5 Ways to Help Your Child Become a Better Writer

Did you know that writing was invented around 5400 years ago in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)? To date, writing is still one of the oldest yet most beneficial technologies despite generative AI and other writing aids. Without writing, there would be limited communication and no documents to protect our assets, to name a few. In this article, we will explore five ways you, as a parent, can help your child to become a more efficient writer.

Practice Makes Improvement

Writing, like anything, is improved through practice and exposure. Children who aren't exposed to writing will not have a chance to practice and, as a result, will not be as effective as a child who writes regularly. Students in first grade and above should receive at least one hour of daily writing time, including 30 minutes of explicit writing instruction (skills and strategies directly taught and modeled by the teacher) and 30 minutes of guided practice (students practice with support and feedback from the teacher) or independent practice. Kindergarten students should receive at least 30 minutes of daily writing instruction and practice (Colorado Department of Education, n.d.). So the question then becomes how we can get an hour of writing time daily, whether at home or at school? Well, that is where strategy comes into play. Here are 5 ways to get your child writing more.

1. Incorporate Writing Into Daily Activities

Writing does not always have to be a formal assignment. Have your child help write the grocery list, create a daily schedule, write a birthday card, or leave a sticky note for someone in the family. These simple activities provide additional writing practice while showing your child that writing is used in everyday life.

2. Allow Your Child to Write About Their Interests

Children are more likely to write when they are interested in the topic. If your child enjoys sports, video games, animals, music, or another subject, allow them to write about it. For example, they can explain how to play their favorite game or describe an animal they would like to have as a pet. The goal is to get them writing more, so let their interests lead the way.

3. Start a Writing Journal

Give your child a journal where they can write about their day, thoughts, experiences, or anything else that comes to mind. If they do not know what to write, provide a simple prompt, such as, “What was the best part of your day?” or “If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?” Even 10 to 15 minutes of writing can give your child meaningful practice.

4. Write With Your Child

Sometimes children need to see what writing looks like before they can do it independently. Sit down and write with your child. You can both respond to the same writing prompt or work together to write a story. As you write, explain how you organize your thoughts, choose your words, and revise sentences that do not sound right. This helps your child understand that writing is a process and that good writers do not always get everything right on the first try.

5. Focus on One Skill at a Time

Try not to correct every mistake your child makes at once. Too many corrections can become overwhelming and may cause your child to dislike writing. Instead, focus on one or two skills at a time. For example, you may focus on capital letters and punctuation during one writing activity and sentence details during another. Be sure to point out what your child did well before explaining what they can improve.

Bonus: Writing Tools Make a Difference

Helpful writing tools, such as a dictionary, thesaurus, pencils, and an eraser, should always be nearby. A dictionary can help your child check the spelling or meaning of an unfamiliar word. Familiarity with a dictionary also teaches children how to find answers independently instead of always relying on an adult, spell-check, or generative AI.

Progress Over Perfection

Your child will not become an efficient writer overnight, and that is okay. The goal is improvement, not perfection. Provide consistent opportunities for your child to write, give helpful feedback, and celebrate the progress they make along the way. The more your child writes, the more comfortable and confident they will become.

Remember, practice does not always make perfect, but it does make improvement.

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Individual results vary. Intervention timelines and student outcomes depend on individual learning needs, attendance, instructional frequency, retention, school instruction, and opportunities for practice.

References

Colorado Department of Education. (n.d.). Designating time for writing and writing instruction across the school day. https://ed.cde.state.co.us/coreadingwriting/designating-time-for-writing-and-writing-instruction-across-the-school-day