Mumsnet users share their top tips for encouraging their children to write, with Premier League

[EllieMumsnet]

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Writing, be it in a diary, a poem, a short story or even a letter can be a great way to help children explore their creativity whilst inspiring them to write more. With that being said the Premier League would like to know your top tips for encouraging you DC to write more and explore their creative side.

Here’s what the Premier League have to say: “Our Premier League Primary Stars education programme uses the appeal of football to inspire kids to learn, be active and develop important life skills. More than 15,000 primary schools use the free teaching resources for maths, English, PSHE and PE and take advantage of incentives and competitions available for their school. However, sometimes young writers need a little extra boost and that’s why we are proud to bring back our Writing Stars poetry competition, which last year inspired more than 25,000 children to write a poem. This year’s competition theme is diversity and, with the support of a fantastic judging panel including singer Olly Murs, former footballer Rio Ferdinand, Children’s Laureate Lauren Child and poet Joseph Coelho, we are encouraging children to pick up a pen and explore what it means to be beautifully different and wonderfully the same. To read some of the poems already submitted by celebrities, please click here.”

Do you find that reading to your children frequently helps develop their imagination and also inspires them to write stories too? How about encouraging your children to keep a diary to write their everyday experiences in? Do you make sure that your DC write thank you letters after their birthday and Christmas in order to help them practice writing? Do you go on days out that will help them explore the things around them and develop their imagination?

Whatever your top tips are, share them on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

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[FunkyBrownie]

My DS is 4 and just started at school, so writing is a huge novelty for him and something he begs to do more often than I offer it! He’ll always want to do a shopping list and tick things off in the shop, and has to write everyone’s birthday/Christmas cards. They might not always be totally legible, but as long as he’s got this enthusiasm I’m going to encourage it like crazy!

[NightmareDaemon]

I think going to private nursery begore they started school really helped my boys. I had tried messy pkay with them before but seeing the other children play in the mess made tgem more keen to try.

Since going to school they have stay keen on junk modelling and come up with great ideas for creations.

I am led by them and their imaginations. They love Hobbycraft and come away with all sorts of ideas for creating.

We also make use of free crafts at the local library and arts centre.

I think if I pushed it they wouldn’t be as keen.

[Rosehips]

I have to ask lots of questions, 'who's the story about? what do they look like?, where do they live? otherwise dc just freezes with blank page fear

[Lulabellx1]

Allow time for crafts/drawing. Sounds simple but our lives (and our children's lives) are so busy these days and they can sometimes just be glued to a screen for large parts of the day. My DD (age 7) loves drawing, and she draws every evening in bed before going to sleep. It helps settles her and we allow time for it every evening.

[iwantasofa]

Get them to get used to making up stories verbally before writing them. Storytelling comes before story writing. I have found Story Cubes very good for prompting ideas. Important to remember that the physical activity of writing is not the same as the creative skills of making up a story, poem or even non fiction such as a diary.

[iwantasofa]

My point is, handwriting, SPaG and creative writing are different skills and need to be tackled in different ways - you can't teach all at the same time.

[BristolMum96]

Read a lot together and play lots of games on iPad that teach words and phonics.

[ILiveInSalemsLot]

I read to them and get them to listen to story podcasts in the car so they’re exposed to stories.
They love to write stories on the laptop (it’s somehow more appealing than writing them) and I try to find some creative writing competitions to enter every indie and then.
They’ve never won anything but I always tell them how fab it is that they’ve even entered.
I’ve also bought them nice notebooks that they keep by their beds that they’re allowed to write whatever they want in. I never look in them.

[gemmie797]

I have read to my sons each night since they were born. They both love to read and write stories and they are big fans of having a notebook to use for their ideas. We usually have a chat about wild and wacky ideas which we incorporate into stories

[Leahsmi]

Hi, I’m looking for some positive stories!

My son is 2.5 years old. He is currently having speech therapy, portage and one to one in playgroup. He has no words at all and his understanding is limited (or selective).

I’m pretty sure the professionals are heading towards autism and although I agree he is delayed my gut tells me he’s not.

Anyway, I’m told to try not to worry and I’m trying my best but it’s so hard not to do any positive information/stories would be amazing to keep me going.

