This is a collaborative post
Being able to write creatively will benefit your child throughout their life and it’s a skill they can use in a number of different scenarios. Children’s first experience of creative writing usually comes from the books they read which inspire them to start writing their own stories. They’ll also learn about different writing styles at school and be encouraged to develop their own voice. If you’re keen to explore creative writing with your child, here are some tips from a private school in Berkshire.
Buy them a journal
Writing in a journal regularly is a great way for kids to experiment with creative writing and find their own style. Without rules or limitations, they’ll probably enjoy experimenting with their vocabulary and expressing themselves thoughtfully. They can write about things that have happened in their lives, events they’ve been to or even jot down how they’re feeling at the end of each day. This has multiple benefits, including providing a healthy outlet for challenging feelings while improving their spelling, grammar and handwriting skills in the process.
Read widely
The best storytellers are those who read a wide range of books in different genres. This exposes children to various tones of voice, ways to portray characters and how to frame a narrative. The books they read will inspire children to create their own characters and tell a story from different points of view. Of course, reading widely will also provide them with a good vocabulary range to use in their writing. They may develop a love for a particular genre and want to explore that further in their own creative writing.
Write stories together
One fun activity you can do together to boost your child’s creative writing skills is to write a story together. You could take turns writing a paragraph, creating your own unique story using your combined imagination. This is a good idea if your child finds it difficult to start writing as you can take the lead and then encourage your child to continue the story.
Enter competitions
There are lots of creative writing competitions for children so, if your child particularly loves writing, why not enter them into one? They might win a prize or, at the very least, it will increase their motivation to write well and their confidence in having their stories read by others – even better if they receive feedback they can use to improve their skills. Being able to write creatively will help your child succeed both at school and in the world of work later on, while also giving them something fun and stimulating to do.