Exploring Creative Writing with Your Child

Creative writing activities are great for children because they encourage them to use their imaginations, which makes them more capable of solving problems and coming up with alternatives. It’s also an opportunity for them to express themselves, become better at spelling and grammar, and become more confident. With that said, it’s a great idea for parents to explore creative writing with their children at home. Here are some tips from a prep school in Hertfordshire.

Encourage Reading

If your child is a keen reader, they will find it easier to write. This is because they will become increasingly more familiar with different vocabulary, sentence structure, and generally just using their imagination. 

Rewrite the Ending

One great way to practise creative writing is to encourage your child to rewrite the ending of their favourite book, or one they have written recently. This shouldn’t be too challenging for them as the characters will have already been established, but it will certainly put their imagination to the test.

Provide Writing Prompts

If your child wants to write something original, it will help them if you suggest some prompts. Here are some examples of things you could propose:

• You have met a stranger on a bus. Who are they and where are they going?
• A family day out has gone horribly wrong. What happened?
• You are a journalist reporting on the latest news. What’s going on in the world?
• You have travelled to a foreign country. What are you going to do whilst you’re there?
• You are the villain from Cinderella/Harry Potter/Spiderman – how are you feeling?
• Pretend you are 20 years older. Write about yourself and what your life is like.

Encourage Planning

If your child is writing some sort of creative piece, be sure to encourage them to plan properly first, otherwise, they will have no direction. Mind maps usually work well because they will allow your child’s thoughts to flow from one into another. 

This is a collaborative post.