how to improve my child's creative writing

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Improve Your Child's Creative Writing Skills

Last Updated: February 17, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed. . Kathy Slattengren is a Parent Educator and Coach and the Founder of Priceless Parenting. With over two decades of experience, Kathy specializes in helping parents build strong, loving relationships with their children. She has helped thousands of parents around the world through Priceless Parenting's online classes, presentations, coaching, and books. Kathy holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Psychology from The University of Minnesota and a Masters degree in Education and Instructional Design from The University of Washington. Kathy is a member of the National Parenting Education Network, the US Alliance to End the Hitting of Children, the International Society for Technology in Education, and a founding member of Parent Learning Link. Priceless Parenting has been featured on ABC News, Komo News, King 5 News, National PTA, Parent Map, and Inspire Me Today. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 254,735 times.

The ability to write well is vitally important to your child's success in life. Writing well can help your child succeed academically and professionally. Moreover, creative writing can be an important therapeutic outlet for your child to imagine new worlds and to express his or her feelings. Help your child improve their creative writing skills by supporting creativity, by playing word games, and sparking their imagination with clever writing prompts.

Encouraging Your Child to Love Writing

• In addition to reading to your child, have your child read to you if they are old enough.
• Ask your child questions about their favorite books. Why do they like some books and not others? Help them to develop their tastes as a reader and to be thoughtful about words, characters, settings, and plots. [2] X Research source
• If your child has a favorite author or book series, you might also consider taking your child to see the author speak or to a book signing in order to inspire your child to write.

• A notebook or journal
• Pens, pencils, and erasers
• A bookshelf to keep inspiration nearby
• An age-appropriate dictionary
• A thesaurus. A thesaurus isn't necessary for very young children, but it can be helpful for older children who wish to expand their vocabularies.

• You can also work with your child to make a special "book" out of their stories, including homemade illustrations and decorations. Stitch the book together with ribbon or yarn to create a special archive of their creativity. [12] X Trustworthy Source Reading Rockets Online resource supported by PBS providing research-based strategies for assisting children to become confident readers Go to source

Playing Creative Writing Games

• Encourage them to write a letter from the perspective of a character that they like to play
• Suggest that they write about "a day in the life" of their imaginary friend
• Help your child invent an imaginary country and ask them to write about what people do there
• Ask your child to create a "mashup" story that includes their favorite characters from completely different worlds [17] X Research source

• Magnetic poetry
• Catchphrase

• Write a story by switching after each sentence. First you write a sentence, then your child continues with the next sentence, then you take over again, etc. Try to add unexpected surprises and goofy twists to keep the story fun and exciting. [19] X Research source
• Draw a picture and ask your child to imagine a story behind the picture. [20] X Research source
• Make a list of words by having you and your child point to random words in a dictionary. Then brainstorm a way to use all of those words in a single story.

Helping Your Child Find Things to Write About

• Ask your child to look out a car window and think about where people on the sidewalk are headed
• Point out animals while you're walking and ask your child to think about what the lives of these animals are like
• Ask your child to come up with a new name for their favorite park
• Ask your child what their favorite building is and why they like it so much

Building Essential Writing Skills

• Recognize, however, that sometimes children will be reluctant to write. Let them take some time away from writing if they need to (unless they have to complete a school assignment). [29] X Research source

• For example, you could underline the words they have misspelled without giving them the correct spelling. Ask them to look up the correct spelling in the dictionary.
• Be sure that you provide your child with positive feedback as well as gentle suggestions for improvements.

Expert Q&A

• Be aware of your child's writing training in school. Many schools provide excellent writing coaching. You can have a better sense of your own role in your child's writing skills if you know what your child's teachers are focusing on in class. [36] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Remember that, as a parent, you are a creative writing helper: not a coach or a teacher. Do not act as though creative writing is a chore or obligation. If your child is going to be an effective creative writer, they must be passionate about it. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Stay positive. You can point out where your child has made grammatical errors, but you should keep most of your commentary positive and enthusiastic. Be honest with your compliments, but try to emphasize what your child is doing well more than where they needs to improve. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't force a particular form of writing on your child (short story, poetry, etc) if your child shows no interest in it. Encourage your child in the areas of writing they show an interest in. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Some children show little interest in writing because they happen to enjoy other activities more. However, some children are nervous about writing because of an underlying learning disability. If your child is consistently behind her peers on spelling, writing, and vocabulary, talk to your child's teachers and learning specialists to see if perhaps a learning disability is at the root of these problems. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.readingrockets.org/article/launching-young-writers
• ↑ http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/pages/encouraging-writing
• ↑ Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed.. Parent Educator & Coach. Expert Interview. 23 June 2021.
• ↑ http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/howtohelpenglish
• ↑ http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/seven-ways-to-encourage-kids-writing/
• ↑ http://www.education.com/reference/article/ways-encourage-child-creativity/
• ↑ http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/writing-activities/prompt-your-child-to-be-better-writer
• ↑ http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/your-teen-and-writing/

About this article

The ability to write well can help your child academically and professionally as well as offer an outlet for their feelings and imagination. To help improve your child’s creative writing skills, encourage them to love writing by reading to them every day so they can experience a variety of styles and subjects. Ask them about their favorite books to help them think about what kinds of writing they enjoy. You'll also want to give your child the tools to create their own stories, like a journal, pens, an age-appropriate dictionary, and a thesaurus. Encourage your child’s creativity by focusing on their ideas, not their spelling, grammar, or handwriting. If your child has a hard time starting a story, spark their imagination by asking them to write a letter from the point of view of a favorite character, or help them invent a new country and ask them to write about what people do there. To learn how to help your child revise their writing, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

Reader Success Stories

Paula Lingard

Jun 17, 2016

Did this article help you?

Linu Chowdhury

Oct 5, 2016

Deepmala Gupta

Feb 9, 2017

Manas Mahesh

Apr 5, 2016

• About wikiHow
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

• Math for Kids
• Parenting Resources
• ELA for Kids
• Teaching Resources

How to Teach Skip Counting to Kids in 9 Easy Steps

10 Best Math Intervention Strategies for Struggling Students

How to Teach Division to Kids in 11 Easy Steps

How to Teach Place Value in 9 Easy Steps

8 Math Division Tricks: Making Division Fun & Accessible

Simple & Stress-Free After School Schedule for Kids of All Ages

When Do Kids Start Preschool: Age & Readiness Skills

Kindergarten Readiness Checklist: A Guide for Parents

How to Choose Best School For Your Kid: 12 Best Tips

Why Kids Get Bored at School: 10 Tips to Keep Them Interested

6 Effective Ways to Improve Writing Skills

40 Four Letter Words That Start With A

What Are the Stages of Spelling Development: Ultimate Guide

48 Rhyming Words for Kindergarten Kids

How to Teach Vowels to Kids: A Step-by-Step Guide

13 Challenges for Teachers and How to Address Them

12 best qualities of a good teacher.

15 Best Innovative Tech Tools for Teachers

What is Teachers Professional Development: Strategies & More

11 Best Ways to Create a Positive Learning Environment for Kids

Step 1: Cultivate a Reading Habit

Step 2: encourage writing regularly, step 3: focus on vocabulary expansion, step 4: teach grammar and syntax, step 5: practice different types of writing, step 6: create a supportive environment.

Have you ever wondered why some children seem to excel at writing while others struggle to put their thoughts on paper? It’s a common concern among parents and educators alike, especially in a world where communication skills are more important than ever. Finding effective ways to improve writing skills for kids is a goal we all share, but how do we achieve it?

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

This blog will cover a structured approach to developing your child’s writing skills . By the end of this guide, your child will be equipped with the tools they need to express themselves more effectively and confidently through writing.

• Start Early:

One of the most effective ways to improve writing skills in kids is to introduce them to the world of reading as early as possible. When children are exposed to reading from a young age, they not only learn new words but also understand how sentences are structured , and stories are built. This early exposure lays a solid foundation for their writing skills. 

• Diverse Materials:

To keep their interest alive and kicking, it’s crucial to offer children a variety of reading materials. By diversifying their reading materials, children explore different writing styles, learn new vocabulary, and understand various perspectives. This opens their minds to different ways of expressing thoughts, which is a key component in how to improve writing skills. SplashLearn offers a variety of books for kids to read according to their reading levels :

• Decodable Books
• Leveled Readers
• Bedtime Stories
• Story Books Featuring Fun Characters

Track Your Kid’s Reading Progress:

Talking about what they read is as important as the reading itself. When you discuss a book or any reading material with your child, you encourage them to think critically about the story, the characters, and the message. Ask them questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character did that?”

This engages them in a way that mirrors the writing process. They learn to form opinions and articulate their thoughts, which are essential skills in writing. Engaging in discussions about reading materials is a powerful strategy as it teaches kids to connect with the material on a deeper level and express their insights effectively.

Begin with these reading skills enhancing games :

Encouraging kids to write regularly is a cornerstone in developing writing skills. When children make writing a habit, they improve their ability to express thoughts clearly and become more creative and confident. Here’s how you can support this habit:

• Creative Worksheets

Creative worksheets are a fun and effective way to engage children in writing. These worksheets can include word puzzles , word matching , and sentence completion exercises that make writing enjoyable and reinforce writing skills and strategies. By solving these worksheets, children learn to think creatively, structure sentences, and use new words, all of which are essential components of writing.

Begin here:

• Daily Journal

Maintaining a daily journal offers numerous benefits. It provides a personal space for children to express their thoughts, feelings, and daily experiences. This practice helps develop writing skills and encourages them to reflect on their day, fostering a habit of mindfulness and self-awareness. 

• Writing Prompts

Using writing prompts is a fantastic way to stimulate creativity in young writers. Prompts can range from imaginative scenarios to questions about their daily life, encouraging them to think outside the box and explore different writing styles. This exploration is crucial in developing writing skills, allowing children to experiment with their voice, tone, and narrative structures.

• Letters and Emails

In today’s digital age, teaching kids the value of writing to communicate with others is more important than ever. Writing letters and emails to friends and family members not only practices formal and informal tones but also emphasizes the importance of clear communication. It’s a practical application of writing in real-world scenarios, showing children the power and impact of their words.

