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How To Teach Writing To 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.
As a writer and a teacher, it was important to me that my
children grow up with a love of writing. This is far less a
matter of wanting them to follow in my footsteps as it is an
appreciation of the work world of today. More and more, the
best jobs are those that require an ability to express
oneself in writing.
Play silly word games with them frequently. Rhyme names and
play with sounds. Encourage them to make up their own words
and rhyme sounds. You can start doing this from the moment
they're born. It will make them aware from the very start of
the sound and shape of words.
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.
The more fun you make words, the more likely your child is
to be comfortable using them. Encourage them to use the
dictionary. Share word origins with them. Make time to hear
their stories and meandering tales. Every bit of it will
encourage them to use words to communicate, which is the
goal of all writing.
Find All The Words In... When you're working in the kitchen,
sit your child down at the table in the room with you. Write
his full name at the top of a sheet of paper and challenge
him to find all the words that he can make with the letters
in it. As he learns all the words in his name, choose other
words to rearrange. It's a fun thing to do with words, and
anything that makes words fun makes writing easier.
I Wonder Why... Children are natural storytellers, but they
tend to lose their facility with making up plots as they
begin to understand the natural processes of the world. One
way to encourage them to keep their creativity is to play
this "I Wonder Why..." game. Just open the newspaper to the
classified ads and pick one out. Read it out loud and then
say, "I wonder why he's selling that..." whatever it is.
Encourage the wildest reasons imaginable. Chances are the
baby just outgrew the crib, but isn't it more fun to imagine
a magic brownie who leaves a new identical crib every
morning?
As I said, I didn't set out to raise children who love
writing. I simply did the things that came naturally, the
things that my mother did with me. The results, though, are
very telling. My daughter began her own writing career at
the age of eight as editor of her school newspaper. She
recently graduated with a degree in screenwriting, and
maintains a widely read and syndicated blog. My son writes
songs for a popular local rock group. Even my youngest son,
at 11, is a published writer. Instilling a love of language
and words from a young age is the very best way to raise
children who love writing. I know. I have the proof.
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