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Writing Activities for Children
by Melvin Carwin
http://www.readywriting.com
I am a writer. Even before I was paid to write, writing was
a vital part of my life. Words are living things to me, and
puzzles that can be fit together in many ways to get across
whatever meaning I choose to impart.
First, a few important rules to help stimulate your child's
love of writing. Most important of all, read to them. No
single other thing will influence them more than hearing the
written word read aloud. Pick from the best read-aloud
books, but don't stick with children's books on their
reading level. Read poetry and Dr. Seuess, recite nursery
rhymes and any other language you can find that has a well
defined rhythm. More than anything else, the rhythm of
poetry and nursery rhymes train the ear to hear the subtle
patterns that make up the best writing.
I didn't consciously set out to raise children who love
writing. Nor, I'm sure did my mother. I simply did the
things that she did when I was growing up, the things that I
enjoyed and loved doing. The games and reading and reciting
that my mother made a natural part of my own childhood were
things that I passed on to my children. These are some of my
best tips for raising children who love writing, or at least
can manage it without pain.
Read out loud to them. One of the most important things you
can do to foster a love of writing is to read out loud to
your child. Read from a wide variety of things - believe it
or not, even a toddler will appreciate the subtle rhythms
and rhymes in poetry that is meant for someone far older. A
particular favorite at my house: Jamaica Market, by poet
Agnes Maxwell-Hall with its strong rhythms and rhyme
patterns.
When you read out loud and recite poetry and nursery rhymes
to children, you are attuning their ears to the beauty of
language. As they grow and begin to write themselves, they
will find their language falling into subtle rhythms
naturally.
Classified Ad Tales Plotting is an area of writing that
children often find daunting. This activity can turn it into
fun and spark imagination. Flip the newspaper open to the
classified ads and pick one out that looks interesting.
Start the ball rolling by reading the ad aloud, then
wondering, "I wonder why he's selling his lawnmower? (or
piano, or fishing tackle)" Encourage creative thinking by
rewarding even the most absurd tales. In fact, the more
absurd the better. Who knows? Maybe his Great Aunt Katie
from Canarsie did just move to Kuala Lumpur and leave her
favorite goat in his care.
Keep playing word and writing games as they grow up. Use
them to encourage creative exploration of story ideas and
problem solving. Some of the favorite games that my own
children enjoyed are:
Encourage proper grammar. Children will use slang among
their friends, but it's vital that they know proper grammar
and word use. Gently correct their grammar when they speak
to you, and praise them when they correct their own. As
unimportant as it may seem, good grammar is a vital tool in
writing. A person who can't write with proper grammar will
find themselves locked out of many professions.
Tell silly stories and challenge them to finish them. Make a
game of telling silly stories. On the bus, ask them why they
think the girl is wearing two different socks. Who knows?
Maybe the green monster that lives under her bed really did
eat the other red sock.
Teaching appreciation for writing is as much a matter of
imparting your own appreciation for the written word as it
is a matter of method or exercises. No matter what writing
activities and exercises you choose to introduce, don't ever
skimp on the reading aloud, or encouraging the reading of
the works of others. The more you can get them to read, the
more excited they'll be at the thought of writing.
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