A confident writer is someone who can express thoughts on a page as well as they can express thoughts verbally. This is not an ability that occurs in one big burst. Here is a favorite fall activity you can use to help your child along the way.
Focus on Words
Fall is a terrific time to focus on finding the right word. Are there a few fallen leaves, a lot of fallen leaves, a ton of fallen leaves, or millions of fallen leaves? Try different words to describe amounts of leaves, discuss the nuances of each with your child, and expand their vocabulary as well.
The same is true for describing the weather. Is it chilly, cold, freezing, or frigid? Is it cloudy or overcast? Is it windy, breezy, or blustery? The more you can do to bring meaning to the shades of meaning, the better able your child will be to write pieces that bring the reader into the experience.
Kid-Friendly Journal
A kid-friendly tool for this is a journal. It can be printer paper stapled together, a blank-page bound notebook, or something else that works for your child. As long as there is space for an image and a few sentences, you’re good to go.
Ask your kids to write about the words you’ve discussed. Little kids can draw a picture and dictate a sentence or two for you to add. Older kids can draw a picture and write a sentence or two on their own. Those who can write can write a paragraph, with or without a picture.
Bottom Line
Expecting a child to jump right in as a confident writer when they haven’t had any experience with the things that go into being a confident writer puts a lot of avoidable pressure on them. Give this fall activity a try. As your child learns the many ways there are to name what they see or experience, they’ll see that writing is a lot of fun. And please, let us know how it goes.