When it’s time to start learning how to write, kids can be both excited and apprehensive. After all, writing is a skill that they will use for the rest of their lives! As a parent or teacher, you play an important role in helping them develop strong writing skills.
There are a number of ways to teach kids to write, and the best approach will vary depending on the child’s age and learning style. However, there are some general tips that can help make the process a little easier.
In this article, we’ll explore some tips on how to teach kids to write, including:
- Starting with the basics: letters and numbers
- Developing their writing skills: spelling, grammar, and punctuation
- Encouraging creativity: story starters, prompts, and journaling
- Building confidence: positive feedback and praise
With a little patience and some creativity, you can help your child develop strong writing skills that will serve them well for years to come.
Why Writing Early and Frequently is Necessary
Before we jump into some tips on how to teach kids to write, it’s important to understand why writing early and often is so important.
Writing is a fundamental life skill that everyone needs in order to communicate effectively. It’s also a key academic skill that children need to succeed in school. In fact, research has shown that children who write more frequently tend to perform better academically than those who don’t.
There are a number of reasons why writing is so important for kids. For one, it helps them develop their literacy skills. When children read and write often, they learn to recognize words and understand how language works. This, in turn, helps them become better readers.
In addition, writing helps children develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When they have to figure out how to spell a word or put their thoughts into words, they’re forced to think about what they’re doing and why. This helps them learn to think more deeply about the world around them.
Finally, writing is a great way for kids to express themselves. Through writing, they can share their thoughts and feelings on any topic they choose. This can be a great outlet for kids who struggle to express themselves verbally.
Let’s take a deeper look at all the benefits associated with teaching children to write at a young age.
8 Benefits of Learning To Write Young
1. Giving Your Child a Head Start
One of the great benefits of teaching your child to write early is that it gives them a head start in school. When kids learn to write at an early age, they are able to begin reading and writing sooner than their peers who did not have this opportunity. This can put them ahead in school, both academically and socially.
Additionally, learning to write at a young age also helps kids with their spacial awareness and hand-eye coordination. These are important skills that will help them not only in school but in everyday life as well.
2. Helping Your Child Develop Their Creativity
Writing is a great way for kids to express their creativity. When children are first learning to write, they often start with simple stories or drawings. As they get older and their writing skills improve, they can begin to express themselves in more complex ways.
Teaching your child to write also gives them a chance to explore their imagination. They can let their creativity run wild as they come up with new ideas and stories. This is a great way for kids to learn more about themselves and the world around them.
3. Improving Your Child’s Communication Skills
Writing is an important communication skill that will help your child in both school and in life. When kids learn to write, they are learning how to communicate their thoughts and ideas in a clear and concise way. This is a skill that will help them in all aspects of their life, from writing essays for school to communicating with co-workers.
In addition, teaching your child to write also helps them to better understand communication from others. When kids learn to read and write, they are also gaining valuable insights into how communication works. This can help them to better understand and interpret the messages they receive from others.
4. Building Your Child’s Self-Confidence
Writing is a great way for kids to boost their self-confidence. When children see their ideas and stories in print, it can help them to feel proud of their accomplishments. This pride can lead to increased confidence in other areas of their life as well.
In addition, writing can also help kids to feel more confident about their thoughts and ideas. When children know that they can express themselves clearly in writing, it can help them to feel better about sharing their thoughts and opinions with others. This is an essential skill that will help them in both school and in their personal lives.
5. Teaching Your Child Responsibility
When kids learn to write, they are also learning how to be responsible for their thoughts and ideas. This is because writing requires kids to plan and organize their thoughts before putting them into words. This process can help kids to learn how to be more responsible for their actions and their words.
In addition, teaching kids to write also helps them to develop time management skills. Writing often requires kids to meet deadlines, which can help them to learn how to budget their time and get tasks done in a timely manner. This is an ability that will help them in both school and in their future careers.
6. Matching Shapes and Letters
Matching skills are essential for early literacy success. Children need to be able to match shapes in order to recognize letters, and they need to match letters in order to spell words. Teaching your child to write can help them to develop these important matching skills.
