Tips for Writing with Kids at Home

As a parent and a classroom teacher, I must admit that I’ve noticed there is less time to spend on writing with kids in elementary school.

Reading and Math seem to take top priority at times due to standardized testing. Then it seems that there is a slight focus on the set grades with Writing exams and focus on that specific format style, which doesn’t always work best for students.

There are some ways as parents we can provide our children with opportunities to write for fun!

What do you do as a parent with a child at home to encourage writing?

Tips for Writing with Kids at Home

Here are several ways to encourage your child to learn to write and fall in love with writing!

We’re providing simple ways to get writing into your daily lifestyle to foster a love and confidence in your child and their writing skills.

Provide Writing Materials 

Starting from early on having the tools available for our children to write is important. Always have paper, notebooks, notepads, lined paper available for kids to use for writing.

When I say writing, I mean creative ideas coming from our children’s minds.  Handwriting is a totally different topic for another day.

Make sure to have a variety of writing materials available such as sharpened pencils, pens and even crayons and markers.

Provide Writing Inspiration

Finding ways for our children to be inspired about writing can be a challenge. There are ways to encourage them to write for fun.

• Journaling and story writing are two key ways to get your child writing.
• Encourage them to keep of list of things they’d like to write about.
• Adventures can make the best story prompts but they don’t have to be traveling far away.
• Encourage your child to write about the experiences they have.
• Backyard adventures can lead to come pretty interesting stories if you let your imagination take over.

Provide Writing Opportunities for your Child

Having a specific time during your week after school or weekend for your child to write is important.

Journaling can be a fun way to share ideas back in forth in a parent-child journal.

Working on a story once a week or once a month can help set a goal for your child.

Creating a book from an adventure or trip can be fun to do together.

It’s our job as parents to show our children how much fun writing can be.  Be a role model too!

Draw a Story or Story Map

If your writer is having trouble coming up with an idea, encourage them to draw a picture about something. As they add details to the image, those are their supporting details in the story.

They could also create a story map to get ideas going on one specific topic.

Take a peek at the video below to discover what this book is all about!  

Writing Activities featured in Interview

Here’s my interview with Debra Eckerling author of Purple Pencil Adventures and Creator of Write On! Online: a community to writers throughout the world. 

During our Hangout on Air we discussed tips for how to encourage your child to write including a few writing prompts featured in Purple Pencil Adventures.  I shared tips from my classroom and after school adventures with my own children.  

You can find more info about Debra’s book at Purple Pencil Adventures  or purchase on Amazon {Affiliate link included}.

Writing Resources for Parents

• Story Writing with Stickers 
• Ways to Keep Writing Fun
• Reading and Writing Connection with Ways to Support Your Child’s Writing
• Writing and the 6+1 traits of Writing with Links to Printable Rubrics
• What Does 2nd Grade Writing Look Like? 
• What Kindergarten Writing Looks Like
• Encourage Reluctant Readers in Second Grade  (Planet Smarty Pants)
• Writing a Story with Stickers (Melissa and Doug)
• What to Expect in a Writing Workshop (Imagination Soup)
• Unleashing the Writer in your Child (This Reading Mama)
• Back to School Writing Activities (Boy Mama Teacher Mama) 
• Make an Expert List: A Prewriting Strategy(The Measured Mom)
• Journaling with Kids (Mama Smiles)
• How to Inspired Kids to Write at Home (The Measured Mom)

Writing board on Pinterest  for more ideas for writing with your kids! 

Follow The Educators’ Spin On It’s board Writing Activities on Pinterest.

Now it’s your turn to share what you’ve been doing with your kids at home after school. If you’re a parent just leave us a comment below of what you’ve been up to, we’ve love to hear from you! Come join the FUN!