Expanding a child’s vocabulary is a key factor in ways to improve writing skills for kids. A rich vocabulary allows kids to express themselves more clearly and creatively in their writing. Here are some effective methods to enhance their vocabulary :

• Vocabulary Building Worksheets

Adding vocabulary-building worksheets to your child’s learning routine is an effective method to enhance their word bank. These worksheets can range from matching words with their meanings, filling in blanks with appropriate words to creating sentences with new vocabulary. 

• Word of the Day

Implementing a “Word of the Day” strategy is a simple yet powerful way to expand your child’s vocabulary gradually. Each day, introduce a new word, its meaning, and how it can be used in a sentence. Encourage your child to use this new word throughout the day in their conversations or writing. 

Reading aloud to children, or having them read aloud to you, offers dual benefits. Firstly, it exposes them to new words in context, which is crucial for understanding usage and nuances. Secondly, reading aloud improves pronunciation and helps in retaining new vocabulary. This interactive activity also allows for immediate explanations of unfamiliar words, enhancing comprehension and the ability to use these new words in writing. 

Understanding grammar and syntax is crucial for children to write correctly and effectively. Here’s how you can help lay a solid foundation and improve their skills in this area:

• Basic Grammar

Starting with the basics of grammar is essential. This includes understanding parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation. Teaching basic grammar helps children form correct sentences and express their ideas clearly. By knowing how to construct sentences properly, children can communicate their thoughts more effectively, making their writing not only correct but also more engaging. 

Start here:

• Editing Practice

The importance of self-editing cannot be overstated. Encouraging children to review and edit their writing teaches them to pay attention to detail and critically evaluate their work. This practice not only helps in correcting grammatical errors but also in refining their writing over time. You can start with focused practice, such as looking for and correcting only punctuation errors, and gradually move to more complex aspects like sentence structure and word choice.

Diversifying the types of writing your child practices is key to developing well-rounded writing skills. Here’s how to approach this:

Exposing children to different writing styles and formats includes storytelling , descriptive essays , book reports, and persuasive essays , among others. Each style serves a different purpose and helps children learn to adjust their tone, vocabulary, and structure accordingly. For instance, storytelling encourages creativity and the use of descriptive language, while persuasive writing teaches them to present arguments logically. 

• Guided Writing

Structured guidance in writing is important, especially when children are exploring new types of writing. Guided writing involves providing a clear framework or outline for a writing task, which can help children organize their thoughts and focus on the task at hand. This could be as simple as giving them a template for a book report or a step-by-step guide for crafting a story. 

Through guided writing, children learn how to structure their work, develop ideas, and link thoughts coherently, which are essential skills for any type of writing. 

Constructive feedback is a powerful tool for fostering improvement in writing. When giving feedback, focus on both strengths and areas for improvement. Highlight what they did well to encourage them, and offer specific suggestions on how they can make their writing even better. 

For example, if a child writes a story, you might compliment their imaginative plot but suggest they develop their characters more deeply. Feedback should be a balance of encouragement and constructive criticism, helping children understand that writing is a process of continuous learning and growth.

Creating a supportive environment is crucial for children, especially for those who may be struggling with writing. A nurturing atmosphere can significantly enhance their learning experience and contribute to their writing development. Here’s how you can create such an environment:

• Setting Goals: The Importance of Achievable Targets

Setting clear, achievable goals is another essential aspect of creating a supportive environment for children learning to write. When setting goals, it’s important to ensure they are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For a child struggling with writing, this could mean setting a goal to write a short paragraph each day, learning five new vocabulary words a week, or completing a simple story over a month.

• Encouragement: The Power of Positive Reinforcement

When you acknowledge their efforts and progress, no matter how small, you validate their hard work and encourage them to keep trying. Highlighting what they’ve done well before addressing areas for improvement can make them more receptive to feedback and eager to improve. This approach is fundamental as it builds a positive association with the learning process.

• Writing Space: Creating a Conducive Space for Writing

Designating a specific area for writing that is quiet, well-lit, and comfortable can help your child concentrate better and feel more inclined to write. This space doesn’t need to be large or elaborate; a small desk with organized supplies can make a big difference. A dedicated writing space signals to your child that writing is an important activity deserving of its own special place, thereby supporting them in their efforts to improve their writing skills.

• Be a Role Model: Demonstrating the Value of Writing in Everyday Life

By incorporating writing into your daily routine you demonstrate that writing is a valuable skill beyond the classroom. Whether it’s writing a shopping list, sending an email, or jotting down notes for a project, showing your child that writing is a part of everyday life can inspire them to explore writing outside of academic assignments. Being a role model in this way is one of the most effective ways to improve writing skills for kids, as it provides them with a tangible example to emulate.

Conclusion 

Improving your child’s writing skills is a journey that involves patience, practice, and support. By following these steps and consistently applying these ways to improve writing skills for kids, you can help your child become a confident and capable writer. Remember, every effort counts in nurturing their growth and love for writing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you help a child who is slow in writing.

To help a child who is slow in writing, encourage them with positive reinforcement, break writing tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and provide them with plenty of time to practice without pressure.

How can I get my 5-year-old to practice writing?

To get your 5-year-old to practice writing, make it fun by using colorful markers, engaging in activities like tracing letters in sand or with finger paints, and praising their efforts to keep them motivated. Incorporating writing into playtime activities can also be very effective.

What causes poor writing skills in students?

Poor writing skills in students can be caused by a lack of reading, insufficient practice, limited vocabulary, and inadequate feedback on their writing. Sometimes, it’s also due to a lack of interest or confidence in their writing abilities.

How can students improve their writing skills?

Ways to improve writing skills for students include reading regularly to enhance their vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure, practicing writing consistently, seeking feedback to learn from mistakes, and engaging in exercises that focus on different aspects of writing, such as grammar, punctuation, and style.

Most Popular

15 Best Report Card Comments Samples

101 Best Riddles for Kids (With Explanation)

40 Best Good Vibes Quotes to Brighten Your Day

Recent posts.

15 Fun Fourth of July Activities for kids in 2024

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun., you see real learning outcomes..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

Parents, try for free Teachers, use for free

• Games for Kids
• Worksheets for Kids
• Math Worksheets
• ELA Worksheets
• Math Vocabulary
• Number Games
• Addition Games
• Subtraction Games
• Multiplication Games
• Division Games
• Addition Worksheets
• Subtraction Worksheets
• Multiplication Worksheets
• Division Worksheets
• Times Tables Worksheets
• Reading Games
• Writing Games
• Phonics Games
• Sight Words Games
• Letter Tracing Games
• Reading Worksheets
• Writing Worksheets
• Phonics Worksheets
• Sight Words Worksheets
• Letter Tracing Worksheets
• Prime Number
• Order of Operations
• Long multiplication
• Place value
• Parallelogram
• SplashLearn Success Stories
• SplashLearn Apps
• [email protected]

© Copyright - SplashLearn

Make study-time fun with 14,000+ games & activities, 450+ lesson plans, and more—free forever.

Parents, Try for Free Teachers, Use for Free

• SAFE SEARCH
• SAFE IMAGES
• SAFE VIDEOS

9 Easy Ways to Improve Your Child’s Creative Writing Skills

Creative writing skills boost problem-solving, innovation, and resourcefulness. Helping our kids build these skills is important. Plus, it also gives them an outlet for all their creative ideas. How do you build those skills without making it seem like work?

Here are 9 ways to make creative writing skills fun:

1. Read Often

Books are the best precursor to writing. So get your kids reading! With repeated exposure to words, ideas, and styles, and in books, kids build the ability to mimic and adopt them.

Flood them with exposure to books and watch their skills rise. Yes, it will look a lot like what they’ve read at first. That’s ok! They’re just playing “dress up” with other people’s ideas. They’ll soon start writing like themselves.

Encourage your children to read more than one type of writing. If they gravitate toward non-fiction, maybe try historical fiction. If they only like superhero stories, introduce them to a story with a main character of a different gender or ethnicity.

2. Identify Ways to Practice

Just like anything, improving creative writing skills takes practice. Set your children up for success by making practice easy and fun.  This will only help them in future grades when they are required to write book reports . 

You can piggy-back creative writing off of other imaginative play and encourage your child to write down episodes of the games he plays. Allow the free flow of ideas – the more creative the better!

Focus on this type of activity can be tricky for kids. It’s important to give kids a dedicated writing space. Fill it with fun paper or a kids’ journal, great pencils, and few distractions.

3. Encourage Your Child to Write

Children are often predisposed to wanting to write. Even before they can form letters correctly, many children will say they are “writing.”

Nurture this desire!

When children feel writing is powerful, and their writing matters, they will want to keep trying. However, they want to start writing is how they should write.

If your child struggles with the physical act of writing, consider helping with that part. You can use talk-to-text features in apps or even agree to be their “scribe.” Then they worry less about the act of writing and pay more attention to the ideas they are forming.

4. Encourage Journaling

Journaling is a great way to encourage creative writing. It gives them a concrete way to see their “progress” writing.

A handful of kids’ journals often come preloaded with prompts and ideas, which helps kids get started. It also helps that journaling is usually a daily activity. By having smaller, but more frequent, writing sessions, it helps children develop a perspective on what writing can be.

Journaling also helps build emotional intelligence. By writing about their feelings, children work through their thoughts and emotions and are better able to recognize and accept them. It gives them the opportunity to talk about difficult things without embarrassment, advice, or recrimination.  

5. Use “Feeling” Words

Another benefit of building creative writing skills is children learn to use powerful words to draw in their readers.

You can encourage this development by helping them give their character’s feelings. When writers allow their characters to feel, they make them more relatable and interesting. But since the feelings of the characters don’t necessarily come to mind for kids, direct suggestion may help.  Help them get there by asking questions about the characters. Why was the hero doing that? What was she thinking? How was she feeling?

Additionally, use inclusive language to make readers feel part of the story as it evolves.  Educate children on the diversity of readers and encourage them to introduce characters that are from different cultures and backgrounds. 

6. Use Writing Prompts

Does your kid express an interest in writing only to freeze when they actually try to write? Writing prompts could help your child overcome it.

Writing prompts can be found in many places. Look for interesting signs, funny pictures in advertisements, or even just asking “what if” and “why” questions . You could even play a song to inspire ideas and writing.

