The Write Time for Writing

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If given the opportunity to choose what they will do for fun, many children will select toys, games, electronics and TV to occupy their time. But what about writing? On average, six out of 10 children ages 6 to 17 reported that they read for fun, while close to half of that number said they write for personal enjoyment.

Through her experience as a teacher and now CEO of Maryland Teacher Tutors, Natalie Mangrum has seen “when children hit the middle school age, the love for writing or even the like for writing is diminishing.” She along with her staff of tutors in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and South Carolina attribute the shift in excitement to the technical side of writing—mechanics, grammar and the pressure our children often feel when it is time to write.
As parents, we can help bring back the fun by reframing how we talk about writing, reimagining what creative writing looks like and revisiting ways to inspire our children to write.

Reframe how you talk about writing with your children

As a parent, I understand the frustration felt when your suggestions to read or write for enjoyment are met with groans and side eyes. Knowing this frustration has made me change how I talk to my son about writing. In the moment, he is not interested in statistics about the benefits of writing, such as how writing helps to improve reading, math and science scores, or how writing can help in communicating his ideas more effectively. All he hears is “go and do something that is just like what you do for school,” and it’s a strong “no” for him.

Instead of talking to your children about the benefits of writing, talk to them about the fun they will experience by letting their creative juices flow. “Use language that takes the fear out of writing and lets your children know it is not being graded and it can be whatever they want it to be,” says Danielle Shanks, assistant principal of Bryant Woods Elementary School in Columbia. This method has made a tremendous difference for not only her students and families, but it was also critical for her son to develop a comfort with writing creatively. Shanks suggests throwing mechanics out the window and using the voice feature on Word or Google Docs to allow children to see their spoken words translated into print.

Reimagine what creative writing looks like

It’s 2021. Ditch the idea that creative writing has to be done with pencil and paper. Be open to children using a computer or tablet. If the purpose is to encourage a love for writing, allow children the option to determine the method that fits their style and personality. Using a computer serves a dual purpose; children will increase speed and accuracy through typing.

Reimagining creative writing means incorporating basic elements into daily life, such as the following:
• Make a grocery list.
• Take notes during a family meeting.
• Outline a to-do list.
• Write and mail notes to family and friends.

Buy your children a journal to encourage writing. For Christmas, I gifted my son and his friend journals and they loved them. It could have been the combination locks they came with, but whatever it was, they have been using them regularly.

As the parent of teenagers, keeping journals throughout the house is a practice Mangrum believes in and she models the practice of creative writing through her work and personal journals.

“Play a game called ‘Finish the Story.’ Each family member writes a portion of a story,” Shanks says. She suggests parents develop topics and identify the purpose for writing—to persuade, inform or entertain—then allow their children to use their imagination to write. For example, “entertain me. Cheese is so _____. Go!” Play this game and see where everyone’s creative juices take them. It will be fun.

Revisit ways to inspire creative writing at home

Create an atmosphere that inspires your children to want to write. Spruce up their writing space, buy a new writing pad or journal and get new pens. New writing supplies can help get your children excited.

If they will be typing, look into a gel wrist rest and wireless mouse to keep them comfortable while typing. If creating an actual book or comic book excites your child, look for book-making kits you can order online. Work with your budding writer on fill-in-the-blank stories such as Mad Libs. Reading these finished creative stories is a lot of fun.

Take your child with you to pick out a new journal, writing or typing supplies. Create a playlist of songs that inspire them to write. Set aside time where the family reads, writes and talks about what they’ve discovered. Call it The Write Time!

Reimagining creative writing means incorporating basic writing into daily life:

• Make a grocery list.
• Take notes during a family meeting.
• Outline a to-do list.
• Write and mail notes to family and friends.

About Krystal Henry

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