Perhaps one of the biggest skills a parent could instill into their child is writing. Without the ability to read and write, we are nothing. Yet it’s difficult for many parents to instill a love or at least a respect for writing in children who fight them the whole way. After all, not every child is meant to be the next Hemingway.
But why is writing important, and how can the everyday parent help his or her child become a better writer? Today we’re going to take a look at exactly that. Get out a pad and pencil… for both you and your child.
The Importance Of Writing Skills For Kids
If you need to see just how important writing is, consider this: before the first written language of Sumeria, human history could not be recorded. This is a huge reason we know so little about pre-ancient human civilization. It was because of the Sumerians and their written language that we were eventually able to start communicating with people across the world and start leaving a legacy for the future.
Writing is not just about history, however. Writing is how we communicate in everyday life, perhaps even more than using speech thanks to the digital age. Once upon a time a person could go through their life completely illiterate but still capable of getting ahead. This is no longer true. These days it’s imperative to not only be able to read above a certain level, but to also be able to communicate thoughtfully and intelligently through writing.
Writing skills for kids is a similar concept. By teaching children to read and write well, we are fostering good communication skills within them. These are skills that will follow them through their whole lives. Understanding the written language opens doors to understanding other concepts better such as math, science, art, and music.
A child with good to excellent writing skills is a child who is prepared for the future.
How Can I Help With Writing Skills For Kids?
Some children are naturally gifted with an inclination for the written word. Perhaps they learned to read from an early age and are already well advanced in reading levels. Perhaps they enjoy telling stories and keeping a diary. For the parents of these children, an encouraging word and a stack of notebooks and reading books is all that is necessary.
Then there are the kids who struggle with writing and will fight you tooth and nail over it. They may be too young to understand the point of writing. So how do you help them improve their skills without making them bitter about it?
The first step to connecting your child to the written word is by reading to them and helping them read on their own. If you child really has issues with reading that is unusual for their age, then you should have them tested for a learning disability such as dyslexia. The earlier you know about this learning disability, the easier it will be to make adjustments so your child can get back to learning.
Next is to help your child practice good penmanship. This does not have to be boring. Turn it into a game by arranging colorful magnets to spell messages to family members. Have your child write a word and then turn it into an art project. The whole time they will be mentally connecting with these symbols that will soon make more and easier sense to them.
Blogging As A Way To Connect With Writing
As your child grows older, encourage them to keep a diary. In the beginning, you may want to buy him or her their own journal, but later on you may want to encourage blogging. Blogging does not have to be public. It can be locked down so only friends and family can see what your child is posting.
Still, having an audience may make a child more likely to want to write. They can write about anything, such as keeping a journal, reviewing their favorite books or movies, writing stories, etc. The possibilities are endless and only limited to your child’s interests.
By practicing general safety measures such as locking down a minor’s blog, keeping them from sharing personal information, and just keeping an eye on things, you can foster good writing skills for kids. If you have more than one child, have them keep a family blog that is all about their adventures. While your children are learning about writing, they will also be learning to get along better.
As a parent, part of your job is to expose your child to many of the wonders of the world. Writing is one of these wonders that can take them to places they never even dreamed of. Good luck to you and your children!
