Improving writing skills for a 6 year old

[MakeMeAFloozy]

Hi,
Ds aged 6 has been home educated since easter. He is doing well with his maths and reading but his writing makes me want to cry.
This was an issue at school too and he was classed as having additional needs.
He has never been interested in holding a pen. He has a very negative attitude towards writing and would happily just do maths all day. I feel like I'm losing the plot.
A couple of lines of writing can easily take 2 hours or more. Any tips anyone?

[Betty74]

I home ed too! Mine are 9 and 6 (plus a toddler and baby)
Reading is the issue with my 6 year old, she just really struggles 😢
Anyway, sometimes the best approach is to just not approach it! Just put it to one side for now, give it time.
Maybe leave some character notepads and pens around and see how that goes.
Can he use a keyboard, I’m thinking maybe typing for now? Xx

[CramptonHodnet]

DS hates writing too. He has dyslexia. He will only write when he wants to, so that's what we do. He has a good imagination and enjoys coming up with stories. We encourage him to have a go at putting his thoughts down on paper, regardless of spellings, grammar etc.

[Velvetbee]

Back off for now. Help him love stories, make language fun, rhyming words, rude poems, Shakespearean insults, all sorts.
And work on his fine motor skills, clay, pastry, Hama beads, piano...but don’t put the two sets of skills together.
It’ll come.

[hairylegsonshow]

As someone with an older children, my advice would be to just leave writing for now. My eldest (10) was very resistant to writing, and after much reflection and reading, I realised that there is no need for six year olds to write unless they want to, so stopped trying to force the issue in any way. She would very occasionally write a few words on birthday cards, thank you notes etc, and I would focus on helping with correct letter formation. Gradually she has built up how much she is happy writing, and now enjoys writing stories and has lovely handwriting.

You might enjoy reading some of Carol Black's articles carolblack.org/a-thousand-rivers/

[MakeMeAFloozy]

Thank you for your replies, they've helped me see things a bit more clearly.
I think i may just ease the pressure off a bit for now. I think my expectations are too high and if this is going to work then i really need to calm down a bit.
Its just difficult when I've got friends with very bright children who love to tell adults around them about what they can do!

[DunesOfSand]

Will he write a maths problem?
So do some puzzles like "Sam has 4 apples. He gives half to Tom. How many apples does Tom get?", and then get him to write a puzzle for you to do?

[gottastopeatingchocolate]

With my child we did some crossword type things or fill in the blanks so she only has to write a word at a time, as sentences were too taxing. Then built up the number of words a bit. Also little notes to each other.. even worry monster notes, things that don't feel compulsory. We wrote letters/cards too. We also did non-writing things to develop the fine motor skills - using tweezers, bead threading, that sort of thing.

[Gingerivy]

I have two children that detest writing (at least in a formal "let's work on our handwriting" way). They have SEN, and a lot of the issues are directly related to that. I did a few things that were recommended to me:

• markers and paper available for them to use (markers don't need as much pressure to write)
  

• dry erase markers and board available for them to use
  

• chalkboard and chalk available to use (we have a wall with chalkboard paint so essentially one entire wall is a chalkboard)
  

• fun and easy drawing books to copy available
  

• encourage writing in less obvious ways (letter to relative, helping write out the grocery list, list for Father Christmas, jotting down a "to do" list, pro-con lists when making other decisions, drawing maps, colouring pictures, mazes, tic tac toe, anything that involves putting a writing utensil to paper in any way)