Teaching your kids to write stories at a very early age is one of the most precious gifts you can give to them. Whether they grow up to be doctors, artists or exterminators the ability to write a story will ensure their ability to succeed in their career as well as their social life. As adults, we are gifted with an opportunity to instill the passion of storytelling in children daily.
10 parenting tips to encourage your kids to write stories.
1. Start by getting them to be comfortable with various writing materials.
Get them involved when you write by asking them to pass a pen or the notepad, and let them see you write everything from grocery lists to birthday cards.
2. Encourage them to cultivate their imagination.
By telling them stories that interest them, they will naturally start to fill in pieces of the story with their imagination. By adding “writing” to their reward chart, they can be enticed by items from their Wishfinity universal wish-list.
3. Go beyond what's written.
Read well-known tales aloud to your family as part of your routine. Let the stories be short and something they already know. Have your kids tell you about the characters in the story and ask for details beyond what the book provides.
4. Make storytelling part of your lifestyle.
Tell stories to your kids in the car, at the doctor’s office, or whenever you have a captive audience (or want a captive audience).
5. Have kids identify key parts of the story.
Ask your kids to repeat something at the beginning, middle, and end of each story. This will encourage them to be more attentive and establish their understanding of a story's components. Help them see how the story relates to them and allow them to express themselves.
6. Make writing a part of your family.
Because kids learn faster by modeling behavior, your kids must see you write. Try as much as possible to write in their presence. Write thank you notes whenever possible and tell your kids about it. If they show signs of taking the pen from you, encourage them to write anything down. Or start writing notes for their lunch box and have them reply to you.
7. Create a writing environment.
Keep writing materials for your kids, such as pens, chalk, markers, paints, etc., readily available. Pack writing materials together in handy places where they can easily reach them when inspiration strikes. If the kids know their alphabet, set up a time to let them use your computer or tablet to draft a story.
8. Have writing time with them.
Plan to co-write with your kids a couple times a week. Set aside short periods of time, allow them to pick the type of story they want to write. To ensure the activity doesn't slip, add it to your family's reward chart app.
9. Teach them stories come in all forms.
Have them talk about events of their day at school, describe a cartoon they've seen, or let them indulge in an entirely fictitious tale. Encourage them to not worry too much about structure.
10. Print their writings.
When the kids see their stories in print, it encourages them to embrace the publishing process. Print out the stories your children write and have a time together where you read the story. They are likely to make corrections to the story after hearing it read out loud, allowing them to take pride in fine-tuning their work. They can even draw or paint pictures to go along with the story.
Stories can take us to many places, near and far. Wouldn't you want to take your children to wondrous places no one has ever dreamed of? especially when it's as simple as using a pen and paper to make memories with your child.