The Editor's View

Motivating Children to Write More

Volume 6 / Issue 2 / Winter 2006

Encouraging my two-and-a-half-year-old son to write isn’t a problem. Encouraging him to express himself on paper, rather than on the walls, is the issue in my household. But once the act of writing is mastered and scribbling becomes meaningful composition, how do parents motivate their child to write more?

Having a fresh supply of writing materials (i.e., crisp paper, colorful writing instruments, and reference books) can be helpful. After all, who can resist the temptation to mark up that stark white paper? However, the most critical factor in motivating children to write is to help them become aware of the many writing opportunities right at home. Keeping a journal, having a pen pal, or creating a family newsletter are just a few ways writers can find inspiration. Making children aware that writing doesn’t always have to be the result of a school assignment is essential.

Encourage your child to share selected writings with you, but realize that they may wish to keep some pieces private. Bear in mind that your feedback should be thoughtful and constructive. For children to become confident writers, they need to be assured that their parents support their efforts.

Some other suggestions for inspiring your young writer:

• Ask your librarian for books in which writing is important to the plot or the central character. Such books will further motivate budding authors and help them empathize with other writers.
• Encourage your children to publish their work. School newspapers and children’s literary magazines and Web sites (i.e., Stone Soup and Teen Ink) are but a few venues.
• Have your child form a writer’s club with friends. This may induce them to write more and also provide them with another audience.

So, once upon a time I praised the inventor of Mr. Clean’s Magic Erasers as I scrubbed the crayon from my walls. Jump ahead a few years and I will surely be marveling at the writing efforts of my son as he puts the finishing touches on his first masterpiece . . . and they lived happily ever after. The end.
—Kristen R. Stephens, PhD