1. Set up a writing corner with the right ambience and opportunities to write regularly.
Provide a quiet and well-lit area, stocked with writing supplies, for your child to settle down for some writing at home. What can trigger a topic for a writing piece? We can then provide any suitable images found in print or digital to will give wings to their imagination.Let them come up with a descriptive piece about the setting, characters or even a short story using figurative language like similes, alliteration, and personification around those images.
2. Procure the right kind of books for reading.
Better still, connect your child’s interests to writing and get him or her to write about what has been read. It can take the form of a quick summary of the reading, a thought-provoking idea gleaned and expanded, a write up of an alternative ending or a different character sketch. The advantages of reading?
- Exposure to a variety of writing techniques and the play of words used by different authors.
Effective writing skills are learnt for absorption and adoption in one’s own writing. As for Primary English model compositions, they give insights into how the story structure and the flow of language feature in narrative writing. - Imbibe content-specific vocabularies like a descriptive adjective, a very scientific term or any kind of unique sentence openers.
Want to add fun elements? Transform the whole exercise into a game by awarding points for recording as much ‘awesome’ vocabulary as possible in a notebook, which then transforms into a dictionary in due course. Inevitably, such vocabulary will flow into your child’s oral and written communication unconsciously.3. Cultivate the habit of keeping a retrospective journal.
This journal is a record of your child’s innermost feelings about things that happen at school and home, be they the mundane routine like eating breakfast or something unusual such as a field trip. Such a list becomes a ‘seed’ of ideas for narrative writing. In fact, this practice sharpens the 5 senses surrounding your child’s experiences – all the pleasures or disappointments. How do you bond with your child over this? Spend time to go through the journal, share your own feelings and ideas, not forget to offer positive feedback about your child’s writing.4. Make writing ‘real’.
With inputs from your child, revive the art of writing letters, thank-you notes, party invitations and letters to family and friends. Apart from that, point out times that adults use writing to communicate with others. You can also highlight how writing in the community such as newspaper articles and letters, billboards and written advertisements impact the target audience. Your child’s interest is piqued when he or she appreciates the role of writing in everyday life. This, in turn, leads to an increased drive to write well.5. Leverage technology to publish your child’s writing.
What better way to boost a child’s self-esteem than to share his or her writing with an audience either on any digital platform or in any kids’ magazines or books. In fact, writing need not be restricted to just a narrative or essay! Creating a blog for your child to post any kind of writing, be it a poem, an opinion about a topic of interest, instruction manual or song lyrics, is another worthwhile pastime that encourages frequent writing habits in kids.
Any parent can vouch that it is no easy task to motivate children, let alone reluctant writers, to take an interest in writing. After all, which child is not surrounded by addictive digital games and time-consuming extra-curricular activities on top of regular school work? However, not all is lost if you make writing fun for your child. Engage in word games and crossword puzzles. Show lots of interest in your child’s writing and stories. Ask questions to deepen ideas. Most importantly, offer praise and celebrate when he or she brings home a good piece of writing from school.
In creative writing class online, you will learn how to create imaginary situations, emotions, and characters in your piece of writing. In short, you will become a writer as well as a creative thinker by attending writing classes. Write Edge specialises in English and Writing Classes. Build the foundation of the English language to help your child be more creative. Our tutors specialise in equipping students with English and writing techniques.
When writing skills improve your vocabulary and grammar automatically improve. In your regular writing class, you will explore new words and strict grammar rules. This will make your writing flow better than usual.
At Write Edge parents work hand-in-hand with teachers to support their children in their writing journey. Teachers discuss at length with parents about their child’s writing progress and offer necessary tips for enhancement. Consequently, Write Edge students are motivated to give their best. (As a result of this unique partnership, students are consequently motivated to give their best. And that is the sweetest of victories Write Edge can work towards.)
If you wish to find out more about the Creative Writing programmes at Write Edge, parents can reach out to us to arrange a trial class to find out more.