When children are first learning to write, they often start with simple shapes. As they get more comfortable with their writing skills, they can begin to match letters to the shapes. This is a great way for kids to learn how to recognize letters and to start spelling words.
7. Improving Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are important for all aspects of life, from eating and dressing to writing and drawing. Teaching your child to write can help them to develop and improve their fine motor skills.
When kids first learn to write, they often grip the pencil or crayon tightly. As they get more comfortable with their writing skills, they can begin to relax their grip and use a lighter touch. This is a great way for kids to develop their fine motor skills and to increase their dexterity.
8. Encouraging Neatness and Organization
Neatness and organization are important skills for both school and life. Teaching your child to write can help them to develop these important skills.
When kids are first learning to write, they often scribble and make messy letters. As they get more comfortable with their writing skills, they can begin to make neater and more organized letters. This is a great way for kids to develop their neatness and organizational skills.
With all of these benefits, it’s clear that writing is an essential life skill that every child needs to learn. And the good news is that there are plenty of fun and easy ways to teach kids to write.
How to Teach Preschoolers to Write
Now that you know the benefits, it’s time to learn how to teach preschoolers to write. The good news is that there are plenty of simple and fun activities that you can do with your child to help them develop their writing skills.
1. Read Together Everyday
Believe it or not, but one of the best ways to teach kids to write is to read together every day. Reading helps to develop all sorts of important skills, including writing. When you read with your child, they are exposed to a variety of language and literacy skills that will help them when they start to write.
By pointing to the words as you read, you are helping your child to become aware of the individual units that make up our language. This is an important first step in learning to read and write.
As you read together, talk about the story and the characters. Ask your child questions about what they have read. This will help to develop their critical thinking and comprehension skills, both of which are essential for writing.
In addition, reading together is a great way to bond with your child and to develop a love of reading in them. The more they enjoy reading, the more likely they are to want to write.
If your child already knows the alphabet song, you can point out individual letters in words and ask them for their names. You could also quiz them, by pointing to a word – say, “cat” – and asking them, “can you point to the ‘a’?” This will help your child to become familiar with the letters of the alphabet, which is another important step in learning to read and write.
2. Teach Them the ABC Song
If your child doesn’t already know the alphabet song, now is the time to teach it to them. The alphabet song is a great way to help kids learn the names of the letters of the alphabet.
As you sing the song together, point to each letter and say its name. You could also ask your child to point to specific letters when you sing the song. For example, you could say, “can you point to the letter ‘t’?” This will help your child to become familiar with the letters of the alphabet and their names.
You can find the alphabet song online or in many kids’ books. There are also plenty of kids’ DVDs and videos that feature the alphabet song. Some of our favorites include:
The Letter Factory: This DVD features the alphabet song as well as other great songs and activities to help kids learn the letters of the alphabet.
Sesame Street: Elmo’s World – Letters: This fun Sesame Street video features the alphabet song as well as other fun letter-related activities.
Barney – Alphabet Zoo: This fun Barney video features the alphabet song as well as other letter-related songs and activities.
Once your child knows the alphabet song, you can move on to teaching them the individual letters of the alphabet. See our next point for more information on this.
3. Teach Them the Letters of the Alphabet
Once your child knows the alphabet song, you can start to teach them the individual letters of the alphabet. A great way to do this is to make a felt board alphabet. This is a board with the letters of the alphabet hand-stitched onto it in felt. You can find instructions for how to make a felt board alphabet online or in many kids’ craft books.
Once you have made your felt board alphabet, you can use it to help your child learn the letters of the alphabet. Start by reviewing the alphabet song together. As you sing, point to each letter and say its name. You could also ask your child to point to specific letters when you sing the song. For example, you could say, “can you point to the letter ‘t’?”
After you have reviewed the alphabet song together, start pointing to the letters on the felt board and saying their names. You could also ask your child to point to specific letters and say their names. For example, you could say, “can you point to the letter ‘t’ and tell me what letter it is?”
As your child becomes more familiar with the letters of the alphabet, you can start to introduce letter sounds. See our next point for more information on this.
4. Teach Them Letter Sounds
Being able to identify the letter sounds is a very important skill for writing. Knowing the basics of phonics will help your child with early spelling and their ability to take simple dictation.
