Giving your child as many opportunities as possible to explore creative writing will not only help hone their reading and writing skills and vocabulary range, but also give them a chance to use their imagination and creativity. They might also find it a good outlet for expressing their thoughts and feelings. Read on for some advice from a private school in Oxford on how you can get started with exploring creative writing with your child.
Write often
Encourage your child to write whenever possible. Even if it’s just helping you write a shopping list, getting into the habit of writing often will make it easier for them to get started with writing their own stories or poems. You could suggest they write a letter to a relative or buy them a journal they can write in regularly about their feelings or things they’ve been up to. Your child might find it fun to write a play that you can all act out as a family or rewrite the ending of a familiar story. They might also like to write a review of a book they’ve read or film they’ve watched. This will get them used to and interest in writing in a creative way using their own imagination.
Read regularly
Being able to express themselves creatively goes hand in hand with reading a wide variety of books and other literature. Your child will begin to imagine different plots in books they read and alternative endings, which might inspire them to write their own stories where they can create their own characters and scenarios. Reading often will also expose them to a wider range of vocabulary and different writing styles and techniques which they can incorporate into their own writing.
Use technology
Have a look for games that involve an element of creative writing which your child will find stimulating. Creative writing should be a fun and enjoyable experience for children. If your child prefers playing on their tablet to writing or reading, you could harness their interest in technology while getting them involved in creative writing by downloading activities which incorporate an element of storytelling. You might also find educational TV programmes for your child to watch which allow them to get involved in planning stories.
Exploring creative writing will benefit your child in many ways, including developing their emotional maturity and analytical skills, and broadening their thought processes and viewpoint.