The idea is not to make them write about something, but to give them enough of an idea to push past the fear of getting started. Once kids get past the first few sentences and are “in” their story, their ideas will come to the surface.

7. Practice Storytelling

The reason why many creative writers write is their love of story. To help your child build creative writing skills, foster that love.

The key is to focus on telling a great story, not the writing. Let your child’s imagination run free as he piece together details that can complete a tale.

You can build stories together, with each person telling a few lines of the story before passing it along to the next. Or you can “get stuck” telling your story and need their help figuring out what happens next.

Whatever twists and turns in the plot happen are magical because it shows your child is learning they are driving the story. They get to create.

8. Play Games

A robust vocabulary is another important creative writing skill. To help your child build their vocabulary, try playing word games.

Word games are great because they put the emphasis on the game, not the vocabulary learning. The competitive aspect increases their intrinsic motivation to learn the words. The games themselves are great family activities.

If your child isn’t competitive, there are plenty of team-oriented options. You could also try magnetic poetry, other game-like world builders, or even a cool journal for kids where they write down fun words they’ve heard.

9. Provide Inspiration

The best inspiration for kids to write comes from loving the work of other writers. When your child has a book or series they love, keep it going! Encouraging their love of reading – and their love of story – will help them internalize the way their favorite authors write.

Reading to your children helps too. Because you can read higher-level books while your child listens, it allows them to focus on the story. It also gives you a chance to have conversations about meaning, characters, and plot.

As children read, they build vocabulary and understanding of how good stories develop. They will eventually be able to incorporate these ideas into their creative writing.

Creative writing is sometimes seen as a hobby- something to enjoy, but not to be taken too seriously. But building creative writing skills positively impacts children because they learn to express themselves, they practice writing about emotions, and they practice making their writing compelling to their readers.

Whichever strategies you use to help your child improve their creative writing styles, make sure you keep it light-hearted. When it is fun, they’ll want to keep trying, and that’s where the growth happens.

About the Author:

Alexandra Eidens is the founder of Big Life Journal, an engaging resource to help kids develop a resilient growth mindset so they can face life’s challenges with confidence.

Read more about writing and why it’s important to teach your kids cursive writing .

TikTok's Hidden Corners

Article categories.

• Online Safety for Kids
• Internet Security
• Bullying / Cyberbullying
• Social Media Safety

Parental Controls

• Human Interest

Distinct Types of Learning

Top Programming Lanaguages

Parenting and Well-Being

• What Parents Should Know About Artificial Intelligence
• 10 Different Career Paths if You Love Working With Kids
• Child Developmental Delays To Look Out For
• The Silent Educators: What Animals Can Teach Us
• How Parents Can Take Part in Their Child’s Eco-Education
• How Social Media Is Making Kids Grow Up Too Fast
• A Teens Guide to Social Media Safety
• Balancing Privacy and Trust with Child Safety
• How to Introduce Cursive Writing to Kids
• The Difficult Conversation About Online Safety for Kids
• 5 Signs Your Child Has Math Problems (5 Solutions)
• How to Teach Your Kids About Misinformation Online
• Strategies To Help Your Child Transition To Daycare
• How to Get Your Children Interested in STEM
• Educational Resources for Teaching Kids at Home
• About Cyberbullying In Fan Culture
• 4 Tips for Studying with Dyslexia
• What is Open-Source Software?
• Fun Online Activities That Give Kids Confidence
• Using Technology To Gamify Fitness for Your Kids
• Is Your Child Ready for a Cell Phone?
• 4 Things to Know About Screen Time for Children with SPD
• Cyberbullying Using Parental Monitoring Apps
• Social Media Safety Tips for Kids
• Tips for When a Parent and Child Both Have ADHD
• Parent’s Guide to Social Networking for Gamers
• Social Media Safety Tips are Not Only for Kids
• Best Web Design Apps and Websites for Students
• Social Media Safety for Teens | Parent Guide
• Google Doodle Games You Can Still Play Online
• Teaching, Not Precluding, the Web
• How to Tell If Your Child is Involved in Cyberbullying
• How to Foster Empathy for Bullying Prevention
• Life of a 13 Year Old Girl in the Social Media Jungle
• 9 Amazing Skill Development Apps for Kids
• Is Online Therapy for Teens a Viable Solution?
• 5 Reasons to Sign your Kids Up for Online Spanish Classes
• Why Lawnmower Parenting is Detrimental to Children
• CyberBullying: A Word for Kids and Teens
• 6 Hygiene Tips Children Should Follow at School
• How Do You Help a Teenager with Mental Illness?
• How You Can Help Stop Cyberbullying
• Autodidacticism: How to Become a Self-Learner
• Tech Trends to Make the Internet a Safe Place
• 7 Tips To Help Children Develop A Positive Attitude
• How to Post Pictures Online Safely
• Single Parent’s Guide with a Child Who is Being Bullied
• How Writing Skills Can Help Kids Master a New Language
• Why ABA Therapy is Important for Autistic Children
• How to Play Wordle (for kids too)
• Teaching Kids to Code a Website from Scratch
• What is Stimming ADHD? (Effect on the Human Body)
• Teaching Kids to Mitigate Online Burnout
• Pros and Cons of Online Jobs in Teaching
• Using the Internet for Learning
• Top Online Courses for Kids
• Instant Answers for Kids Using Safe Search
• Building Good Study Habits in Early Childhood
• 5 Online Class Productivity Tips for Teachers
• Easy Ways to Improve Your Child’s Creative Writing Skills
• Emojis Speak Louder: Decoding Kids’ Online Conversations
• Physical Activities to Relieve Stress in Children
• What You Can Do to Help Your Child Plan for a Career
• Common Signs Your Child Might Be Getting Bullied
• Art is a Science: Using Science to Nurture Children
• Blog Post Ideas for Kids Creating their First Blog
• What News Should Students Use?
• What Is An IP Address?
• Is Cyberschool a Safe Choice for Your Child?
• Learning With Puzzles and Games
• 5 Benefits of Doing Yoga with Your Child
• How to Help Your Child Learn More Effectively
• Thoughtful Ways to Teach Your Child About Ableism
• How to Build Self-Esteem in Teens for Good Mental Health
• What a Black Hole Picture Can Teach Us
• Top 5 Benefits of Speech Therapy for Kids
• What Parents Should Know About Online Sports Betting
• A 15 Day Reading Challenge For Your Kids
• How to Find Remote Online Teaching Jobs
• 8 Ways to Support Your Kids in School
• Doodle for Google: The Student Contest
• What is Simple Wikipedia?
• TikTok’s Hidden Corners: FYP Algorithms
• A Parent’s Guide to Incorporating and Educating Fire Safety
• How a Monolingual Child Becomes a Bilingual One
• Guiding Your Child’s Career Journey
• The Cognitive Benefits of Math Coloring in Young Minds
• Internet Safety for Kids

Articles on Education

• Effective Study Techniques for Secondary Students
• The Distinct Types of Learning in the Classroom
• Must Reads Before Starting High School Chemistry
• How to Cite Sources in Essays and Research Papers
• Comprehensive Guide to Inclusive Teaching
• Integrating Social Media Safety in School Curriculum
• Project-Based Learning Among Kids
• How to Create Flowcharts for Any School Subject
• Overcoming Challenges to Disability-Inclusive Education
• Online Coding for Kids | Coding Games
• The Fascinating Intersection of Math and Musical Theory
• How to Write Learning Objectives
• A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Write A Research Paper
• Most Popular Programming Languages to Learn
• How to Use Instagram as a Teaching and Resource Tool
• What Does PEER REVIEW Mean in Academia?
• What Are the Biggest Obstacles to Learn Coding For Kids
• 10 Ways Teachers Can Use GitHub in the Classroom
• Empowering BIPOC Students for Success in Education
• Learning about Programming: Guide For Beginners
• Technology In Empowering Students To Learn Better
• How to Write an Argumentative Essay
• 10 Ways to Engage Elementary Students with Reading
• How to Teach Kids to Code Without All The Tech Jargon
• 8 STEM Leaders Every Child Needs to Learn About
• History of DNA Testing in the Scientific World
• Things To Consider Before Joining Online Coding Classes
• Creating a Recommendation Letter: Guide for Students
• What Makes a Math Lesson Culturally Responsive?
• The Benefits of a STEM Education [and STEAM]
• Unknown Benefits of Coding For Kids
• Girl’s Involvement in STEM through Coding
• How to Prevent Plagiarism in Essays and Book Reports
• Understanding the Dunning-Kruger Effect (with Graph)
• Google Workspace for Education
• Resources to Teach Elements of Digital Citizenship
• How to Learn a New Language Faster
• Free Learning Apps That Develop Critical Thinking
• Using Social Media to Encourage Student Engagement
• The Benefits of Kindergarten that Parents Need to Know
• Increasing Representation for Black Students
• The Stages Of Teacher Professional Development
• PowerPoint Tips for Teachers
• Virtual Classroom | The best way to teach kids online

Internet Filtering & Security

• Common Scams to Be Prepared For – Part 1
• Common Scams (Common Sense Prevention) – Part 2
• Creative Scams Compromising CyberSecurity – Part 3
• How Cyber Criminals Manipulate Your Trust
• How to Develop Good Password Management Habits
• Teaching Kids About Cybersecurity
• Important Safety Tips while Using Public WiFi
• Emerging Scams and New Tech to Beware Of
• Vulnerabilities in 2FA and MFA Authentication
• How Browsing Fingerprinting Tracks You
• Cyber Security and Online Risk Management
• Internet Security 101 | How To Be Safer Online
• Phishing, SMishing, Vishing, and Quishing
• Malware Removal and Protection
• Free Safe Search App for iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire
• Can Hackers Breach Microsoft 365 Accounts?
• How to Report an Email as Phishing
• Is a VPN Necessary? VPN’s Explained for Dummies
• Safe Search Settings | How to Turn on Safe Search
• Ransomware Protection

• The Rise of the AI Generation – Qustodio Report
• Parental Controls on Every Device
• How to Protect Kids on WhatsApp
• Android Phone Monitoring
• How to Enable Snapchat Parental Monitoring
• Parental Controls for YouTube
• Best Parental Controls Apps for iPhone
• Free Parental Controls on All Devices
• Covenant Eyes Accountability
• 7 Apps for Parental Controls
• Cyberbullying Prevention Using Monitoring Apps

Get the latest parenting news, advice, and resources.