Once your child is familiar with the letters of the alphabet, you can start to teach them letter sounds. A great way to do this is with a book like The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss. This book features many different words that start with the same letter sound. For example, the word “cat” starts with the letter “c” sound.
As you read the book together, point to each word that starts with the same letter sound and say the sound out loud. For example, when you come to the word “cat,” you would say, “/c/ /c/ /c/ cat.” You could also ask your child to point to words that start with the same letter sound. For example, you could say, “can you point to a word that starts with the /c/ sound?”
After you have read the book together, you can start to introduce other words that start with the same letter sound. You can do this by either reading more books that feature words that start with the same letter sound or by coming up with your own list of words. For example, if you are working on the /c/ sound, you could make a list of words like “cat,” “cow,” “car,” and “cup.”
As your child becomes more familiar with letter sounds, you can start to introduce them to blends. See our next point for more information on this.
5. Teach Them Blends
Once your child is familiar with letter sounds, you can start to teach them blends. A blend is two or more letters that make a new sound when they are combined. For example, the letters “bl” make the /bl/ sound as in the word “blue.”
To work on letter blends. Choose their favorite children’s book with big print. As you read the book together, point to each word that contains a blend and say the blend out loud. For example, when you come to the word “blue,” you would say, “/bl/ blue.” You could also ask your child to point to words that contain a blend. For example, you could say, “can you point to a word that has the /bl/ sound?”
After you have read the book together, you can start to introduce other words that contain the same blend. You can do this by either reading more books that feature words that contain the same blend or by coming up with your own list of words. For example, if you are working on the /bl/ sound, you could make a list of words like “blue,” “blanket,” “bleach,” and “blender.”
As your child becomes more familiar with blends, you can start to introduce them to digraphs. A digraph is two letters that make a new sound when they are combined. For example, the letters “th” make the /th/ sound as in the word “they.”
6. Start With Basic Shapes
When your child is ready to start writing, another great way to teach kids to write is to start with basic shapes. This is a great way to help them learn how to hold a pencil or crayon and to start making marks on paper.
You can start by teaching your child how to make simple lines and curves. Once they are comfortable with this, you can move on to teaching them how to make circles, triangles, and squares.
As your child becomes more confident with their shapes, you can challenge them to combine two or more shapes to make a picture. For example, they could make a house by drawing a square for the body of the house and a triangle for the roof.
You can also challenge your child to write their name using the shapes they have learned. For example, they could make a lowercase letter “A” by starting with a circle and then adding one line to the side.
Once your child is comfortable with basic shapes, you can move on to teaching them how to write letters.
7. Letter Tracing
One of the best ways to teach kids how to write letters is to have them trace letters. This is a great way for them to learn the proper letter formation and to start gaining muscle memory.
You can find tracing worksheets online, or you can make your own. To make your own, simply write the letters you want your child to trace on a piece of paper. Then, place the paper under a piece of blank paper and have your child trace over the letters.
Once your child is comfortable with tracing letters, you can move on to having them write letters on their own.
8. Write Letters in Sand or shaving cream
Writing in sand or shaving cream is another great way to teach kids how to write letters. This is a great way for them to feel the movements they need to make to form each letter.
To write in sand, simply place a piece of paper on top of a shallow tray filled with sand. Then, have your child trace the letters with their finger.
To write in shaving cream, simply place a piece of paper on top of a tray filled with shaving cream. Then, have your child trace the letters with their finger. You may need to help them spread the shaving cream around so that it is thick enough to write in.
Once your child is comfortable writing in sand or shaving cream, you can move on to having them write letters on their own.
9. Work on Penmanship
Once your child is able to write letters on their own, you can start to work on their penmanship. This is the process of learning how to write letters in a visually pleasing way.
There are a few things you can do to help your child with their penmanship. First, make sure they are using the proper grip. The proper grip is when the pencil is held between the thumb and first two fingers.
Next, make sure they are sitting up straight, and their paper is at a comfortable level. This will help them write with a smooth, consistent motion.
Finally, make sure they are taking their time and not rushing their work. This will help them form each letter correctly.
If you work on these things with your child, their penmanship will gradually improve.
