What will your child be learning in school next year? How will they best learn? Will they learn in bite-sized pieces or in big chunks? Will they learn with worksheets or in a creative environment? There are many options available to you when it comes to your child’s education, and one of the most vital questions you will need to ask is: When should I start teaching them about narrative writing?
What is narrative writing?
Narrative writing is the structured, cohesive telling of a story through the use of prose. It can be simply defined as the “art of writing stories”. Students will often times be required to write narratives for class assignments, so it is imperative that you know how to best prepare them for this type of writing.
What is the best age to start teaching my child about narrative writing?
This is a question that many parents and teachers ask themselves every year. Is it better to wait until your child is a little older, or should you start now? The answer is both, depending on your child’s stage of development and the format you prefer for your lessons. Let’s discuss what advantages and disadvantages to both options.
Teaching Young Children
If your child is young, it is advisable to start them on their educational journey early and ensure that they are thoroughly equipped for classes with little ones around. With so much information available on the Internet today, children are exposed to many exciting concepts at a young age – like the different ways humans have adapted to live together, or how to survive in a world with just your smartphone. This information can make learning about narrative writing easier for them.
The disadvantage of starting young is that they may not have the attention span to fully grasp complex topics, such as the different ways to write a narrative. Young children also lack the emotional maturity to truly understand the concept of “narrative honesty”, which makes it harder for teachers to establish consistent ground rules in class.
Starting Middle Schoolers On Their Educational Journey
If your child is entering the second half of the school year, they will be approaching a developmental stage where they are able to focus more on details and follow rules more consistently. This is the perfect time to start introducing them to the world of narrative writing and how to tell a story through organized writing. They are also in the perfect stage of development to appreciate creative writing and see the value in it.
The disadvantage of starting them in the middle of the school year is that they will already be behind their peers in some areas of development and may not fully grasp the concepts being taught. This can make it more challenging for the teacher to individually support each student with their own learning curve.
Teaching Teens
If your child is a teen, then the advantages of starting early are even more prominent. Teens have the attention spans of adult humans and can quickly learn new concepts and behaviors. In addition, they can appreciate the value of a good story and the role it plays in keeping information alive. This is why teachers often assign real-life examples in class so that students can learn how to analyze problems and situations using fiction to solve them.
The disadvantage is that teenagers are fully aware of the value of their social media platforms and how they can use them to spread their ideas and attract followers. This can present a conflict of interest when teaching them about the value of a written narrative.
The takeaway from this discussion is that there is no wrong answer when it comes to the best age to start teaching your child about narrative writing. It depends on your child’s development and the format you prefer for your lessons. Do you prefer to start young and develop their focus and ability to learn quickly or do you prefer to wait until they are older to start developing these skills? There are various advantages and disadvantages to both options, so think of what is important to you and make a decision accordingly.