April 4, 2016

Helping Young Children Develop Strong Writing Skills

Writing is an important part of our daily lives. It is, however, a difficult skill to learn and master. By getting a head start with some simple activities, you can help your child begin to develop his or her writing skills at an early age. By doing so, you will be contributing to his or her future success as a student to express him or herself.

Writing is Practical

Every day, we need to write in order to complete our tasks, whether we are filling out a form at the doctor's office or writing an important letter. Writing is an important element of a student's education.

Whether students are writing by hand or on the computer, many assignments and exams require students to write short answers or longer essays as a way of assessing what they have learned. As students get older, they will be expected to show more sophisticated writing skills, and to complete more sophisticated tasks through their writing. In addition, many colleges and universities require students to write essays as part of their admissions application.

Writing is an important form of communication. Writing letters and emails is a common way of keeping in touch with our friends, relatives, and professional colleagues. Writing is frequently the final stage in communication when we want to leave no room for doubt, which is why we write and sign contracts, leases, and treaties when we make important decisions.

What Can You Do?

It's important to remember that writing can be as difficult a subject to teach and assess as it is to learn. Many students have trouble writing with clarity, coherence, and organization, and this can discourage them from writing if they feel frustrated.

That's where parent involvement can make a big difference. Encouraging your child to develop strong writing skills at a young age, and to become a better writer as they get older, can have a lifelong positive impact on a person’s writing, and may make writing an easier and more enjoyable process.

Activities for young children

·       

    Encourage the child to draw and to discuss his or her drawings

·       Ask your child questions about his or her drawings

·       Show an interest in, and ask questions about, the things your child says, draws, and may try to write.

·       Ask your child to tell you simple stories as you write them down

·       Copy the story as your child tells it, without making changes. Ask her to clarify anything you don't understand.

·       Encourage your child to write her name

·       Practice writing her name with her, and point out the letters in her name when you see them in other places (on signs, in stores, etc.). She may start by only writing the first few letters of her name, but soon the rest will follow.

·       Use games

There are numerous games and puzzles that help children with spelling while increasing their vocabulary. Some of these may include crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams, and cryptograms designed especially for children. Flash cards are fun to use too, and they're easy to make at home.

·       Turn your child's writing into books. 

    Paste her drawings and writings on pieces of construction paper. For each book, make a cover out of heavier paper or cardboard, and add special art, a title, and her name as author. Punch holes in the pages and cover, and bind the book together with yarn or ribbon.

Enjoy,

Ms. Nora Sierra

EC Assistant Principal