Labradors as Therapy Companions for Children

Best Tips on How to Get a Newborn to Sleep in a Bassinet

What every new parent needs to know about the 4th trimester

10 Best Baby Books for Bedtime (or any time!)

• #backtoschool
• #OperationSummerFun
• 0-30 months
• a message for my kids
• active wear

How to Improve Your Child’s Creative Writing Skills

Writing is a crucial skill to teach your children, as it will be needed in every aspect of life, whether it’s education, socialization, using technology, etc. Writing is a must-do activity, and creative writing holds a prominent place. It develops their imaginations, critical thinking, and self-expression. 

This will further create a good pitch for their future writing skills and command over the language. Therefore, we should nurture our children’s writing abilities. It might not be easy to develop writing skills, but by incorporating some fun and learning activities , we can contribute to their creativity and imagination. For instance, by introducing them to good storybooks and developing a culture of journaling, we can induce creative writing skills.

Let’s explore our topic in detail and explore how to improve your child’s creative writing skills in the article below.

Encourage Reading

Reading books has always been the best way to let your creative juice flow. Encouraging your child to read is a great prototype to build their creative skills. Introduce story books and let your child read and interpret them on their own. 

Make a daily habit of reading different kinds of books and child magazines to let them experience a variety of writing styles. Continuous exposure to words, ideas, and different writing styles builds the ability to imitate them. This expands their vocabulary, improves their reading skills, and exposes them to different writing styles. 

Moreover, you can also give them comics and interpret the stories to boost their inner creativity. In the beginning, you might feel they are replicating these books, but soon, they will learn to adapt and modify words with their creativity. Thus, reading is a good practice to inspire and influence your child’s writing skills.

Foster Storytelling Approach 

Storytelling is found to be an excellent activity for igniting your child’s imagination and enhancing their creative skills. Narrate different stories to them and ask them to bring interesting and imaginative stories to the table.

You can ask them to describe day-to-day activities as stories or build stories on their own rather than just focusing on storybooks. Play a major part in their story and give them different hooks to build their imaginations.

You can also present your idea and ask them to build a complete story for that or try telling them a story and intentionally stuck in between to ask what they have in mind. This develops creativity, develops plot structure, and enhances their ability to write what they are narrating, ultimately boosting their writing skills.

Develop Journaling Habit

Journaling is a great option for developing writing habits and teaching children to write down their feelings and activities. Get them a journal and make them write about their daily routine, issues they encounter, what makes them feel good/bad or different emotions, how their school went today, etc. 

It is a good way for them to express feelings, work through their emotions, and handle them without external help. Penning down emotions develops emotional intelligence and teaches them to tell what they feel without embarrassment, advice, or recrimination.  

Discuss what they wrote in the journal otherwise, respect their privacy if they want to. Let your child feel like it’s a safe place for them to write in without any judgment. Moreover, a dream journal is also a good way of transferring creativity over paper. Ask them to write whatever comes in their dream and complete it in case they wake up before the dream ends.

Learn to Play With Grammar Rules

Correct spelling and grammar matter a lot to us as adults. We might not think of using wrong helping verbs or adjectives in our daily conversations or committing typo errors in our letters or documents. However, let your child learn to play with grammar rules if you don’t want to halt their creative writing process.

Let them write the way they are doing. They might be using the wrong spelling at first or writing in improper sentence structures, but that is all okay for them as budding writers. However, gradually introduce them to grammar and proper sentence-making rules. You can get help from technology and guide them through their mistakes with a grammar checker online . 

This can be extremely helpful for a child who is learning how to write or trying hard to improve. Watching their mistakes and possible corrections in real time lets them learn how to do it in the future. Ask them to practice writing and consult grammar checkers for corrections that provide the writing assistance they need.

Children need to learn the importance of writing in their lives, and parents should encourage them to write whatever they like. Creative writing is a good start to developing good writing skills. You can offer different activities to let their creativity shine through. Fostering storytelling games, encouraging reading practices, developing the journaling habit, and letting them play with words and grammar allow your child to be masters of their imaginative world and pen down the way they like. 

However, grammar is the backbone of a language, and its rules should be properly followed in every type of writing, whether academic, creative, or technical. In the beginning, you can allow your child to break and play with them; however, as they gain command over creative writing, introduce them to grammar check options and allow them to write precisely.

• child's creative writing

1. Our content is diligently reviewed by a team of medical professionals for accuracy and reliability.

2. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Related posts.

My Dislike of Developmental Charts

This is why free-play is more valuable than extracurricular activities

A Teacher’s Guide For Back to School: 5 Tips To Start The Year Off Right

Tips to Develop Language While Reading

Sign up for our newsletter.

Creative Writing for Kids: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Story

Creative writing can be a real positive force for children’s lives and development, but how does a child get started with creative writing? There are many ways, but it can often be helpful to have a structure to work from, so we’ve outlined some simple steps on how your child can write a story and enjoy themselves in the process! As they brainstorm, a lot of ideas will come to mind, so we recommend they take notes throughout the process.

What is creative writing?

Creative writing is an expressive form of writing that allows children to explore their thoughts, ideas, and emotions in an imaginative way. Unlike academic or factual writing , creative writing encourages children to use their imagination to invent characters , settings , and plots , fostering a love for storytelling and self-expression.

In creative writing, children have the freedom to write stories , poems , letters , and even scripts for their own movies. It's an opportunity for them to unleash their creativity, experiment with language, and develop their unique voice as writers. Through creative writing, children learn to think critically, problem-solve, and communicate effectively, all while having fun and exploring their creativity.

Encouraging creative writing at home or as part of homeschooling not only helps children develop their writing skills but also nurtures their imagination and confidence.

Getting started

Your child may not be quite ready to start, and that’s normal - writing can be challenging!

Instead of jumping straight in, ease your child into it with activities like free writing. This will allow them to explore any topic without pressure, acting as a way to boost your child’s imagination before they start writing stories .

If your child is a reluctant writer, you can try different methods that don’t actively require them to put pen to paper, but are linked to creativity and storytelling. These include drawing , picking out new children’s books from the local library, telling stories out loud, or dedicating time to read your child’s favorite books as a family. Generally, reading lays the foundation for your child to be able to create their own stories, improving their narrative writing skills by exposing them to different techniques, genres, and styles.

When all else fails, encourage your child to read more. The more that your child reads, the easier it will be for them to start writing.

Step 1: Character development

Creating a character is a great starting point for your child to write their own story.

This character can be whatever your child wants them to be. They can be a human, an animal, a mystical creature, or something completely made-up! Once they have a general idea of what they want this character to be, they can brainstorm different plot points, which will further inform the characters traits, behaviours, and role in the story.

Here are some questions your child should be able to answer about their character:

• What is going on in this character’s life?
• Do they have a problem that they need to fix?
• Who are they interacting with in this story?
• How do they feel about other characters, and about the issue at hand?

A story normally relies on one character to be the hero, and on another to be the villain. The villain is typically portrayed as a negative character who introduces a problem (the antagonist), and the hero is a positive character who solves the problems (the protagonist). Once your child creates their main character, they should establish their role within the story. Are they writing from the perspective of the hero, or would they prefer to give the villain of the story a voice?

From there, they can create side characters! These are typically parents, siblings, and friends of the main character, but can also be total strangers. If your child is stuck on how to build their first character, they can use writing prompts to make it a little easier. Try this prompt:

Prompt: Create a character that is half dog, and half elephant and call it a Doggophant! What does a Doggophant like to eat?

Step 2: Setting and genre

The next step in your child’s creative writing process is to choose where it takes place . They should also decide the genre of their story, as some settings won’t work for some specific genres (for example, a sunny beach wouldn’t pair well with a moody mystery).

This story’s setting could be a real location, such as London, Paris, or New York, or a fictional location, like an enchanted forest or an underwater kingdom.

A helpful way to start brainstorming is to ask your child about places they’ve been to, seen on TV, or read about in stories. This is a chance for them to imagine how their story would look like in different settings, and will help them decide on the genre they’d like to go for too.

Prompt (continued): Where does a Doggophant usually live? Is it a magical Night Zoo?

Step 3: Structure and plot

Before starting to plan the plot, your child should understand the basic structure of a story . All good stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

The beginning serves as a way to introduce characters, set the scene, and show the "calm before the storm”. This happens before a conflict is introduced.

The middle of a story is where most of the action takes place. This is where your child should introduce the main problem, and the main character’s journey of trying to solve it.

Finally, the ending or conclusion of the story is where, normally, the conflict is resolved. This can change depending on how your child wants to end their story!

Prompt (continued): Doggophants love when people visit the Night Zoo, but a new character named Lord Nulth is trying to steal all of the creativity in the Zoo! Does Lord Nulth sound like a nice person? Why would he want to steal creativity? How will Doggophant and other animals stop him?

Step 4: Begin Writing

Now that all the planning is done, let’s get writing!

As your child starts to write, they’ll probably make changes and come up with new story ideas— this is normal and an integral part of the creative process.

It’s important that you offer your support throughout this process, especially if your child is a reluctant writer. While giving them space to concentrate, you can check-in every once in a while, offering help if they encounter any hurdles. Your role mirrors that of a writing prompt, providing your child with initial ideas and nudging them to develop their story further. This collaborative approach ensures their story unfolds organically, making the blank page a canvas for unlimited story possibilities!

Step 5: Keep Going!

One of the best things about creative writing is that it enables children to express themselves and grow in confidence with every story they craft. It pushes children to believe in the phrase "I can", as they embark on different writing exercises without the fear of failing or being held by the “what if’s”. As your child starts their journey through the exciting world of writing, it’s important to guide them in the right direction. Encourage them to not overthink and just write whatever comes to mind at first.

To keep the momentum, you can even set different goals, like writing different descriptions, drawing their main character, or brainstorming different story endings before writing the full story. For reluctant writers, setting small, attainable targets can make the process less overwhelming and more exciting. Avoid setting strict word counts or time limits, as these can add pressure and take the fun out of the writing experience.

