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Creative writing may seem like a waste of time, especially if your child doesn’t show any signs of wanting to become the next J. K. Rowling, however, there are actually an abundance of benefits to exploring creative writing with your child at home. For instance, it will boost their general vocabulary and Improve their spelling and grammar. Generally speaking, children who are good at writing will often be better verbal communicators as well. So, if you would like to explore creative writing with your child but you’re unsure of where to start, here are some tips from an independent school in Richmond.
Does your child have a favourite book? If so, you could encourage them to re-write the final chapter, or even just the last few pages. This will be far easier than writing a story from scratch as the characters and story line have already been developed. During this activity, you can discuss with your child how minor changes in people’s actions or words can lead to completely different outcomes, and link this to an important life lesson.
If your child does insist on writing their own story, be sure to encourage them to create a plan first. Use mind-maps to come up with some words and phrases associated with the particular genre and make sure your child has thought of the beginning, middle and end. Consider Todorov’s theory, which suggests that all stories start with an equilibrium where everything is calm and balanced. There is then a disruption where the villain comes along and causes trouble. Finally, the hero of the story saves the day, and everything returns to normal. Without a structure and plan in mind, your child will likely get bored and give up before they have finished.
Another option is to encourage your child to write a book review. Ask them to think about how the book made them feel; where they scared, sad or did they laugh out loud. Would they recommend the book to others and, if so, who might it be suited to? Ensure that they use plenty of descriptive words to describe the story.
