Encouraging Young Writers (page 2)

Long before they go to school, before they even know the alphabet, children begin to write. In fact, for most children, literacy begins at home . . . with a crayon.

The scribbles of very young children have meaning to them, and scribbling actually helps them to develop the language skills that lead to reading. Young children who are encouraged to draw and scribble stories will learn to write more easily, effectively, and confidently once they head off to school.

How can you encourage your children to write?

From infancy on, reading books aloud to your children is the single most important way you can help them get ready to both read and write. Hearing you read aloud gives them their first meaningful experiences with printed words, and makes them aware of how stories work. After they learn to read, writing continues to be a natural spin-off activity that contributes to their language and reading development.

In this article we offer many other ideas for encouraging preschoolers to experiment with writing, for motivating school-age children to write more, and for involving the whole family in writing at home.

Supplies and Space

Children don't need special tools or fancy equipment to write! Fresh supplies and an inviting workplace can provide inspiration. Here are some suggestions:

• Writing tables. All children write best when they have a comfortable place to work. Young children can sit on a child-size chair at a play table cleared of toys. Older children can work at the desk or table where you do your own writing, or on desks of their own.

• Writing paper. The smallest writers need the largest paper for their drawings and scribbles. (Check with your local newspaper for their roll ends of newsprint.) Introduce lined paper only when a beginning writer has mastered the alphabet and forms letters that are the same size. Stock a variety of paper sizes for different writing projects.

• Writing tools. Fat watercolor markers and crayons are best for toddlers' drawings and scribbles. Preschoolers enjoy using thin markers, regular crayons, and chalk. Beginning writers need pencils with erasers. When they have mastered handwriting, older children like to use pens for their polished copies.

• Reference books. As your children become more experienced writers, help them to step back and look critically at their writings. They'll need a dictionary to check spellings, and a thesaurus will encourage them to make better word choices. A young poet might also enjoy using a rhyming dictionary.

• Wastepaper basket. All writers have false starts. It's perfectly okay to crumple up the page, toss it in the garbage, and try again.

• Keyboards. Although not necessary for writing, a personal computer can enhance your childrens' writing experiences. Perfect letters appear at the press of a key-no small miracle for a young child struggling to control a pencil. These big toys are lots of fun for learning to recognize letters. For older children, the word processing capabilities of a computer make rewriting a natural part of the writing process. There is excellent educational software which encourages illustrations, and others promote effective reading through the writing process.

• Making books. Collect a variety of tools and materials for your childrens' homemade books. Include ordinary stationery items, such as scissors, glue, tape, a stapler, and a hole punch. Save cardboard remnants, wrapping paper, and wallpaper for covers. Rub-on letters, available in stationery stores, give titles more pizzazz. Children can staple pages and hide the stapled edge with a strip of colorful cloth tape, or punch holes and bind the pages with yarn or ribbons. A basket or box, decorated with your child's name, can store supplies.

• Show it off! Young writers are proud of their work. Give each child a large envelope or box to save writing. Keep magnets on the refrigerator to mount their favorite work, and display homemade books on the family bookshelf.

Encouraging Older Writers

Beginning writers become more fluent and mature writers only with practice. You don't want to force them to put their pens to paper, but you can certainly help them find extra opportunities and the inspiration to write at home.

Journal writing. A gift of a journal or diary is a way to get young people into the habit of writing daily. A journal begins the writing process, and may be the source of ideas for a new poem or story. Journals also provide a private outlet for emotions.

Books about writing. Ask a librarian to help you find storybooks in which writing is important to the plot or character development, as in Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, or Mostly Michael by Robert Kimmel Smith.

Letter writing. Encourage your children to correspond regularly with long distance friends and family, or become pen pals. Supply them with stationery (or the materials to make their own), envelopes, postage stamps, an address book, and a box for saving letters. For variety, suggest that they design their own postcards.

Gifts of writing. Greeting cards with personal messages and poems are more meaningful when they're homemade, rather than store-bought. An older child may enjoy the challenge of writing a ballad or song lyrics in honor of a special someone or occasion. Homemade books and calendars also make nice gifts of writing.

Publishing. All writers young and old dream of having their work published. School newspapers and literary magazines are a good first start. Serious writers may want to submit stories and poems to a national publication devoted to children's writing (see Resource). Many other magazines for young people run writing contests or have special departments featuring their readers' letters and contributions.

Family Writing

Although writing is usually an individual effort, some writing projects can invite family collaboration. Here are a few ideas that encourage family involvement:

Holiday letters. Around the winter holidays, some families send all their distant friends and family copies of one long letter recounting events of the past year. Your children can contribute to this kind of holiday greeting.

Family newsletters. Some extended families keep in touch through a family newsletter. Perhaps your family can volunteer to become reporters and gather news and photos by phone or mail from your relatives. Your staff writes up news stories, assembles the newsletters, and makes photocopies to send out to other family subscribers.

Scrapbooks and photo albums. Keep souvenirs of your family activities in an album. Ask your children to help you write in dates and captions.

Travel journal. When you take trips for a day or longer, keep a journal of where you go and what you see. Have your children contribute written descriptions and drawings to the journal.

Writing to each other. Encourage personal correspondence within your family. For example:

• Write to your children at camp, or when you travel without them.

• Leave notes with jokes or reminders in their lunch boxes.

• Have the tooth fairy leave a receipt.

• Write each child a birthday letter or poem.

• Create a certificate of achievement for swimming across the lake, or being very cooperative during a trying week.

More than anything else, be an enthusiastic audience for the writers growing up in your family. Encourage them to share their writing with you, while respecting their need to keep some writing private. Comment on their writing in ways that are thoughtful but uncritical. Make your children feel confident that, as writers, they always have your interest, admiration, and support.