It’s important to remember that progress isn’t linear, and that every child is unique. If they need to, you can allow your child to build their story gradually, creating a more fluid project that enables them to work when inspiration strikes. Once they finish their first story, you’ll probably see a change in their attitude, and a new motivation to write a different piece.

Creative writing can be a rewarding experience for you and your child. Make sure you give them positive encouragement, and to soak in the experience of reading the story once it has been completed. They’ll have created something one-of-a-kind, and it will give you an exciting look into their imagination!

Step 6: Try Night Zookeeper

Still having trouble getting your child motivated to write? You should try Night Zookeeper !

Our writing program for kids makes writing fantastically fun by turning different writing activities into games, keeping children engaged, entertained, and excited to learn!

We cover all styles of writing, and boost children’s writing skills using an array of different activities, including writing lessons, short story prompts, and challenges.

More creative writing activities

• 25 Creative Writing Prompts For Kids
• Writing Activities For Kids
• Story Writing Resources

Got any questions? Reach out to us via email at [email protected] . Follow us on social media:

Make Reading & Writing Fantastically Fun!

• Award-winning reading & writing program for kids
• Improves spelling, grammar, punctuation & vocabulary
• Over 1,000 different learning games and activities

“My Child Hates Writing.” What do I do?

8 Fantastically Fun Writing Games For Kids

How To Get Your Child To Love Writing

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Additional menu

Khan Academy Blog

Encouraging Your Child’s Creativity: How to Write a Short Story with Khanmigo

posted on September 20, 2023

By  Stephanie Yamkovenko , group manager of Khan Academy’s Digital Marketing Team.

Storytelling is an essential part of a child’s development. It allows them to explore their imagination, develop language skills, and improve their understanding of the world around them. However, not every parent has the confidence to write a story with their child. That’s where Khanmigo , an AI tutor from Khan Academy, comes in. In this blog post, we will look at the importance of story writing for children and how parents can use AI to write short stories with their children. We will also provide step-by-step instructions on how to use Khanmigo to piece together a short story using Khanmigo’s AI prompts as well as offer examples of stories created using Khanmigo. 

Why Story Writing is Important for Children

Storytelling is an ancient form of communication, and it has always been an essential part of human culture. It is not just a leisure activity but has a significant impact on children’s growth and development ( Bietti, 2019) . Writing stories can be an exciting and fun way for kids to explore their creativity, develop their language abilities, expand their vocabulary, practice critical thinking, and build their communication skills (National Research Council, 2015) . Not only does writing stories improve a child’s writing skills, but it can also boost their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and self-expression. Check out some of the benefits children gain from learning how to write short stories, backed by research:

• Enhanced cognitive development: According to a study from Sook-Yi Kim (2014) , storytelling can enhance children’s cognitive development, particularly in areas such as memory and sequencing events.
• Improved language skills: Reports from the National Literacy Trust suggest that storytelling helps children develop a wider vocabulary and a better understanding of language structure.
• Boosted creativity: Per research in the Journal of Creative Behavior , storytelling allows children to explore different narratives and perspectives, thereby fostering creativity.
• Developed emotional intelligence: A study published in Reading & Writing Quarterly indicates that through storytelling, children can explore diverse emotions and situations, helping them better understand and express their feelings.

Prompts to Use for a Short Story with ChatGPT

To write a story using ChatGPT, follow these prompts:

• Start with a question: Think of an intriguing question that can capture the reader’s attention and lead them to the story’s plot. For example, “What would happen if gravity suddenly stopped working?”
• (optional) Choose a setting (e.g., Mars, an elementary school, or a grocery store).  
• (optional) Choose a conflict (e.g., a misunderstanding, a lost object, or a personal fear that holds back the protagonist).
• Create your characters: Develop a protagonist, an antagonist, and secondary characters. Give the characters personalities, traits, and quirks that will make them stand out.
• Make a plot: Craft an exciting and engaging storyline that includes a beginning, a middle, and an end. Use the question and topic as a starting point. Decide how your protagonist will overcome their conflict, and develop the story from there. 
• Review and edit: After finishing the story, review and edit it to make sure it flows smoothly and makes sense.

Using Khanmigo for Story Writing

Khanmigo can do all of this for you via a question-and-answer format that will walk your child through the entire process of writing a story. Khan Academy released a new feature in 2023 called Khanmigo—an AI-powered tutor that assists children in their learning journey. Khanmigo offers a wide range of interactive student-focused activities that can encourage creativity and support writing development, such as creative writing prompts.

Khanmigo’s AI tutor can provide invaluable assistance to parents who want to encourage their child’s writing development. When children use Khanmigo for story writing, they receive personalized guidance and suggestions that help them improve their writing skills. 

Khanmigo will ask your child questions about the story they are writing together to draw out ideas for plot, characters, conflict, and more. Even if these concepts are unfamiliar to your child, Khanmigo will help explain each step along the way. For example, “Now, let’s start with the setting. Where does our mystery take place? A spooky old mansion? A bustling city? A quiet little town? Or somewhere else entirely? And what’s the weather like? Remember, the setting can add so much to the mood of our story!”

Khanmigo can serve as a writing partner, providing feedback and support throughout the writing journey. Children using Khanmigo will be able to practice their writing skills while developing their creativity, imagination, and critical thinking abilities.

Parents can use Khanmigo to monitor their children’s progress, provide feedback, and make sure that children are effectively developing their writing skills and creativity. Through Khanmigo, parents can keep track of their child’s writing progress, view their work, and set weekly writing goals.

Start writing stories with your child

We promise, you’ll have an adventure…

How to Start Creating a Story with Khanmigo

Here is an example of how you may start an interaction to create a story with Khanmigo.

Khanmigo: “Would you like to write an awesome story together? Let’s do it.

• You can choose a topic from the list, or suggest another idea.
• If I use new words like ‘theme’ or ‘plot,’ just ask me to explain.
• At any point, you can ask me to show you what we have so far.
• Once we’re done, you can chat with some of the characters and admire the world we’ve built!”

…we don’t want to ruin the end of the story, but we hope this gives you a sense of the journey your child will go on while co-creating with Khanmigo. 

Raising Confident Story Tellers 

Encouraging your child to write stories is an excellent way to foster their creativity and imagination. By providing them with engaging prompts, you can help them develop their critical thinking and language skills while also having fun. 

With Khanmigo, parents can take their child’s creativity and writing to a whole new level. By leveraging Khan Academy’s AI tutor, parents can help their children practice their writing skills, expand their vocabulary, and develop their communication skills. Give your child a tool that will help shape their writing and help them grow into confident story writers.

Bietti LM, Lucas M., Tilston O, 1 and Bangerter A, “Storytelling as Adaptive Collective Sensemaking” Top Cogn Sci. 2019 Oct; 11(4): 710–732.

National Research Council; Institute of Medicine ; Board on Children, Youth, and Families ; Committee on the Science of Children Birth to Age 8: Deepening and Broadening the Foundation for Success ; LaRue Allen and Bridget B. Kelly, Editors, “Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation”, 2015

Kim, Sook-Yi, “The effects of storytelling and pretend play on cognitive processes, short-term and longterm narrative recall.” (1996). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 – February 2014. 5243. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/5243  

Best. E, “Playful storytelling: The role of interactive audio in building children’s literacy skills and engagement”, National Literacy Trust, June 2021

Angus Fletcher, Patricia Enciso, Mike Benveniste, Narrative creativity training: A new method for increasing resilience in elementary students, Journal of Creativity, Volume 33, Issue 3 , December 2023, 100061

Catherine Z. Wright & Sandra Dunsmuir (2019) The Effect of Storytelling at School on Children’s Oral and Written Language Abilities and Self-Perception, Reading & Writing Quarterly, 35:2, 137-153, DOI: 10.1080/10573569.2018.1521757

Get Khanmigo

The best way to learn and teach with AI is here. Ace the school year with our AI-powered guide, Khanmigo. 

For learners     For teachers     For parents

The Tech Edvocate

• Advertisement
• Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
• Home Page Four
• Home Page Three
• Home Page Two
• Icons [No Sidebar]
• Left Sidbear Page
• Lynch Educational Consulting
• My Speaking Page
• Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
• Newsletter Unsubscription
• Page Example
• Privacy Policy
• Protected Content
• Request a Product Review
• Shortcodes Examples
• Terms and Conditions
• The Edvocate
• The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
• Write For Us
• Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
• The Edvocate Podcast
• Assistive Technology
• Child Development Tech
• Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
• EdTech Futures
• EdTech News
• EdTech Policy & Reform
• EdTech Startups & Businesses
• Higher Education EdTech
• Online Learning & eLearning
• Parent & Family Tech
• Personalized Learning
• Product Reviews
• Tech Edvocate Awards
• School Ratings

8 Ways to Service an Air Conditioner

3 ways to stop a baby from vomiting, 3 ways to save instagram highlights, skills needed for reading comprehension: everything you need to know, how to change the language in android, 3 ways to permanently delete facebook messages, how to tie the sides of a shirt: 8 simple steps, phonics rules: everything you need to know, how to fill a flask: 8 steps, 3 ways to treat skin disease in hamsters, 4 ways to improve your child’s creative writing skills.

In a world increasingly reliant on strong communication skills, creative writing has become an essential component of a child’s education. It not only enhances their ability to express themselves but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. As parents, you play a crucial role in nurturing your child’s creative writing skills. Here are four effective ways to help them improve:

1. Encourage Reading

Exposing your child to various genres of literature can significantly impact their writing abilities. Through reading, they absorb new vocabulary, sentence structures, and writing styles that shape their own writing voice. Encourage your child to read both fiction and non-fiction regularly, and engage them in conversations about what they’ve read. This not only helps develop their comprehension skills but also teaches them to form opinions and express thoughts clearly.

2. Create a Conducive Writing Environment

An organized workspace with essential writing supplies like pens, pencils, paper, and notebooks can inspire creativity. Help your child select a calm and quiet spot in your home where they can write without distractions. Encourage them to personalize this space with inspirational quotes or images to boost motivation. Also, set aside specific times for writing practice – creating a routine helps cultivate discipline and hones their skills over time.

