Fun Ways to Encourage your Reluctant Writer

 

Thanks to BIC for sponsoring this post. 

I grew up writing for fun so when my own kids decided that writing was a fate worse than death I wasn’t quite sure what to do with that. For years I tried to teach my kids to write by using all the methods that I had liked as a kid. It took me a while to realize that reluctant writers need to be handled a bit differently.

With 3 boys, some who are more reluctant writers than others, I’ve had to get creative in my approach for teaching them that writing can be fun. We’ve come up with some creative ways to get them writing and practice their basic writing skills without turning it into chore.

Good writing and handwriting skills are essential for kids. I keep nagging reminding my kids that good writing skills will do more for their future success in the job market than just about anything else.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to get reluctant writers to write:

Written scavenger hunt – My boys loved this game, even during the times when they were the most against writing anything at all. Pull out a small stack of papers and a pencil and let your kids take turns leaving clues around the house. The child leaving the clues will start by leaving one piece of paper that says “Look for the next clue under the place where we eat . . . ” or something similar. The clues can be as easy or difficult as you want. Each clue brings the kids who are hunting closer to the treasure.

Write to a Pen Pal – Writing is so much more fun for reluctant writers when they have a purpose. Match your child up with a pen pal in another area and let your child write letters to their new friend. Facebook groups are great for finding a pen pal or you can have your child write to a cousin, grandparent, or family friend.

 

Make a board game – You don’t usually think of board games as a writing activity but they can be when you make your own. My kids love making homemade board games and between writing things on the board, making cards with instructions, and writing out the rules, there’s quite a few opportunities for practicing writing skills.

Round Robin Story Telling – Silly stories are a great way to ease kids into the idea that writing can be fun. Turn it into a group project by writing a story round robin style. Have each family member write (or narrate) a few sentences of the story. Switch partway through a sentence to make things even more exciting. Your kids will have a blast reading through the story at the end and even if your reluctant writers aren’t quite ready to do the writing themselves participating in the story telling helps them to develop basic writing skills.

Make a grocery list – A few years ago when one of my son’s was completely anti-writing the only thing I could get him to physically write was the grocery list. He loved to cook so helping with the grocery list tied in one of his interests. He loved helping plan meals and was more than willing to write down the ingredients he wanted from the grocery store.

Do you have any fun ways to help your reluctant writer get excited about writing?

BIC is on a mission to help kids get excited about writing with their Fight for your Write campaign. They know that good writers are good readers and that kids with great reading and writing skills are best equipped to reach their highest potential.

1. Take BIC’s pledge to save handwriting & enter for a chance to win a $1,200 BIC® Prize Pack! No Purch Nec., U.S. only, 18+. Ends 09/14/15. For details and full rules visit www.BICFightForYourWrite.com.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bic. The opinions and text are all mine.