How to Help your child improve their writing skills

Children today lack basic writing skills. It is one of the leading reasons why children perform poorly in school.
Poor writing skills can make it difficult for your child to get a higher education or to get and maintain a decent job.
Helping your child improve his writing skills helps them to organize their thoughts, gives them a sense of accomplishment, and improves their ability to learn across the board.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. The best way to start developing your child's writing skills is by setting an example for him to follow. Just as children whose parents are readers are more apt to become readers themselves, children whose parents write also tend to view writing as a viable means of communication. Let your children see you write on a daily basis whether that is making lists, writing short notes, or emailing a friend.

2. Show your child that writing is both personally satisfying and enjoyable. Show your child a picture and have them tell you a story about that picture. Write the story down and make it into a book for your child. They will be thrilled to have a book based on their story!
   As they get older, have them begin to write their own stories. Let them keep a copy and give a copy to grandparents or Aunts and uncles as gifts. This will not only encourage them to write but give them feedback on their stories.

3. Another way to encourage your child to write is by helping to find them a pen pal their own age. Not only will your child enjoy writing about his life and family to someone his own age but he will enjoy getting mail from someone else.

4. Buy your child a journal and encourage him to record things he sees and does. Even if he only writes a line or two each day, it will get him thinking about writing and give him practice.

5. Have your child put special requests in writing. For example if he wants a pet have him write out why he would like one and what he will do to care for it. But make sure that you are going to seriously consider his request, otherwise, he will not be encouraged to write if he knows the answer is going to be no in advance.

Tips & Warnings

• While no plan or program can guarantee that your child will grow up to have great or even good writing skills, following a few of these suggestions will at least encourage your child to write and most experts will agree that we develope our skills through practice.