Write Me a Story: Encourage Young Writers

Today is #EncourageAYoungWriterDay so break the boredom and have them write you a story or poem. We need to encourage our kids to write and express their creativity in words.

"There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place." ~ JK Rowling

Encourage Your Child To Write Today

No matter the age of your child, take today to have them write a story or a poem for #NationalEncourageAYoungWriterDay. Make it a fun activity, staple it like a book, have a book or poem reading session to share their story. This is an amazing way for them the express some creativity, practice writing and reading. We all too often focus on the lessons at hand, or the homework that sometimes we can make learning fun and they do not even realize they are practicing Art, English, Comprehension and Public Speaking. Plus, it gives us a much-needed break from the everyday online schoolwork we are ready to rip our hair out over.

So, get to it, post a sign that says book or poem reading at a certain time and set the stage. Then hand them paper and pencils and say get to writing. You can give them prompts if they need help finding a focal point. There are plenty of websites that can provide those such as the ones listed below:

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/

https://www.dailyteachingtools.com/journal-writing-prompts.html

Set aside a time for them to write with a location that allows them to relax and pen away. You can set up a blanket outside under a tree, or pillows by a window. If you don’t have that ability turn the tv on to a nature series and pause it and set them up in front of the tv as if that is there window. Let them write away, help when they ask. This is not a time to criticize or critique their word placement or spelling but a moment for them to express their thoughts onto paper. When we allow our kids to be creative without judgement or critique, we are allowing their inner creativity to spill over. Now of course, you can always use the story for a later lesson in editing in which you correct misspellings, grammatical errors, etc. I mean even the best writers don’t always write in a formal format.

Today is purely a day to celebrate young writers and encourage unknown abilities to create stories and poems and tap into a skill we may not even know is there. Today is a day for them to be kids, not matter the age, and write about whatever they want from the dinosaur that ate apples to a long-lost land of faeries and goblins. We are simply promoting a healthy fun way to learn by writing and in turn we are encompassing a lot of their daily lessons from school in this activity. Once they are all done, yes, they can draw pictures in their books or poems, set up a reading time stage or chair. You can be the MC and announce their arrival to the stage and the name of their book or poem. Have them read aloud and the audience will clap and cheer as they finish. This is a great fun way to break up the boring school week while being stuck inside. You can share the pictures of them reading or their writing so that we can encourage others to do the same.