Are you struggling to get your homeschooled child interested in writing? Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Finding ways to make writing fun and engaging can be difficult, but it’s possible. Check out these tips to make writing more enjoyable for your child. With some creativity, they’ll be churning out stories in no time!
Looking for more homeschooling resources? Check out these articles: How Night Zookeeper Helped My Son Become a Better Writer and Post from the Past: An Awesome Subscription to Supplement Your Homeschool History Curriculum
Read!
A good writer reads a lot! Homeschooling parents should always strive to create a positive environment for their children where learning is enjoyable and engaging. Reading aloud and encouraging kids to read independently is a great way to cultivate a strong writing foundation and make writing more fun. Reading regularly can help build vocabulary and develop language skills essential for writing. Plus, reading can be a great way to find writing inspiration!
Learn about storytelling
Encourage your child to listen closely when you read stories aloud or watch movies together. Ask them to pay attention to the language patterns and narrative structures used in the story. Analyzing these elements can help kids understand how writers craft compelling stories – something they can apply to their writing.
The Hero’s Journey story structure is a great one to discuss with kids, as it’s been used in countless stories throughout time. You can have your child “reverse engineer” the narrative, figure out how the different pieces fit together and even discuss why certain elements were included or excluded from the story. Encouraging creativity doesn’t end with writing either – you can have your child create their own version of the Hero’s Journey story structure for a book or movie they love. It’s a great way to foster critical thinking and creativity in kids, all while having fun!
Create an inspiring writing space
Find a quiet spot in your home for your child to do their writing. Ensure the area is free from distraction and clutter, so they can focus and be creative. You might even want to add some decorations and photos or have them create a vision board to inspire them – anything that makes the space feel like theirs.
Use colorful pens and paper
Using colorful pens and paper can make writing more enjoyable for children as it can help capture their imaginations and inspire creativity. Not only does using vibrant colors provide a visual stimulus, but it can also make the task feel special. Allowing your child to choose what kind of paper or notebook they would like to use can also increase their enthusiasm. Decorating notebooks with stickers, drawings, and other craft supplies can make the task more fun.
Write on alternative surfaces
Your kids don’t have to write on paper. Writing on a whiteboard or a chalkboard is a great option if one is available. You might also consider letting your child write on the sidewalk with chalk or in the sand. This can be a great way to make writing fun and help them develop their motor skills while they write.
If you want to bring technology into the mix, consider using tablets or computers with word-processing programs and allow them to use spell check or an AI tool like Grammarly. This may even encourage your child to use bigger words and more complex sentences as they get used to typing instead of writing by hand.
I know for my oldest son, it’s easier for him to write down his thoughts and stories on his computer than it is by hand.
Incorporate their interests
Incorporating your child’s interests into their writing is a great way to get them excited about the process. By allowing them to write about topics they are passionate about, you can help foster an enthusiasm for writing that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Plus, it allows kids to explore and express themselves in new ways. Writing stories based on hobbies or experiences they have had can be incredibly rewarding and inspiring for young writers. It encourages creativity and helps build confidence as they share their ideas with others through words.
Furthermore, incorporating your child’s interests allows them to learn more about the things that interest them while developing essential communication skills simultaneously!
Write as a family!
Rather than just having your child write independently, why not make it a fun family activity? Try setting up a writing workshop where everyone can come together and brainstorm ideas to write about. You can also participate in creative writing activities as a family – such as inventing characters and creating scenarios. Anything that gets everyone involved will help make the process more enjoyable.
Try writing exercises and games
Writing exercises and games can be a great way to make writing more enjoyable for homeschooled children. They can help build vocabulary, develop language skills, foster creativity, and encourage kids to explore new ways of expressing themselves through words. Plus, it helps them learn more about the things that interest them while developing essential communication skills simultaneously!
Writing Exercises:
Make a comic
Write poetry or a haiku
Character development
Writing Games:
Chain stories (take turns writing a sentence or two in a story)
Write with Purpose
Writing postcards, letters, emails, blog posts, and more can be fun and engaging for homeschooled children to express themselves through words. Writing these different pieces can help kids build their vocabulary and language skills while also honing their creativity.
