Kids’ exposure to gadgets at an early age encourages them to be more visual and auditory. Because of this, it becomes easy for children to express themselves through speaking by way of imitating the sounds that they listen to. Most kids, though, find communicating through writing a chore because of little exposure to writing by hand. While it is true that gadgets can develop children’s skills in ways a traditional method cannot, writing by hand is still an indispensable skill. In this article, we explain why parents need to encourage kids to write more.
Different tasks in school require students to write compositions of varying lengths: from simple to complex sentences, from short paragraphs to essays. When they get into the rhythm of writing regularly, they will find writing activities in school less burdensome.
When kids write, they see for themselves how a particular word is spelled out. Since the English language does not have a one to one correspondence with spelling and pronunciation, writing words will help children recognize the way a particular word is spelled.
Reading and writing go hand in hand. Good writers become good in their craft because they read a lot. Reading encourages a child’s imagination, a skill that will also help him become a good writer.
Kids will encounter a lot of words when they read, but not all of these words are appropriate in a given context. When kids write, they will eventually learn which word best describes a certain thought, feeling, or emotion. They will also be able to practice their critical thinking skills in evaluating which word is best used in a particular situation.
Children are not always comfortable with voicing out their thoughts. While some would be really confident in sharing ideas as they come through speaking, some would rather keep them to themselves. These ideas will get lost when they are not written, and these might be great ideas to be developed later on. Writing these ideas down will help kids have a record of ideas that may help them solve a problem later on.
Social media platforms are some of the ways children let their steam off. However, there are some who are not comfortable to express themselves publicly. Writing is the best way to release their negative feelings so they will feel better and breathe easier.
Writing cannot always be perfected in one go. In writing, kids will encounter corrections in grammar and composition. From every revision comes a more patient and more discipline child in the long run.
- Make pens, papers, and crayons available at home.
A skill will only be developed given the right tools. Without pens, papers, and other writing supplies available, it would not be possible for your kids to get into writing.
- Provide a good combination of fiction and non-fiction books.
Fiction encourages your kids to think imaginatively, while non-fiction about the fundamentals of writing will help your child frame his thoughts.
- Do reading or reflection logs.
One way to encourage your kids to both read and write is to introduce reading or reflection logs. You may ask your child to read a book then answer a specific question through writing.
- Leave reminders through handwritten notes.
A handwritten note to remind your child to eat or sleep on time is sweet, and the gesture encourages your child to respond to you through writing, too! Do it consistently and you’ll see your child become a writer as well.
- Show them you write.
It’s easy to tell children that you’re writing when you’re typing, but it’s always better to explain these concepts early on through distinct actions. Write with a pen and paper in their presence, and see them imitate your actions later on.