We may not be composing long, thought-out letters to our relatives anymore, but writing is still an important skill. From school essays to blog posts, emails to text messages, we’re writing, in some way or form, every day. That’s why it’s so important to teach writing skills at a young age, so that when your child grows up, they can communicate effectively in the written language. But writing doesn’t come easy. So if your child is struggling, here are some ways you can help develop their writing skills:
Read
Reading has many benefits, and one of those is that it improves our writing. Reading books, especially different types of books, will familiarize your child with the English language, teach them new ways of using words, and expand their vocabulary while also providing them with examples of good writing.
Write or draw stories
Developing writing skills doesn’t have to involve boring worksheets. Often times, the best way to learn is through experimentation, and what better way to do that than through story-telling? Children love stories, and they especially love making up their own. So, give them some pencils, crayons, and papers and leave them to it! Then, once they’re done, encourage them to show it to you, and then identify any grammatical errors. Just be sure to give them positive feedback on their story so they stay encouraged.
Use games
There are plenty of games out there that can improve your child’s writing skills. Flash cards are the most basic (and easy to make at home), but there are other options, too. Crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams, all of these can foster and develop writing and grammatical skills.
No matter how you do it, the important thing when developing writing skills is that you make it fun for your child. That way, constant practice will be an easy thing to do. But if your child is still struggling, then it may be time to consider hiring a tutor. Dr. Mazza is a writing specialist based in Garden City, New York who can develop individualized lesson plans to target your child’s problem areas. If you’re curious about how Dr. Mazza’s lesson plans can help your child, then give her a call at 516-739-4671.