For example, writing a postcard allows them to think about how best to express their thoughts with limited space. While writing an email or blog post will enable them to explore different writing styles with purpose.
Purposeful Writing Activities:
Write directions
Write a book or movie review
Create a blog and publish it regularly
Correspond with a penpal
Send postcards to friends and family
Write thank you, birthday, and holiday cards
Write a Script
Writing and acting a script can be an enjoyable and engaging activity for kids. It encourages creative thinking, encourages literacy skills, and helps build confidence.
Scriptwriting allows children to use their imaginations to express themselves by creating characters and storylines and developing their writing skills. Acting out their script adds an extra dimension to it by allowing them to see where the script needs work to seem more natural and flow well.
Rewrite a Story
Once your child becomes comfortable with writing, challenge them to take on more complex projects. Ask them to rewrite their favorite short story or fairy tale in their own words – this will test their ability to understand and analyze literary elements while teaching them how to craft new stories.
Create a scrapbook or art journal
Creating a scrapbook or art journal is a great way to make writing fun for homeschooled kids. Scrapbooks and art journals provide an interactive, creative outlet encouraging kids to explore their ideas and express themselves by incorporating images, drawings, stickers, and comments. Your child can create a unique and personal reflection of their experiences, thoughts, and feelings through scrapbooking.
Break Up Writing Time
Writing doesn’t have to be done all at once! Take breaks between bursts of writing, for a snack, some exercise, or even daydream. Incorporate writing at various times of the day, and consider using a timer to help keep it short and sweet. This will help your child stay focused and energized, allowing them to come back with fresh eyes and ideas.
Don’t edit or critique
When it comes to helping kids develop their writing skills, one of the most important things you can do is not to edit or critique. When children can explore and express themselves without fear of judgment, they can find their voice more efficiently and be more creative. This will also help make writing a much more enjoyable task for them.
Not editing or critiquing your child’s work also allows them to take risks with their writing, which is essential for developing good writing skills. By providing support and encouragement instead of criticism, you’ll create an environment where your child feels safe enough to push boundaries and try new things with their writing.
And remember, it’s much harder for kids to find their writing voice than learn grammar and writing structure. So focus on helping your kids find their voice now; you can work on the mechanics when they are older.
Have someone else teach it!
Writing can be daunting and often time-consuming for parents, but it is also essential to a homeschooler’s curriculum.
To ensure that your child gets the best instruction in writing when you don’t feel up to the task, consider online programs like Night Zookeeper to provide effective writing instruction.
Night Zookeeper’s writing course is tailored to each student and provides personalized feedback, practice activities, and games that make learning fun. Night Zookeeper also offers various writing challenges and projects designed to help homeschoolers build their writing skills over time.
Other online writing programs we enjoy are Brave Writer and OutSchool, so consider those if Night Zookeeper isn’t the right fit for your kids.
You can also consider finding a writing teacher or tutor in your area if your child prefers in-person lessons. This will allow your child to get direct feedback on their writing and make it easier for them to troubleshoot any issues they may be having.
Additionally, a tutor or teacher can help your child practice useful writing techniques that encourage creativity and self-expression, allowing them to develop better writing skills over time.
Finally, a tutor or teacher can provide a space for your child to ask questions and get advice from someone who is knowledgeable in the field of writing. All of this could help your child become more confident and engaged with their writing tasks.
Final thoughts
By encouraging your children to write in different ways and allowing them to explore their ideas, you can help make writing an enjoyable task that will benefit them in the long run.
Fortunately, parents can use many fun and purposeful writing activities to help their children improve their writing skills, from rewriting stories to creating scrapbooks and taking part in online writing courses.
By providing your children with the tools they need to succeed, you can help them develop the skills they need to become better writers.
Happy writing!
And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments. I would love to help you relax into homeschooling.
Xuan Klevecka is a Southern California-based homeschool mom, wife, and Holistic Homeschool Mindset Coach. She’s an Enneagram 5w4, a lover of good food, and a former middle school history teacher. You’ll either find her looking at road maps and daydreaming about her family’s next epic adventure or perusing recipes and cooking up a feast for the brood.
