A confident writer is someone who can express their thoughts on the page as well as they can express them in person. This isn’t something that happens in one big burst, but there are things you can do to help your child along the way. Give this spring activity a try. And please, let us know how it goes.
Focus on Details
Depending upon where you live, spring weather gets worse before it gets better. But eventually, those blustery days give way to flowering trees and chirping birds. It’s a wonderful time to focus on details.
The ability to describe what you see is essential to becoming a confident writer. One way to practice this skill is by helping your kids notice what is budding, growing, and happening around them in a kid-friendly journal.
Kid-Friendly Journal
The journal doesn’t have to be fancy or formal. It can be as simple as printer paper stapled together, as easy as a blank-page bound notebook, or anything else that works for your child.
Help your child spot the details. Was it a flower or a blue flower? Then, little kids can draw a picture and dictate a sentence or two for you to add. Older kids can draw an image and write a sentence or two on their own. Or, your child 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 is a recipe for a miserable experience. A bit of practice with spotting details – both physical and sensory – can make writing a lot of fun. Remember to let us know how it goes!