writers were born with the talent. In fact, a lot of them have started by studying how to write. And being able to write effectively, like any other skill or talent, is best honed at a young age. Hence, if you want your child to be a good writer and communicator in the future, it is best to invest on improving their writing skills as early as possible. There are many ways in which you can help improve your child’s writing abilities. These include: 1. Make them keep a journal. One of the best ways to start improving a child’s writing skills is by encouraging him or her to write a journal. With a journal at hand, they get to put their thoughts into paper on at least a daily basis. Keeping a journal also develops their memory, as they are reminded about the things that happened on a particular day, or events and ideas that they are anticipating to happen in the future. While it is most ideal to make them keep a physical journal where they can write using pen and paper, you may also let them use an online alternative, i.e. a blog. 2. Write letters. Another way to develop a child’s writing skills is by encouraging them to write letters. You can start by writing them letters yourself, and on these letters you can ask simple questions such as how did their day go or give them words of wisdom to which they can reply to. Letters are an easy way to jumpstart your child’s skill in composition writing. They not only teach them how to write narratives, but also helps them get used to communicating in a verbal manner. They will also be able to use this in various tasks in the future, such as corresponding to different audiences and in writing for business. 3. Read up! You cannot write what you do not know, and this applies the same to children. And it is through reading where they get more knowledge about the things around them. You may encourage them to read a short story and write what they think about it, similar to a book report but in a more casual manner. You may also suggest that they write about the lessons they have learned in their subjects at school, especially the ones they fancy the most. Through this practice, you can gauge not only the progress of their writing abilities, but also their appreciation for the lessons that they learn in class. 4. Designate a writing space. Sometimes, kids develop their composition writing abilities not by putting their thoughts on paper immediately, but by writing thought bubbles on different places. In this regard, you may want to designate a place in the house where they can do all their writing. On this space they can write outlines, idea phrases, and topics in bullet points. This space will serve as their writing sanctuary, where they can be reminded of the topics that they want to write or discuss about on their later compositions.
5. Dedicate time to write together. Lastly, you cannot just push your child to write on their own. They rely on your guidance in improving their writing skills, and this requires time and effort. Hence, dedicate time to spend on writing together. By doing composition writing together, you not only teach your child to write, but you also learn more about your child’s skills in communicating with words, both on a written and oral scale.