10. Practice, Practice, Practice
The best way to teach kids to write is to have them practice as often as possible. The more they write, the better they will become at it.
One great way to get your child to practice writing is to have them write a letter to a friend or family member. This will not only help them practice their writing, but it will also help them stay connected with loved ones.
Another great way to get your child to practice writing is to have them keep a journal. This can be about anything they want. They can write about their day, their thoughts, or anything else they want.
If you can get your child to practice writing on a regular basis, they will gradually improve their skills.
11. Make it Fun!
Finally, the best way to teach kids to write is to make it fun! If your child is enjoying themselves, they will be more likely to want to write. Some ways to make writing fun include:
Play Alphabet Games
One great way to make writing fun is to play alphabet games. There are a variety of alphabet games that you can play with your child. These games can help them learn letter recognition, letter sounds, and letter formation.
Some great alphabet games to try include:
- Alphabet Bingo
- Alphabet Memory
- Alphabet I Spy
Write Stories (And Illustrate Them!)
Another great way to make writing fun is to write stories together. You can start by coming up with a story idea and then have your child write it down. Once the story is written, you can help them illustrate it. This is a great way to get your child’s creative juices flowing.
You can also try writing stories together without using any words. This can be done by drawing pictures and then writing a sentence to go along with it. This is a great way to get your child to practice writing sentences.
Make Lists
Lists are another great way to make writing fun. You can have your child make lists of their favorite things, things they need to do, things they want to learn, etc. This is a great way to get them to practice writing down information.
You can also try having your child make lists of words that start with certain letters. For example, they could make a list of words that start with the letter “B.” This is a great way to help them practice letter sounds.
Kids also love to help out their parents. It’s a fleeting age, but it’s definitely one of the best stages of childhood. You can give them a notebook to help you make grocery lists, or jot down notes for your next business meeting. These types of activities will not only be fun for them but will also help them learn how to write.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to making lists. Just let your child’s imagination run wild!
Write Letters to Santa
One of the most fun ways to teach kids to write is to have them write a letter to Santa. This is a great way to get them to practice writing a letter. It’s also a great way to get them excited about Christmas!
To make this activity even more fun, you can have your child decorate their letter with Christmas stickers. You can also help them address and stamp the envelope. This is a great way to teach kids about the postal system.
Writing Races
Writing races are a great way to make writing fun. To do this, you will need a stopwatch and some paper. Each child will need their own piece of paper.
To start the race, each child will start writing on their piece of paper. They can write anything they want. The goal is to see how many words they can write in one minute.
Once the time is up, each child will count the number of words they wrote. The child with the most words wins the race!
This is a great way to get kids to practice writing quickly. It’s also a great way to get them to use their imaginations.
Another way to play, just to mix it up a little, would be to give the kids a line of sentences or jumbled letters to copy down. They can work on their neatness and see how much they can get done in the time limit. Whoever gets the most done with the best penmanship wins!
Letter Scavenger Hunts
Letter scavenger hunts are a great way to make writing fun. To do this, you will need a piece of paper and a pen for each child. You will also need a list of words that start with each letter of the alphabet.
To play, each child will choose a letter and then find objects around the room that start with that letter. They will need to write down the name of each object next to the corresponding letter. The first child to find all of the objects on their list wins the game!
This is a great way to get kids to practice writing letters. It’s also a great way to help them learn their ABCs.
12. Keep It Short
When you’re first teaching your child to write, it’s important to keep the assignments short. This will help prevent your child from getting overwhelmed or frustrated.
You can start by having them write one or two sentences. As they get better at writing, you can gradually increase the length of the assignments.
It’s also important to give your child plenty of breaks. This will help them stay focused and motivated.
Finally, be sure to praise your child for their efforts. This will help them feel good about themselves and encourage them to keep practicing.
Teaching your child to write can be a fun and rewarding experience. By following these tips, you’ll be sure to make it a positive one!
How to Help a Child Struggling with Writing
For some people, reading and writing can be a struggle. Sometimes this is because of a learning disability, such as dyslexia. Other times, it might just be because they haven’t had a lot of practice.
If your child is struggling with writing, there are a few things you can do to help them.