3. Practice Writing Prompts

Writing prompts serve as excellent tools for inspiring the imagination and fostering creativity. Provide your child with age-appropriate prompts that prompt them to think outside the box and explore new ideas. These prompts can range from story starters (e.g., “Once upon a time in a faraway land…”) to scenario-based questions (e.g., “What would life be like on Mars?”). Ensure a balance between fun and thought-provoking prompts to keep your child engaged while developing their creative muscles.

4. Offer Constructive Feedback

Children thrive when given constructive feedback that acknowledges their hard work while gently pointing out areas that need improvement. When reviewing your child’s writing, focus on what they did well and celebrate their achievements before offering suggestions for refinement. Be specific in your feedback, so they know where to make changes and understand how to improve. Encourage them to revise their work and provide ongoing support as they develop their skills.

In summary, fostering a love for reading, creating a conducive writing environment, practicing with prompts, and offering constructive feedback are four effective ways to improve your child’s creative writing skills. By nurturing their creativity and providing necessary support, you can help unlock their full potential and set them on a path toward success in school and beyond.

How to Be Desirable: 11 Steps

How to make a “perfect” poof: 12 ....

Matthew Lynch

Related articles more from author.

How to Make a Sling Shot: 15 Steps

How to Play Pinball Like a Pro: 8 Steps

Ways to Get Rid of Calluses on Feet

3 Ways to Eliminate Fleas from Your Home for Free

How to Frown: 14 Steps

How to Learn to Play the Piano

• NAEYC Login
• Member Profile
• Hello Community
• Accreditation Portal
• Online Learning
• Online Store

Popular Searches:   DAP ;  Coping with COVID-19 ;  E-books ;  Anti-Bias Education ;  Online Store

Support Writing at Home

You are here

Young children like to scribble, make marks that look like letters, and play with writing. Chances are, your child will experiment with writing long before he or she learns to read. Here are some ways to help your child learn about and practice writing.

• Display children’s writing in a special place.  Hang your child’s work on the refrigerator, a bedroom door, or a cork board; tape it to a bathroom mirror or tile. Or, scan the writing and send it to the grandparents. You will be telling your child that her writing is important and worthy of being shared. She will want to write more and more.
• Write in front of your child and talk about it.  Whether writing a shopping list, thank you note, or e-mail; completing an application; or ordering from a catalog, explain what you are doing. Ask him what to add to the list or what to say in the thank you note or e-mail.  
• Invite your child to dictate stories.  While playing together, encourage your child to tell you a story about where the cars and trucks are going or who lives in the Lego house. Write down exactly what she says. Read it aloud afterward. Suggest that she draw some pictures to illustrate her story.
• Create greeting cards for special occasions.  Provide paper and crayons or markers so children can make cards and then "sign” their names when finished. Show them old cards with phrases like "Happy Birthday,” "I Love You,” and "Season’s Greetings” to copy on their cards.
• Create an "office” for your child.  Gather different kinds of paper, envelopes, pencils and pens, crayons, stickers, and labels. Place them on a shelf near a desk or table or in a basket your child can carry to a comfortable place for writing. Add interesting and exciting items like address and date books, calendars, or an old computer keyboard.
• Involve your child in writing while running errands.  Offer a pad and pencil and suggest  your child make a "reverse shopping list”—a list of things you’ve already bought At the bank, give her a blank deposit slip while you fill out yours. These tasks let children write and keep them busy as they learn new skills!
• Put writing materials in several places around the house.  Provide pencils, crayons, or markers in coffee cans or baskets, along with a basket of small unlined pads, notebooks, or clipboards with paper. Place these collections in the bathroom, kitchen, or living room. Be sure to remind your child to write on the paper and nowhere else. 
• Take it outside!  Let your child write or draw with chalk or old paintbrushes and water on sidewalks and fences. Fill a backpack with writing tools and paper to take in the car or while doing errands.
• Encourage all writing efforts.  Make writing an everyday part of your children’s lives at home!  Remember, those first scribbles are important—they are the first step in learning to write.

Source: Adapted from the Message in a Backpack for J. Strasser & L.M. Koeppel, 2008, "Supporting Writing in Preschool," T eaching Young Children  1 (3): 10–12.

• Guest Posts

5 Fun Tricks for Teaching Your Child Creative Writing

Whether your child is just learning to read or in middle school , it’s never too early or too late to help them become a more creative writer. While some children naturally excel at writing, many need some guidance in this skill. Here are some fun ways to teaching your child creative writing and helping them become a better creative writer.

The more you read to your child, the more words and storylines they will absorb. Hearing and seeing as many words as possible will help them form the ability to create their own sentences and stories. If your child is young and cannot read on their own, you should:

• Read a variety of books with them.
• Ask them simple questions about the story like how the characters are related or what they are doing.
• Allow your child to choose books they want to read and ask them about their choices.
• Start all of this when your kids are young. If you’re out and about a lot, get a reversible stroller so you can face them and easily read with/to your kids.

If your child is old enough to read:

• Encourage them to read out loud with you.
• Encourage them to read a variety of books, but also allow them to choose books they enjoy. You can even check out our selection of reading lists  to get you started.
• Set aside time for them to read with your or alone every day
• Ask them more complex questions about the stories like what the characters’ motives are or why they may be good or bad

Practice Storytelling

Creative writers are good storytellers. Foster storytelling in your children by encouraging them to make up stories. For younger children, you can:

• Ask them to tell you a story by helping them come up with one or two main characters
• Encourage them to tell you about the characters by asking them questions about what they are going to do or what problem they will solve
• Help them figure out how the characters will perform the task or solve the problem
• Write their story down and read it back to them

For older children, you can:

• Help them come up with a plotline, or give them a prompt to start with
• Find some different images from the Internet or magazines that you can use as prompts
• Start by drawing some pictures with them and create a story from those pictures
• Have them write their story down or take turns writing the story with them
• Ask them questions about their story, so they can work on streamlining it in a way that makes sense

Looking for story prompts? Check out these cool writing prompts .

You can also foster storytelling by continually asking questions about the world around you. When you’re out and about, you can ask your child where you think different people are going, shopping for, or planning to do next. If you see an animal, ask them what they think the animal is up to or what their life is like. After you get home from the park or another fun place, have them tell you about what they did and what their favourite part was.

When working with your child on storytelling, do not worry about grammar. Focus on helping them grow in their creativity and ability to think about the story. You can work on grammar another time like when they’re learning about it in school.

If you are interested in further information on how to bring out your child’s inner storyteller skills, check out these 10 storytelling activities for kids .

Playwriting can help your child become a more creative writer because it helps them focus on piecing a plot together in a sensible way. Work with them on putting together a short play. You can invite friends or siblings to play the characters. The play does not need to be long or have many characters. Once you’ve taken a little time to write up a plot, you can:

• Grab some props and costumes for your actors
• Make a little “stage” – it can just be a large space, or it can be something more formal like a platform
• Have your children act out the parts
• Allow your child to re-write scenes (or aid them in re-writing) as they recognize plot holes or parts that don’t make sense

Paper finger puppets can be a great way to role-play difference scenes and improve your child’s narrative skills. Sign up to the Imagine Forest newsletter for free monthly finger puppet printables to your inbox.

Create Fun Projects

If your child doesn’t enjoy coming up with stories or is not as imaginative, come up with some more concrete writing projects. These projects should have a set goal but allow for some creativity. They can serve as a stepping stone for helping your child write more creatively. Some examples include:

• Writing a letter for your holiday greeting cards, updating your friends and family on what you’ve been doing throughout the year. These DIY animal envelopes and letter writing prompts can be a great idea for kids.
• Writing invitations and thank you notes for parties.
• Creating a dinner menu for guests who come over.
• Writing an article for a local or neighbourhood newsletter.
• Writing emails as correspondence to family and friends.
• Setting your child up with a pen pal for letter writing.

The more words your child learns, the more they will have to work with when writing. Knowing more words and how they can be used will help them grow their ability to write creatively. You can play fun word games with your child to expand their vocabulary and overall thinking. Some popular ones include:

• Catchphrase

And don’t forget video games can be also great for improving literacy skills . Just remember to moderate your child’s time so they don’t spend too much time playing video games.

Any tips for teaching your child creative writing?

The most important part of teaching your child creative writing is to be a source of encouragement. Allow your child the freedom to be as creative as they want when coming up with a story, and try not to reject their ideas. Focus instead on asking a lot of questions and expanding their vocabulary. As they grow more confident and skilled, they will be able to better share their ideas and edit their own writing. Do you have any more writing tips for teaching your child creative writing? Let us know in the comments below.

Jenn is a blogger for Mommy Stroller, which focuses on helping parents figure out which stroller and baby gear they should get. The blog was started by Evelyn and her husband, Paul, who both decided to blog about baby gear after the overwhelming feeling they experienced when trying to pick out their first stroller. Both of them enjoy spending time with family and friends, live music, and going on jogs with their kids (in a stroller).

Related Posts

Comments loading...

Over 6,200 homeschool resources and growing!

The Best Ways to Improve A Child’s Writing Skills

Published: September 1, 2022

Contributor: Sonlight

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Some children are born writers and you never have to coax a word out of them. Other kids struggle with writing from day one. What’s a homeschool mom to do?

How to Improve Kid’s Writing

You’ll want to know what’s causing the writing struggle, so we’ll discuss that below. Then, we’ll share solutions that you can start using in your homeschool right away. Here are some practical ideas on how to improve kids writing.

How can I improve my child’s writing skills fast?

The best way to improve your child’s writing skills fast is to diagnose the exact cause of the writing struggle. Some children have a harder time with writing curriculum and programs but they will catch on fast if you play games that help build writing and word skills.

For other children, the issue is the child’s handwriting struggle and not necessarily coming up with what to write. In that case, there’s no quick fix, but rather, you’ll need to be patient while their hand muscles mature and grow.

Helping Students With Writing Difficulties

Helping students with writing difficulties is much easier in a homeschool setting than in a traditional classroom. You know exactly where your child needs the help and you can customize and tailor your homeschool tasks to support your child. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about why writing is difficult for some kids.

How do you help students with writing difficulties?

Students with writing difficulties face multiple struggles. And some of these difficulties will change depending on the child’s age.