P.s positive only- first time mother here so I don’t have anything to compare to!!

Thanks in advance

[sarat1]

Take the every day, mundane and turn it into an adventure, something imaginative, what if opportunity

[WinkyisbackontheButterBeer]

Read, read, read.
Books develop imagination, vocabulary, spelling and story structure understanding.
I can always tell which children in my class are read to a lot at home.

[Beach11]

My 2 children love making things out of anything and everything whether it be Lego or items to be recycled. The mess drives me made but they have so much enjoyment making their creations and love it when we make things together.
They both like writing and making lists.
We read every day and I think this Dow’s help with their imaginations.
Their favourite toys are arts n crafts things. Christmas is a great excuse for making cards, baubles etcs

[MrsFrTedCrilly]

I had a very reluctant writer so we used to play lots of games like writing down a word then we fold over the paper over I’d write a word then he would write etc etc and then we would try to think of a story using all of the words,
Shopping lists were a good start as he could see it had a purpose and I would let him add some little treat into the shop if he’d written the list!
I think encouragement is key when you’re dealing with kids.

[madcatladyforever]

Encourage them to enter competitions, when I was a child we always had handwriting competitions at the local fete and it was always so exciting entering.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

The more you read and converse, the more you can write. A language rich environment is absolutely key.

[whitsunfells]

DS (3) is too young to write but I'm building the foundation blocks just now. Using pictures to help him learn how to tell stories and also using a puppet, who he loves to explain things to. Lots of imaginative play.

[treegone]

My eldest automatically doesn't want to take part in anything I suggest so I find I end up ruining things if I get involved. When we have some quiet one on one time she can be more receptive but those times are hard to find with her siblings around and we work etc. Like a previous poster said if I push, she clams up. It's better to skirt round the edges of ideas and games rather than directly try to influence. So rather than asking questions about a story or thing she's seen, which would result in her closing her eyes and putting her hand out to indicate, 'go away and shut up mummy', I'll chat about it near her and wait for her to add her thoughts. Her creativity is closely guarded!

[del2929]

reading a variety of books helps- we recently discovered borrowbox from our local library. access to lots of online books and comics-

[defineme]

Storycubes and general role play has fed into their creative writing and making reading a pleasure, not a chore, so genuine interest in their story books. They loved the idea of having their own notepads, diaries, noticeboard in bedroom, all helping encourage them to write.

[JC4PMPLZ]

Lots of notebooks, different pens and pencils, always encouraging, playing games with words. Most important, join in. It helps if you are, like DP, an artist.

[April2020mom]

I give them a pen and something to write in. A notebook or a pad of paper works well. When I was a child I used a whiteboard and a diary for my private thoughts. Be a role model and set a good example for your children. Encourage them to exercise their creative side and talk with you too.

[asuwere]

I've always read every night with my DC since they were tiny. We also regularly make up stories, especially in the car. I always have notebooks or jotters next to colouring paper so the DC can use them for writing whatever they want.

[kateandme]

big poster paper on the floor and letting them draw and write in pain first was a great hit.
making up stories with them.and getting them to think of characters too.what will they look like.what happens next.
they love me writing a line to the start of a story then they finish it off.
always be on the lookout.i think we take for granted how often kids are now looking down.and so they are missing what gives them the imaingination and wonder to be creative.we used to be out and there would be them looking at the trees.birds.colours.if they got bored they would then within five minutes be mumbling or staring at something that took there interest from the world around them.where as now they are handed a screen.
try to read with them.
get them there own pad and paper.
and the dd loved the Disney diaries with mini padlock!
Do you find that reading to your children frequently helps develop their imagination and also inspires them to write stories too?yes most definitely.
How about encouraging your children to keep a diary to write their everyday experiences in?i think its great to encourage this.also wirting holiday journals.give them something to do in cars and on the plane too which is a bonus.
Do you make sure that your DC write thank you letters after their birthday and Christmas in order to help them practice writing? yes
Do you go on days out that will help them explore the things around them and develop their imagination?as much as we can.national trust place and even going to a big park for a picnic or game.
I think young kids are stopping or not even starting to play with dolls and action figures now too.we didn't stop til we were bout ten.and the imagination went wild living through your dolls life.now at 10 they are already wearing makeup and looking for a job!