How to Use Games to Teach Writing

Once a child learns to read, the desire for writing creative stories usually follows. Writing comes naturally for many children, but a number of young writers find starting a story difficult. Creative games help children jump-start the creative writing process. The ideas below can help you create additional writing activities that feel less like work and more like fun.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencil
• Paper
• Dice
• Magazines
• Crayons
• Timer

1. Hold a written conversation. Set a timer for no more than ten minutes. Tell your child there must be no talking while the timer runs. Instead, write down the conversation starting with a question your child can answer. The sillier the questions, the more fun you can have with this activity.

2. Create a joke book. Fold pieces of construction paper in half and let your child write one joke per page. This lets them use creative thinking and experience the book making process.

3. Cut out magazine pictures and spread them out on a table. Have your child pick one or two pictures. If they choose one picture, they must write a story about that picture. If they choose two pictures, they must write a story that combines elements from both pictures. Determine the number of sentences they must write before they start writing.

4. Purchase a pair of game dice and use them for creative writing. Think of a story title. Roll one die and the number rolled is how many words you must write. The next person rolls and writes. Keep rolling and writing until your story is finished. Increase the challenge by rolling both die and adding the numbers together to practice writing longer sentences.

5. Make lists that involve creative thinking. Write down questions your child can answer with at least five responses. Set a timer for ten minutes and both you and your child write down a list of answers. Some questions you can ask are: How Would I Spend Fifty Dollars?, If I Could Fly Where Would I Go?, What Are Some Things I Would Do As President?

Tips & Warnings

• Practice writing when your child is relaxed and rested. Cranky children make cranky writers.
• If your child doesn't seem ready for an activity, choose something easier. Return to the challenging activity after a few weeks.

Resources

• Find more ideas in "Games For Writing" available through Amazon.
• Get ideas online at Writing Fix.

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