Read to your kids. It's a good way to spend quality time together. Try it on a Sunday afternoon, or as a before bed wind-down time. The benefits of exposure to literature are numerous. It provides opportunities for discussion, develops vocabulary, enhances imaginations, and provides exposure to good grammar and writing mechanics. Check the library or bookstore for books at your kids’ age and interest levels.
Encourage them to read. The same benefits as being read to apply. No matter what your kids are interested in, there is probably a book about it. Even the little ones enjoy picture books and reap the benefits too. Reading, and being read to, opens up a world for kids that they might not experience otherwise.
Set a good example; let your kids see you writing. Even if the only things you write are letters, email, to-do and grocery lists, you are still writing. It helps the kids to see you using practical writing skills. Remember: no matter what we do in life, we need to write and communicate. As our writing improves, our communication skills improve.
Find writing projects to do together. Kids often feel pressure for “school” writing. Take the pressure off and do fun stuff. Look for things that spark your kids’ creativity. Allow them some relaxed writing space as a break in between those "have-to" school assignments. Idea possibilities abound. How about making a holiday family letter to send to friends and relatives? Any birthdays coming up? Make invitations or cards with a few personalized lines. Thank you notes for gifts received are good ideas too. I encouraged my kids to write short thank you notes with illustrations. This seemed more doable to them, especially for my two sons. Cards don’t have to be long and eloquent; encourage the kids to express themselves, but don’t pressure them. Remember, it’s the thought and the fact that they are writing, even a little bit, that counts.
Encourage your kids. As with anything, they’ll improve with practice. They won’t all become novelists on the best seller list, and that’s okay. But they can sharpen their writing and communication skills. Be gentle; point out the good things first, even if they are small, like neat handwriting or creative ideas. Then address the issues that need work in small increments. Share with them the things you had to work through in school, such as, "You know, I could never remember what pronouns were till I got older!" An encouraged child is more likely to work harder. A balanced approach reaps bigger results.We all, at some point in our adult lives, must write something. So helping kids develop these necessary skills equips them for life. Help them learn to express themselves well. Be patient, it takes time. Equip and encourage them in this way. You’ll give them an edge for their future.