To develop a child’s awareness of writing, reading and grammar, you should look to creative writing on a regular basis. Creative writing is as described: a form of writing that allows your child to think freely, build stories and create their own worlds. To explore creative writing, here are some tips that this sixth form in London recommends you try with your child.
Give your child plenty of opportunities to read
The best way of establishing your child’s skills in writing is through reading first to allow them to grasp vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure. Give them the opportunity to try many different forms of reading material that will give them the best chance in using their skills on paper. Try comic books, short stories, poems and longer novels to see which reading style your child prefers.
Encourage your child to keep a journal
A journal is a good starting point for a child and allows them to keep an eye on their thought process and feelings. Even if your child writes a couple of sentences in their diary each day it gets them into the habit of writing creatively. It doesn’t have to be about an elaborate story, but more about getting your child to use the skills they’ve already developed and putting them into practice.
Give your child writing prompts
Writing prompts encourage a child to think about a certain subject and write about it. This could be talking about their family, what their favourite hobbies are or their favourite holiday. These kinds of prompts get children writing in different ways, using the senses and makes them think critically about what they’re going to write next. Visual aids can also help children with their writing and get them thinking outside of the box in terms of what they write about. Examples include famous monuments, landscapes and photos of their friends or family.
