You might have found a way to entertain your children with interactive books, where they read the stories and make the books come to life by pressing certain buttons. However, have you ever considered teaching your children how to write? There are various benefits to having young authors, and it’s not too soon to start shaping the future of writers.
Even if you’ve only got elementary school aged children, there are ways to start teaching them how to write. Some early writers noted that the best way to inspire a child’s creativity was by allowing them to participate in the writing process. So, if you want to encourage your child’s creative side, you can start by showing them how to properly write.
Get Inspired
To get the most out of your children’s creative side, get inspired by whatever moves you. If you’re a writer, get inspired by books you’ve read, songs you’ve heard, or anything that can spark an idea for a story. You can also ask around to see what’s inspiring other people.
In general, make sure that your children have enough room to explore their creative side without feeling restricted. Let them try out different colored pens, paper, and notebooks to see which ones they prefer, and don’t worry about being neat as long as they’re having fun.
Start Small
To start small, tell your children that you’re going to count to 10 before you ask them to write something. Then, when you’re both happy with the results, you can move onto something bigger. This way, they won’t be overwhelmed by the task and will continue to participate because they’re having fun.
For younger children, a good starting point is letters and words. Begin by showing your children how to make letters look like letters. For example, if you want them to write the letter ‘t’, have them hold the pen like this…
- Then, tell them to make the letter ‘t’ by holding the pen in a way that looks like a ‘t’
- When they’re happy with the results, move onto something else
You can also ask your children to write short stories or poems. The key is to keep the tasks simple and build up to something bigger. Remember, if they’re having fun, they’ll likely be more creative and engaged in the process. And, as you said, it’s never too soon to start shaping the future of authors!
Play The Part
If you want to get the most out of your children’s creative side, let them get involved in the process. While it’s great to get inspiration from around you, the best way to get the most out of your children is by getting them involved in the writing process. This means having them play different roles – such as a teacher, a writer, a patient parent, or a monkey (just kidding – don’t do that).
For example, you can have them write a letter to a friend telling them about a recent event that happened. Then, you can have them act out the letter, using their body, voice, and face.
This will help them understand the process of writing, which can inspire them to become future writers. Of course, you don’t have to be dramatic about it. Something as simple as, “Hey, do you want to write something today?” can get them motivated to write. You can encourage their creative side without forcing them to act out every aspect of writing. Kids can be sensitive, so you have to be careful about what you ask of them. However, this type of interaction helps build their confidence while also stimulating their creative side.
Ultimately, it’s all about having fun while teaching your children. Make it a family night or weekday homework night so that you can all get some done together. If you’re looking for an early education project, consider using an interactive book where they can learn to write while having fun! Happy writing!