Child Writers: 12 Ways To Motivate Them
Children’s writers tend to show a great interest in reading very early. This is where they get the foundation to start developing their own stories. Therefore, one of the most important tips to motivate writing ability is to encourage love of all literature.
We know that young children have an endless source of ideas and even anecdotes that they draw from their imagination. This is exactly the raw material that must be used to develop a capacity to capture ideas on paper.
Below you will find some useful recommendations so that you can follow your children’s authors in their creative process.
How do you stimulate children’s writers to develop their abilities?
Give them different materials
Choose pencils in different shapes and colors, papers with different textures, markers and whiteboards. It may sound silly simple, but it’s an example of what you can do to motivate young children’s writers.
2. Create a space at home that is free from distractions
It allows children to concentrate 100% so that they can capture the ideas that emerge.
3. Help to increase the vocabulary of children’s authors
Children need simple and direct instructions during their first years. But as they get older, you can use more sophisticated terms to communicate with them. For example, use synonyms and new words when talking to them. Consequently, it will give them more tools to express their ideas.
4. Integrate writing into other subject areas
Describe mathematical problems or science lessons using written words. It helps them to see that everything can be written. In addition, children’s authors can practice by keeping a diary of their daily experiences.
Encourage children to write in everyday life
Ask them to send small notes to friends and family. Also ask them to help write the shopping list or send a letter. Thus, the child will understand that writing is an important and necessary skill.
6. Teach children’s writers to enjoy different kinds of texts
Show them magazines, comic books, stories, articles and even hieroglyphs. Above all, non-conventional forms of writing help to teach children the value of communication and the universality of language.
7. Share their stories with the family
Dedicate one evening each month to having an open mic in the living room. Parents and children can read and share something they have written in the past month.
Recommendations from an author
8. Take into account the interests of the child author
Let your child decide what he or she should write about. If your child likes sports, let him read and write about his favorite football team or tennis player. On the other hand, if he likes music, invite him or her to compose stanzas or choruses for songs.
9. Let children’s writers experience classic works in a fun way
We have always seen classic thick books like The Emigrants or The Odyssey as difficult to understand. However, there is now, for example, a version of the Odyssey for children that helps them access this traditional work in a much more child-friendly way.
10. Creativity is more important than writing ability
At the beginning of writing, the idea is more important than the linguistic form of the message.
11. Find a way to showcase your child’s work
Whether it is in the school newspaper or on the refrigerator door at home, children are happy when they know that others read what they write. First you need to give them the confidence to write and later correct grammatical errors and syntax errors.
12. Play word games and answers
Play word games by inventing words that are not real and invent imaginary situations. Then let your child try to give a reaction or figure out and develop your examples. Finally, give validation to the contributions and ideas that your child comes up with and praise your child’s creativity.
In summary, children’s authors need help and motivation to fully develop their skills. Take part in this process and help them build the very important habit of writing in both daily and academic life. If you help make writing fun for your children , it will not feel like a boring obligation for them in the future.