1. Ask Them How They’re Feeling
The first step is to ask your child how they’re feeling about writing. This will help you understand why they’re struggling.
If your child is feeling frustrated, try to encourage them and give them some pep talks. If they’re feeling overwhelmed, try breaking the task down into smaller goals. If they just don’t like writing, ask them specifically what they don’t like. Oftentimes, children just need some guidance to find the joy in writing.
2. Help Them Get Organized
Another way to help your child is to help them get organized. This includes things like making sure they have all the supplies they need and a quiet place to work.
You might also want to help them create a writing schedule. This will help them stay on track and make progress. Sticker charts are a great way to motivate young children.
Organization is key for any writer, but it’s especially important for children who are struggling.
3. Help Them Find Some Writing Prompts
If your child is having trouble coming up with ideas, try giving them some writing prompts. These can be things like “Write about your favorite food” or “Write a story about a time when you were scared.”
There are also a number of websites that offer writing prompts for kids. This can be a great resource if you’re struggling to come up with ideas on your own.
In the meantime, here’s a list of 30 fun writing prompts for your kid to try:
- Write about a time when you got lost
- Write about your favorite toy
- Write about a time when you were really proud of yourself
- Write about your best friend
- Write about a time when you were really scared
- Write about a time when you made someone laugh
- Write about a time when you were really mad
- Write about a time when you got in trouble
- Write about what you want to be when you grow up
- Write about your favorite place to go
- Write about a time when you were embarrassed
- Write about a time when you felt really happy
- Write about a time when you helped someone
- Write about your favorite game
- Write about a time when you got a new pet
- Write about your favorite holiday
- Write about a time when you got a new toy
- Write about your favorite food
- Write about a time when you went on vacation
- Write about a time when you got sick
- Write about a time when something really funny happened
- Write about a time when you got a new baby brother or sister
- Write about a time when you moved to a new house
- Write about your favorite TV show
- Write about your favorite movie
- Write about your favorite book
- Write a story about a purple elephant
- Write about a silly dream you had
- Write about your first day of preschool or kindergarten
- Write about your favorite person
4. Encourage Them to Write in a Journal
One way to get your child to practice writing is to encourage them to keep a journal. This can be a great way for them to express their thoughts and feelings. It’s also a great way for them to practice writing on a regular basis.
If your child is having trouble getting started, try giving them some prompts to write about. You can also encourage them to include illustrations in their journal. This will make it more fun and engaging for them.
Also, letting them pick their journal is a great way to get them excited about writing in it. There are all sorts of journals available, from simple notebooks to more elaborate ones with locks and keys.
In addition to journaling, there are a number of other activities you can do to help your child practice writing. These include things like writing letters, stories, and poems.
5. Encourage Them to Read
One of the best ways to help your child with their writing is to encourage them to read. Reading will help them develop their vocabulary and improve their grammar. It will also give them ideas for things to write about.
In addition, try to make reading fun for your child. This can be done by letting them pick out their own books, reading together, or even taking them to the library.
Finally, don’t forget to set a good example yourself. Let your child see you reading on a regular basis. This will help them understand that reading is important and that it can be enjoyable.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to helping your child become a better writer. Just remember to be patient and to have fun with it. After all, learning should be enjoyable for both of you!
6. Get a Professional Assessment
If your child is still struggling or reluctant to write, it may be a good idea to get a professional assessment. This can help you figure out what the problem is and how to best address it.
An assessment can be done by a qualified tutor, therapist, or even your child’s teacher. They will likely ask you questions about your child’s development and their current difficulties. They may also observe your child in a writing activity.
After the assessment, you’ll be given some specific recommendations for how to help your child. These may include things like specific exercises, activities, or even changes to their daily routine.
Getting an assessment is a great way to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to help your child. It can also give you peace of mind knowing that you’re on the right track.
If you’re not sure where to start, there are a number of resources available online. You can also talk to your child’s doctor or teacher for more information.
If it is suspected that your child might have a learning disability, make sure to get an assessment from a qualified professional, such as a psychologist specializing in learning disabilities.
