Writing

Tips for writing at home with your child

Encourage your child to write

Reading and writing are linked – success in one skill helps the other. Children love to make their own birthday cards, write thank you notes, make place cards for the table, or send email to a friend. Keep birthday cards and holiday postcards to recycle as homemade cards.

Different ways to write

Keep magnetic letters or words on the fridge. Your child can use these to write words.  Take chalk and write your names on the pavement. Get a white board  that they can write on and wipe clean each time.

Play writing games

Play a game where they have to find a letter in the alphabet. Show them how to form a letter and then go letter hunting in your house or in a book. They can count how many 'Ds' there are on a page. Find a picture they like and ask them to write words or a sentence describing what they see.

Help your child build their vocabulary

Try rhyming games starting with one word such as 'mat'. Say and write down all the words that rhyme, like 'cat', 'hat', 'fat' and 'splat'. You'll be surprised how fast your child's word list grows.

Explore the meaning of words

Create a word book at home and have your child add words as they learn them. Ask them to write the words they use often and talk about why.

Read and write

Read stories, newspapers, advertisements, instructions to your child every day. Discuss what you have read. You could write and leave notes for your child in different places, like their lunchbox. Ask them to write a reply or write something new.