How to Help Kids to Improve Their Writing Skills

Helping Improve Your Child's Writing Skills

Getting Started

Writing skills don't only apply to English/language arts, but to almost every subject and aspect of your child's education now and in the future. Additionally, the writing process can help your child develop critical thinking, communication and organizational skills. When helping your child with his or her writing skills, first check out the Common Core State Standards for writing at your child's grade level. This will not only give you a solid idea of what your child needs to know, but also where he or she stands.

It also can be tremendously helpful to speak to your child's teachers, counselors and other learning professionals who may be helping your child with writing skills. You will be a more effective tutor if you understand exactly what your child needs to work on.

Tips for Teaching Writing

When teaching writing, it can be useful to break the subject down into several traits and address each trait with separate lessons. Six possible traits you could discuss are organization, ideas, vocabulary, fluency, writing conventions and voice. After your lesson, have your child write a piece that uses that particular trait. If you're teaching vocabulary, for example, have your child write a story that uses a list of words you compile.

Home Writing Activities

A fun way for your child to practice writing is by composing letters. In the age of e-mailing, social networking and text messaging, old fashioned letter writing is becoming a lost art. Have your child write to relative or a famous person that he or she admires. Alternatively, there are international pen pal programs online that you can use to set up letter exchanges between your child and kids from all over the world.

Whether it's poetry or prose, writing for an audience can often be an extra incentive for your child. Tell your child that he or she is going to write a story and share it with the family. A great way to get your child started is by allowing him or her to choose topics of interest. Then, help your child edit and revise the piece before presenting it.