Note: None of the below information is meant to serve as diagnostic material. If you believe your child has a learning disability, please consult with a professional diagnostician to put together the best plan for helping your child learn to read and write.
Some common learning disabilities that make writing hard include:
- Dysgraphia: This is a motor skills disorder that makes it hard to write. Children with dysgraphia often have trouble forming letters and words, and they may also have illegible handwriting.
- Dyslexia: This is a reading disability that can make it hard to spell words correctly. Children with dyslexia often have trouble with phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in speech.
- ADHD: This is a condition that can make it hard to focus and pay attention. Children with ADHD often have trouble staying on task and may be easily distracted. This can make it hard for them to organize their thoughts and put them into writing.
If your child does have a learning disability, there are a number of resources available to help. These include special education services, tutoring, and therapy.
Some of the most common writing programs that are out there for kids with disabilities include:
Orton-Gillingham: This program is specifically designed for people with dyslexia. It involves a lot of repetition and Drill-and-kill type activities to help people sound out words correctly.
Wilson Reading System: This program uses a multisensory approach to help children with reading, spelling, and writing. This program is similar to Orton-Gillingham in that it involves a lot of repetition. However, it also teaches people how to break words down into smaller parts so that they can read them more easily.
Lindamood-Bell: This program takes a more holistic approach and focuses on helping people understand the meaning of what they’re reading. This can be especially helpful for people with ADHD or APD.
The Spalding Method: This is a phonics-based approach that uses a multisensory approach to help children with reading, spelling, and writing.
Making sure your child gets the help they need is essential. With the right support, they can overcome their difficulties and learn to write successfully.
8 Methods to Motivate Your Child to Write on Their Own
If your child is struggling with the motivation to practice writing, there are a number of things you can do to help.
1. Make it fun
One of the best ways to motivate your child is to make writing fun. There are a number of ways you can do this:
- Let them choose their own topic: If they’re interested in the subject, they’ll be more likely to want to write about it.
- Use fun writing prompts: These can help spark their imagination and get them thinking about interesting topics to write about.
- Play writing games: There are a number of online and offline games that can help make writing fun.
- Reward their efforts: Praising your child and giving them positive reinforcement will encourage them to keep writing.
2. Set up a regular time for writing
Another way to help your child is to set up a regular time for writing. This can be once a day, a few times a week, or even just 30 minutes on the weekend. The important thing is that it’s consistent. This will help your child develop a writing habit and make it more likely that they’ll want to write on their own.
3. Get them a journal
One of the best ways to encourage your child to write is to get them their own journal. This can be any type of notebook, from a simple spiral bound notebook to a more creative journal with blank pages. Just make sure it’s something they’ll want to write in. You can also encourage them to decorate their journal with stickers, drawings, or anything else that willa make it more personal and fun for them.
4. Give them direction
If your child is struggling to come up with ideas on their own, you can give them some direction. This could be a specific topic to write about, such as their favorite animal or vacation spot. Or you could give them a prompt to get them started, such as “write about a time when you were really proud of yourself.”
5. Find a writing buddy
One of the best ways to make writing more fun is to find a writing buddy for your child. This could be a friend, family member, or even an older student who can help them with their writing. Having someone to share their ideas with and get feedback from will make writing more enjoyable for them.
6. Find a pen pal
Another great way to make writing more fun is to find a pen pal for your child. This is someone they can write to on a regular basis, whether it’s through snail mail or email. This will help them practice their writing skills and develop their own voice.
7. Model good writing
One of the best ways to encourage your child to write is to model good writing yourself. This doesn’t mean you have to be a perfect writer, but it does mean showing them that writing can be enjoyable. Write alongside them, share your own stories, and let them see that you enjoy writing.
8. Take them on field trips
One of the best ways to inspire your child’s writing is to take them on field trips. This could be to a museum, the zoo, or even just the local park. Seeing new things and experiencing different places will give them plenty of ideas to write about.
Final Thoughts
Teaching kids how to write can be a challenging task. However, it is important to remember that all children learn at their own pace. Some will pick up writing skills quickly, while others will need more time and practice.
The important thing is to be patient, keep it fun, and offer plenty of encouragement. With time and patience, your child will develop the writing skills they need to succeed.
