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Home » Teaching Creative Writing to Children – 3 Things You Should Know

Teaching Creative Writing to Children – 3 Things You Should Know

Picture the scene; the class is engrossed in their books while the teacher clears her throat and begins her lesson. With one glance at the clock, the children realize their break is up and it’s time for them to head home. Quietly, the teacher rings the bell and the students jump up, eager to leave. However, the teacher has one more task for them: to write a short story based on a prompt. The children sigh in disappointment as they trudge back to their seats. The teacher begins to write on the whiteboard while the students quietly fill in the blanks, still eager to leave. After ten minutes, the teacher stops writing, turns to the class and asks if they have anything to say. They all nod in unison, eager to continue writing. Their eyes are focused on the task at hand while their hands are busy on the keyboards.

This is an everyday scenario for a lot of teachers. When the school year begins, they hope to use writing as a tool to engage students in interactive writing where they practice their newly acquired skills. However, somewhere along the way, the task of teaching creative writing changed. Now, it’s not about just teaching the skill. It’s about engaging the students’ minds while having fun.

Here are three things you should know if you’re going to teach creative writing to children:

1. The Students Might Not Like To Write

Most children don’t like to write. At least, not in the beginning. The idea of sitting down and crafting stories can seem daunting. Imagine the homework on a Friday night: get a notebook and a pen, find a quiet place, and write for an hour. That’s what most kids hate. However, there’s a reason why teachers continue to assign homework on Friday nights: it’s because the students need the extra practice. Whether it’s writing practice or reading practice, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s something the students need and want to do, you’re guaranteed to see some improvement. We know what you’re thinking: change is hard. Teaching creative writing to children is hard. However, if you do it right, the results can be invaluable.

If you think the students will hate the idea of writing, then why would you want to teach them? What if we could teach them that writing is something that not only they enjoy but that can also be a useful skill? The problem is in the starting. The students have already been taught that writing is something adults do and it’s not a very nice thing. They might not want to engage with the idea of writing unless they see it as useful or fun. The solution is to make creative writing a fun activity for the kids. There are many ways of doing this, but here are a few creative activities that you can use:

2. Creative Writing Is A Life Skill

Creative writing is a life skill. It can be an invaluable tool for both kids and adults. The problem is that not many people know that it’s a skill that can be taught and even fewer know how. The truth is, creative writing is all about confidence. It doesn’t matter if you’re a child or an adult, getting started can be very intimidating. Once you do, you’ll find that it’s easy to express yourself in creative ways.

However, confidence is key. Even if you’re writing for children, you should still begin by speaking to them in a way that makes them feel comfortable and inspired. This means using kid-friendly language, experimenting with different styles, and not just sticking to the basics. The children will only benefit if they feel invested in the process and continue to engage with it. If you’re worried that they won’t, then why would you want to teach them? The solution is to make them believe that they can achieve anything through writing, no matter how brave or stupid the idea may sound. By encouraging them and showing them that you believe in them, you’re guaranteed to see some wonderful results.

3. Teachers Must Be Confident

Even when you’re a teacher, you’re still a teacher. This means that there will always be students who are better than you and who will test you. The only way you’ll be able to overcome this is by being confident. This doesn’t mean that you have to be overbearing or act like a bad ass – it just means that you have to believe in yourself. When the students believe in you, they will follow your lead. Even if they don’t have much experience, they’ll trust you because you’re showing confidence in the class of people who don’t necessarily have confidence in themselves. This can be very beneficial because it means that they’ll start seeing themselves as capable and creative individuals who can write amazing stories. Even if this is just a writing exercise, you’re starting the process by encouraging self-esteem in your students. The results will be invaluable.

When you’re teaching creative writing to children, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first is that not everyone will want to write. Some students might feel overwhelmed or even guilty about it. This is why it’s important to find a way of making it fun for them. The second is that creative writing is a life skill that can be useful for both children and adults. The last but not least, you have to be confident. Even if the kids don’t show it at first, they’ll eventually sense your confidence and will start to emulate it. When they do, the results can be wonderful. Don’t forget: you’re doing this for the kids, not just because it’s educational (although it is). Having fun while also encouraging their creative side can help spark their imagination and help them find their voice. So, keep these things in mind and you’ll be able to effectively teach creative writing to children.