When Writing is Difficult for Students

Have you ever just stared at a piece of paper, not knowing what to write? That is one issue that is common among students. But writing is an essential skill that they will need in the future, so it’s important to figure out why writing is difficult for some students.

Why is writing so hard for students?

Sometimes a student is just bored with the writing topic or prompt. While our teens will have to eventually learn how to write on a variety of topics they may (or may not) be interested in, maybe we can show a little grace to our younger kids as they learn the writing process.

Something as simple as letting your children’s writing be focused on a topic they’re passionate about will make all the difference! Does your child love dinosaurs? Then let them write up a storm about dinosaurs. When a blank page stares back at some children, it can be very intimidating. So take the struggle out of your children’s writing by letting them choose the topic.

Why does my child struggle with writing?

If your child struggles with writing, you might think he just needs more practice. But a very important distinction needs to be made between writing and handwriting . They are not the same thing!

At an early age, your young children may lack the maturity of fine motor skills that make the physical act of writing seamless. But, you can still work orally on things like narration in order to build pre-writing skills. That is, your kids can still be building the foundation of good writing skills without having to physically write on paper.

So, if writing is a struggle, consider whether it’s the physical act of writing that is hard or the aspect of coming up with words and structure. If it is indeed the physical aspect of writing that is causing the trouble, then you can be the scribe and write down your child’s narration. This will still help them to be able to organize their thoughts into sentences, but you can tackle the physical writing for them.

Why is my child slow in writing?

Your child might be slow in writing because they are still focused on things like letter formation in the early years. Or it could be that your child’s writing speed is slow because they are still struggling with pre-writing skills such as organizing their thoughts.

There are plenty of opportunities in a homeschool setting to diagnose the problem and find a customized solution. The more your child writes, the better they will get with the actual physical writing skill. But you might need to take a step back and work on oral narration and skip the physical writing. That way, your child is able to focus on organizing ideas before having to write them down.

What causes difficulty writing?

One specific learning disability that can cause difficulty writing is dysgraphia. This disability shows itself with inconsistent and illegible handwriting and slow writing. Dysgraphia can be diagnosed after a child turns 5 years old. That way, the cause of the writing difficulty is more easily diagnosed properly and not attributed to a developmental delay.

What does poor handwriting indicate?

Poor handwriting can be an indication that your child has dysgraphia. It can also be caused by a student who refuses to slow down and work carefully. Some students naturally have good handwriting and some students have to work much harder for good handwriting. You know your child best. If you suspect dysgraphia, you can have them assessed by a licensed psychologist.

The Reading and Writing Connection

There is a distinct connection between reading and writing. In fact, a former college professor has stated that students who are readers are better writers . This is because they know how the language is supposed to sound and their vocabulary is much more expansive than the slang used by non-readers.

Easy Ways to Improve Kid’s Writing

There are different ways to improve kid’s writing. These simple activities are easy to include into your homeschool routine .

Read Good Books

Great ideas for writing come from regular reading. And when your kids read good books, they’ll learn the proper syntax and structure of good writing. They’ll develop an ear for it. So nurturing a love of reading in your homeschool has multiple life-long benefits, including improvement of writing.

Encourage Reading

Encouraging reading is a great way to help your kids become better writers. When kids are readers, they indirectly learn tons of new vocabulary. They also learn what great writing sounds like so they are more likely to be able to replicate that good writing. In short, by the simple fact of encouraging your kids to read more, you’re making a huge difference in their writing skills.

Encourage Creative Writing

When your kids are practicing their creative writing skills, a helpful piece of advice is not to overly correct their grammar . This will just serve to squelch their creativity and blossoming writing skills. Save grammar instruction for a separate task. But it’s a good idea to find multiple ways to encourage their creative writing skills.

Don’t neglect the regular writing that takes place throughout the day. Your kids could write letters to a pen pal to practice their writing. Or encourage them to make the grocery list. Just incorporate writing in natural ways for more enjoyable writing practice.

One last way to encourage creative writing is to save your children’s writing in a Family Anthology that everyone can enjoy for years to come. This is a fun way to keep creative writing samples around to read and re-read.

Make Time for Writing Practice

Strong writing skills can be developed over time, and so you do want to make time for writing practice in your homeschool schedule . As with most things, practice is key and regular practice will bring better writing in your students. How about having your student write a letter to a friend of a family member? You can even use a letter template for kids to make it easier for them. 

Make Use of Writing Prompts

You can make use of writing prompts to help your kids get started. Sometimes the blank page is just too distressing. But if you have a fun writing prompt that gives the context or setting of the writing assignment, many kids will be able to produce a good written piece.

Here are some fun writing prompts:

• Write a story about going on an adventure with your best friend.
• Talk about your favorite vacation.
• Write a dialogue between two pets.
• Describe your favorite toy.

Encourage Journaling

When you can encourage journaling, your kids will get a lot of writing practice without much pressure. Journaling allows them to embrace their own writing style without having to complete a “school assignment” with lots of stifling parameters.

Use Graphic Organizers & Writing Templates

Finally, if your children are struggling with writing, it’s a great idea to use a graphic organizer template and writing outlines. These tools give just enough structure and organization to help kids improve their writing.

Plus, the writing experience is a learning process. Good writing is organized and structured, and a graphic organizer will help your visual learners understand how to become better writers. Older children and teens will benefit from graphic organizers as they need to write about more complex topics and produce more structured research papers.

A writing template gives the intended structure of the finished product and serves as a guide to the writer. These are great tools to use for any age and will help your kids learn to be better writers.

In Conclusion

Don’t forget to be patient with your children. Not all kids will take off with writing at the same age. Some children love to write and others, not so much. Try and learn what your child likes and dislikes when it comes to writing and then tailor assignments to them as individuals. 

Sonlight is a complete, literature-based, Christian homeschool curriculum with every subject for students from Preschool through high school. Our curriculum uses a variety of materials to deliver an engaging and complete education that extends beyond textbooks and memorization: literary fiction and nonfiction, biographies, illustrations, and hands-on experiments. These resources come with thorough lesson plans and notes, so that you can enjoy successful homeschooling. Customers who buy from Sonlight enjoy a liberal arts education that produces critical thinkers who are ambassadors for Christ with a heart for the world. Visit us online and request a FREE catalog today!

Related resources

All 37 Dear Canada Books in Order

Printable List of Dr. Seuss Books in Order of Publication

Common Words that Rhyme With You (Printable Games)

150 + Words That End With O for Fun Word Games

5 Letter Words That Start With B (FREE Word Search)

The Importance of Scheduling Quiet Time for Kids

• [email protected]

+91 265–2350008

+91 7874661212.

A 14-Step Guide to Improving Children’s Writing Skills

Writing is a skill that requires patience and practice to develop. It does not come easy to everyone, so it is normal for children to make mistakes or not feel like they can write well. If your child seems to be struggling with writing, there are a few things you can do to help them improve their writing skills in English . This will not only boost their confidence but also prepare them for school writing assignments and tests.

How To Improve Your Writing Skills

Writing is an essential skill that children need to develop, not just for academic success in the best schools in Vadodara but for their future careers as well. However, it is not always easy to help children improve their writing skills. This 14-step guide on “ How To Improve Your Writing Skills ” will provide parents and teachers with practical tips and strategies to help children develop their writing skills.

1. Read Regularly

Regular reading is an important part of a child’s education and can have a long-term positive impact on their English writing skills improvement . It is also a great way to improve a child’s language skills and help them learn about their world.

Children who read regularly can develop their vocabulary and understanding of words much more quickly than those who don’t. This means they are more likely to succeed at school and in the workplace.

In addition, regular reading can improve a child’s ability to concentrate for longer periods. This is because they can focus on a story longer and are not distracted by other activities.

A great way to encourage your children to read regularly is to make it a regular part of their daily routine. Designate a specific time for them to read and keep it consistent throughout the day.

2. Discuss What They Read

For children to write well, they must be able to discuss what they read. This is important because it helps them to understand what they have read and why it was written. It also lets them know how to explain what they have read to others.

Children can also improve their writing by copying other people’s work. They will be able to lift phrasing and sentence structures from other people’s writing, which is a great way for them to learn to write better.

Another great way to help children develop their writing skills is to encourage them to make up their own stories. This will allow them to practice telling stories that are unique and interesting, which can be a good way to build their creative writing skills in English.

The best way to encourage children to write is to get them to enjoy the process. They will want to do it more if it is fun and they have the support of an adult.

3. Teach The Writing Process

Children need to understand the writing process, from brainstorming ideas to drafting their work and then editing it for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. This critical skill can be learned in any language and will allow students to perform well on all writing tasks in school and beyond.

Teaching the writing process allows children to see how their work is developed and can help them build a stronger sense of confidence as writers. It also gives them a clear understanding of the value of their work and encourages them to take pride in it.

The writing process breaks down into stages: idea generation, planning, drafting, revision and editing, and publishing. Modelling each step as a separate lesson helps children learn and see how to develop writing skills .

Revising a draft can be a tough process for some young writers, but giving them time to improve their papers is essential. Whether they are rewriting their whole piece or only changing a few words, this is the most important stage of their writing journey.

4. Give Them Time To Write

Many obstacles can stand in the way of a child’s writing. This includes messages, vibrations, and pop-ups on their electronic devices. They also might feel the need to check email, social media, or their bank account. For improving English writing skills , students need time to sit down and write. This might mean a designated space in their home or a writing centre at school.

Teachers must make time for children to write an explicit part of the curriculum. This may include writing the question of the day or morning message in front of the class, using labels to label classroom materials, or having the children paint large signs related to themes being explored.

The best way to give your students the time they need to practice their writing is to model it yourself. Show them how to brainstorm ideas, think aloud about what they want to write about, and demonstrate the process of composing a story or letter.

5. Provide Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are a great way to help children improve their writing skills in English . They provide a starting point, encourage creativity, and can be adapted to different writing levels. Prompts are also important because they can help your child learn how to write on a specific topic. This allows them to stay focused and clear as they move forward with longer narratives and research papers later.

They can also be a lot of fun to work with and are a good way to relieve some of the pressure when writing a draft. This is especially helpful for children who tend to freeze when writing a draft and aren’t confident about their ability to create a perfect piece of writing.

