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Writing Activities for Children
by Melvin Carwin
http://www.readywriting.com

Whether you're a teacher looking for activities for your
class or a parent who wants to share a love of writing with
your child, one of these children's writing activities will
fit the bill. Each one is designed to stimulate imagination
and polish skills that will carry them for a lifetime.

First, a few important rules to help stimulate your child's
love of writing. Most important of all, read to them. No
single other thing will influence them more than hearing the
written word read aloud. Pick from the best read-aloud
books, but don't stick with children's books on their
reading level. Read poetry and Dr. Seuess, recite nursery
rhymes and any other language you can find that has a well
defined rhythm. More than anything else, the rhythm of
poetry and nursery rhymes train the ear to hear the subtle
patterns that make up the best 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.

Finally, correct their grammar. Gently, but correct it. In a
technological world, writing plays a bigger and bigger part
in the wheels that keep business turning. It's important
that kids know the right way to speak, even if day to day
communications with friends are barely comprehensible.

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.

Writing Down Your World This writing activity is about as
simple as it gets. Just hand out blank paper and pen with
the instruction to start writing at the word now. Write down
whatever you see, hear, taste, smell, feel or think. Don't
make any attempt to put your thoughts into sequence or even
sentences. Just warm up your writing hand and write till
you're told to stop. The point of the exercise is using
observation in writing. Try this one a few times a month
just to keep everyone in the practice of using all their
senses when describing scenes.

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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