Another thing to remember is that writing prompts can also be used as an opportunity to practice storytelling. This is an excellent skill to have as a writer and is a great way for your child to build confidence in their abilities as a storyteller.

At Nalanda International School, we understand the importance of improving English writing skills in children. Enrol your child today and watch them thrive.

6. Use Graphic Organisers

Graphic organisers are a great way to help students improve their writing skills. They are easy to use and can benefit all your students, no matter their learning ability or disability. They help students connect new information to prior knowledge, draw conclusions, make inferences, identify main ideas and details, and summarise what they have read. They also teach them to discriminate between filler information and important facts.

There are many different types of graphic organisers available for use in our classrooms. Having a variety on hand for every writing skill our teachers teach is a good idea.

7. Encourage Them To Use Descriptive Language

Descriptive writing is a crucial skill for young writers to develop. It allows them to use their imaginations and describe a scene, event, or object in detail. A great way to encourage students to write descriptively is by using various prompts. For example, you could ask them to describe their favourite place or a time that made them happy.

You can also help their English writing skills improvement process by showing them how to use adverbs and adjectives correctly. These words add extra information to a sentence and make it sound more interesting. Another strategy is to find examples of descriptive language in a text you read together. You can print these out and discuss them as a class.

Children will need practice with this kind of language, so you can be sure to provide plenty of opportunities for them to learn. For starters, you can expose them to several genres of texts, including newspapers, magazines, and stories.

8. Teach Sentence Structure

Children can develop their writing skills by learning about sentence structure. Understanding how to combine subjects, predicates, and independent clauses into long and short sentences is an essential skill for children to learn.

Sentences are important because they convey ideas that add up to make meaning. They also allow readers to understand the text they are reading and the author’s intentions.

Teaching students how to write complex sentences is another important part of improving their writing skills. Complex sentences are great tools for bringing variety to their writing and exploring complex ideas, setting up comparisons and contrasts, and conveying cause and effect.

When students start to understand how to write complex sentences, they will have a better chance of understanding what they read in school. They will also be more able to proofread their writing and correct any mistakes.

9. Provide Feedback

Feedback is an important part of teaching how to improve your writing skills . It helps students identify strengths and weaknesses, improve their writing skills, and develop self-awareness about their writing habits and processes.

Feedback can be verbal or written. It can be given immediately during the writing process or later when a student has time to reflect and incorporate it into their next drafts.

Providing feedback is also a great way to foster metacognition and help students practice the Foundational Writing Skills they have learned in class. For example, if you have taught the traits of good writing, such as a presentation or concrete details, give students checklists associated with these qualities and have them self-reflect or review their peers’ writing.

When delivering feedback, make sure to provide students with positive reinforcement and encouragement for their writing. You don’t want them to feel like they have to be perfect to get a good grade, but you do want them to feel empowered and know that they can succeed with their writing skills.

10. Use Technology

Writing is an intricate process that involves bringing together vocabulary, grammar, and mental processing. It requires ample practice and exposure to the language for young learners to develop strong writing skills.

Children can use technology for improving English writing skills in various ways. For example, they can access educational apps and websites that promote literacy development or use technology tools to support reading and writing lessons in the classroom.

If they struggle to write, using a speech-to-text program or typing tool can be helpful. Teaching them how to use these tools can make a big difference in their writing ability. They can also use pictures to inspire their writing, which is a great way to help children develop creativity and critical thinking.

Want to give your child the best chance of success in academics and beyond? Enrol them at Nalanda International School, where we prioritise helping them learn how to develop writing skills.

11. Collaborate

Collaboration is a skill that helps teams work together and develop new ideas. It also helps them listen to and learn from each other, which is crucial for reaching company goals. Collaborative writing is a great way to help students improve their writing skills. Research has shown that it can improve their writing fluency and grammatical accuracy.

Using collaborative writing can be a great way to teach students how to write different types of stories. In addition, collaboration can be a great way to build students’ Social Awareness & Relationship Skills. At the best English medium school in Vadodara , our teachers model good collaborative writing and guide what our students should focus on as they collaborate.

12. Model Good Writing

Modelling writing is a powerful way to help students learn the skills they need. Many teachers use modelled writing to pre-teach and reinforce specific skills or concepts, but there are other ways to incorporate modelling throughout the day.

Models can be used to demonstrate grammar and conventions, explain how to choose a topic and write a message, and explain what a writer is doing inside their head while writing. Models can also be used to demonstrate how to revise a piece of writing.

In addition to demonstrating a skill, modelled writing can also provide opportunities for students to interact with others on writing projects and think aloud about the writing process. These interactions can be particularly important for children struggling with their English writing skills improvement.

13. Keep Practicing

Writing is an important skill that can help children express their ideas. It can also improve their vocabulary and thinking skills. Writing can be difficult for some children; however, a little patience can go a long way in helping them become more confident and competent writers. The key is to keep practising and learning how to improve your writing skills.

Whether your child is writing about their day or tackling a more ambitious project, it’s important to provide them with ample opportunities to practice. It may be as simple as asking them to write their daily to-do list or letting them take on a writing assignment at school.

Encourage them to use words they haven’t used before or even copy a poem, story, or quote they enjoy. This will help them focus on form, usage, and meaning while introducing new structures into their writing.

Connecting writing assignments with other subjects they are learning about in class can also be helpful. For example, if your child is studying history, ask them to write about a historical figure they’ve read about in class. Or, if they’re taking a science class, ask them to explain a concept in their own words.

14. Celebrate Their Writing

Children’s writing skills in English are integral to their school performance. This is because writing is linked to critical thinking and a strong foundation for all other learning. But for some children, this task can be frustrating and intimidating.

It’s important to remember that every child develops their writing skills differently and at different times. This doesn’t mean your child isn’t smart or interested in writing. It just means they might need extra support or practice to improve their writing skills.

For children who need a little more help with their writing, celebrating their work can be a great way to build their confidence and motivation! 

To write well, children need to develop a variety of skills. They need to be able to think about what they want to write and then use the skills of grammar, vocabulary, and mental processing to put their thoughts down on paper. Children also need access to a variety of writing materials and opportunities for practice and improving English writing skills. This can include taking part in a writing club or having their work published on an online platform.

Teaching how to develop writing skills is an important element of the curriculum for young learners at Nalanda International School , as it helps them to express their ideas and opinions, hone their skills in critical thinking and build the knowledge they need to perform in other academic areas. We ensure our students have the opportunity to write regularly, with separate and dedicated time to draft, revise and proofread their compositions in preparation for formal publication or performance.

Are you looking for a school that prioritises writing skills development? Look no further than Nalanda International School, the best English medium school in Vadodara.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Nalanda International School was established in the year 2004 and is located in the city of art and culture, Vadodara, in Gujarat, only 8 kms. from Alkapuri, the heart of the city.

• +91 265-2350008
• +91 7433973001 , +91 7433973002 , +91 7874661212
• Nalanda International School Sevasi-Mahapura Road, Vadodara- 391 101

Quick Links

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Write down your thoughts and shred them to relieve anger, researchers say

Writing negative reactions on paper and shredding it or scrunching and throwing in the bin eliminates angry feelings, study finds

Since time immemorial humans have tried to devise anger management techniques.

In ancient Rome, the Stoic philosopher Seneca believed “my anger is likely to do me more harm than your wrong” and offered avoidance tips in his AD45 work De Ira (On Anger).

More modern methods include a workout on the gym punchbag or exercise bike. But the humble paper shredder may be a more effective – and accessible – way to decompress, according to research.

A study in Japan has found that writing down your reaction to a negative incident on a piece of paper and then shredding it, or scrunching it into a ball and throwing it in the bin, gets rid of anger.

“We expected that our method would suppress anger to some extent,” said Nobuyuki Kawai, lead researcher of the study at Nagoya University. “However, we were amazed that anger was eliminated almost entirely.”

The study, published in Scientific Reports on Nature , builds on research on the association between the written word and anger reduction as well as studies showing how interactions with physical objects can control a person’s mood. For instance, those wanting revenge on an ex-partner may burn letters or destroy gifts.

Researchers believe the shredder results may be related to the phenomenon of “backward magical contagion”, which is the belief that actions taken on an object associated with a person can affect the individuals themselves. In this case, getting rid of the negative physical entity, the piece of paper, causes the original emotion to also disappear.

This is a reversal of “magical contagion” or “celebrity contagion” – the belief that the “essence” of an individual can be transferred through their physical possessions.

Fifty student participants were asked to write brief opinions about an important social problem, such as whether smoking in public should be outlawed. Evaluators then deliberately scored the papers low on intelligence, interest, friendliness, logic, and rationality. For good measure, evaluators added insulting comments such as: “I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university.”

The wound-up participants then wrote down their angry thoughts on the negative feedback on a piece of paper. One group was told to either roll up the paper and throw it in a bin or keep it in a file on their desk. A second group was told to shred the paper, or put it in a plastic box.

Anger levels of the individuals who discarded their paper in the bin or shredded it returned to their initial state, while those who retained a hard copy of the paper experienced only a small decrease in their overall anger.

Researchers concluded that “the meaning (interpretation) of disposal plays a critical role” in reducing anger.

“This technique could be applied in the moment by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and then throwing it away,” said Kawai.

Along with its practical benefits, this discovery may shed light on the origins of the Japanese cultural tradition known as hakidashisara ( hakidashi sara refers to a dish or plate) at the Hiyoshi shrine in Kiyosu, just outside Nagoya. Hakidashisara is an annual festival where people smash small discs representing things that make them angry. The study’s findings may explain the feeling of relief that participants report after leaving the festival, the paper concluded.

More on this story

Fridge magnets can be cool aid to holiday memory recall, study finds

Want to skip that Christmas party? The host probably won’t mind, study shows

‘Succession syndrome’ prevalent among wealthy households, psychiatrists warn

Drugs and alcohol do not make you more creative, research finds

Why being rude to the waiter (or other staff) is the worst strategy

Authors of original dating profiles rated more attractive, research finds

I fear my children are overexposed to technology. Experts say I’m right to worry

I used to be ashamed of being a fangirl. Now I see how joyous and creative it was

Autistic scholar Temple Grandin: ‘The education system is screening out visual thinkers’

Human neurons transplanted into rats to help study brain disorders

Most viewed.