9 Creative Writing Tips To Help Your Child

I  know how much you want your child to excel in every aspect of life and one of those crucial skills is writing. 

But here’s the thing – it’s not just about grammar and spelling; it’s about fostering their creative confidence.

In this blog, we’re going to explore 9 Creative Writing Tips to help you encourage your child to not only write well, but also to unleash their unique creative spirit.

By fostering an environment that celebrates: 

• Individuality
• Encourages curiosity

you’re not just raising a child, you’re providing outlets for creative expression and nurturing a future innovator. 

So, let the creative juices flow and watch as your child’s unique brilliance lights up the world. 

Let’s celebrate all their small wins along the way and the endless possibilities!

If you’ve ever felt the strain of tension around creative writing at home I’ve got some exciting ideas for you. 

It’s not just about reading or writing, it’s about opening up a vision for creativity and shared experiences that can dissolve any stress and foster beautiful moments. So let’s dive in.

Understanding the Need for Space

The Daily Hustle and Bustle:

• Juggling act: Between work, school, daily chores, exercise and the rest…it’s easy to forget the importance of quality time.
• The power of pause: Creating space allows you and your child to step back, breathe, and reflect on the beauty of their unique creativity.

Navigating Tensions

The moody clash: Tensions can arise, and that’s perfectly normal. What matters is how we address them.

Creating an outlet: We all need an outlet for our individual creativity and this is also fun to experience outside of the home. A book club, creative writing club, dance or art club can all provide a constructive and enjoyable way to redirect energy and focus, whilst dissolving any hidden tension around writing. 

Embrace your child stepping out of their comfort zone:  

Notice what amazing things can happen for you and your child when you allow them!

Understanding the Creative Process

Daydreaming is Allowed:

Encourage daydreaming: Let your child’s mind wander freely, exploring new worlds and characters. Quiet time for thoughts: Provide moments for them to daydream and let their imagination run wild.

Foster a ‘what if’ mindset: Ask questions that ignite their imagination and encourage creative thinking.

Ask Open-Ended Questions:

Encourage curiosity: Ask questions that prompt them to think beyond the obvious.

Share your wonders: Let them see your curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, whatever the topic.

Support Their Interests:

Encourage their hobbies and interests, showing genuine enthusiasm. You don’t need to share their passion and get directly involved, as children enjoy the feeling of having something of their own. They will feel joy when they want to share their work with you, without it feeling forced. 

Foster exploration: If they want to try something new, remember you are their biggest cheerleader. 

No Rules, Just Fun:

• Free writing time: Set aside moments where there are no rules, just pure creative expression. You might be thinking, ‘yeah right, my child will never instigate this….’ And this is normal, however, once children’s creative spark has been lit, they will feel much more open to expressing themselves on paper – without fear of judgement. 
• Celebrate uniqueness: Even if your child’s stories sound unconventional to you, praise them for the creativity within them.

Tech as a Creative Ally For Creative Writing

Interactive Apps and Games

Educational apps: Explore apps that promote creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. ChatterStars is great for vocab!

Collaborative projects: Engage in digital activities that involve teamwork and idea-sharing.

Digital Storytelling

Animated storytelling: Introduce tools that let them create animated stories, bringing their ideas to life.

The Power of Stories:

• Share storytelling moments: Create a routine for bedtime stories, weekend storytelling sessions or simply introduce an audio story at tea time. 
• Build on their ideas: If your child comes up with a wild plot twist, go with it! It’s their story.

Common Mistakes and How to Tackle Them

Overemphasis on Correctness:

It’s no surprise that this is one of the most common mistakes I see parents and teachers make with children’s creative writing. I get it – I’ve also been there.

Falling into the trap of focusing on all the things that aren’t perfect that need correcting is only human. Our human brains are wired with a ‘negativity bias’ – see, it’s not your fault. But there are some conscious decisions you can take to reduce this bias and bring about the positive change you want to see.

• It’s okay to make mistakes: None of us are perfect, even if we like to think we are! Communicate that writing is a process and mistakes are happy little opportunities to become even better will reduce the internal pressure that your child may feel. 
• Praise efforts, not just perfection: Celebrate their attempts and hard work rather than focusing solely on amazing outcomes, they’ll come when you relax. 

Limiting Creativity with Rules

• Break the rules sometimes: Let them know that creativity doesn’t always follow strict guidelines.
• Introduce poetry and free writing: These forms allow more freedom and expression. Children often love funny poems, so buy some books or share some of Michael Rosen’s poetry from Youtube.

Practical Tips to Boost Creative Writing

Create a Writing Space:

1. Personalise their space: Let them decorate it with things that inspire creativity in a way that suits them. 
2. Writing tools of choice: Allow them to pick their favourite pens, notebooks, or gadgets for writing. Provide essential tools: Ensure they have access to pens, paper and any other writing tools they prefer. Children can be very particular when it comes to pens!

Set a Regular Writing Time:

1. Consistency is key: Establish a routine for writing, making it a natural part of their day. Remember, consistency doesn’t count for much when a sense of joy is missing – enjoyment plus consistency plus a tonne of patience is the name of the game!
2. Allow flexibility: Let them choose when they feel most inspired to write in their journals. 

Use Image Prompts:

• Keep it fun: Use prompts that ignite their curiosity or tickle their funny bone. See my blog on story planning that has a list of amazing websites with inspiring images. 
• Celebrate Achievements:
• Create a writing gallery: Display their work prominently in the house – your fridge can make a wonderful gallery. 
• Let your child share their stories with family and friends. They may like to read out their work or they may prefer it if you read. It doesn’t really matter, as long as they’re happy to share their work 🙂 

Encouraging Reading to Enhance Writing Skills

Explore Various Genres:

1. Diverse book collection: Introduce different genres to expand their literary horizons.
2. Discuss favourite books: Encourage conversations about characters, plots and settings. If your child prefers reading non-fiction, allow them to indulge in their preference as there are no right or wrong books to read.

Join Free Events at Book Shops:

• Make it a family affair: Participate together to discuss and exchange thoughts. Or go and grab a coffee and let your child immerse themselves in a new world of possibilities!
• Recommend age-appropriate books: Help them discover new authors and genres.

Embracing Technology to Enhance Writing Skills

Interactive Writing Apps:

Engaging platforms: Explore apps designed to make writing enjoyable for kiddos. 

Monitor screen time: Set limits and ensure a healthy balance between tech and traditional writing. 

Digital Storytelling Tools:

Use Storytelling Apps: Encourage them to add drawings, photos, or even create short videos to complement their stories. E.g Book Creator App

Collaborative projects: Explore apps that allow them to write stories with friends or family members.

Conclusion

So there you have it – a roadmap to encourage your child’s creative confidence in writing. 

Remember, the goal isn’t just to produce the next literary genius (though that would be fantastic!) but to instil a lifelong love for expressing themselves through words. 

By letting go of judgments, embracing mistakes, fostering creativity and making writing a joyful part of your child’s routine, you’re setting your child up for success.

After nearly a decade teaching in leading schools in South west London, Clare became a full-time online, private English tutor helping children to excel at English.

Her private and small group tuition is aimed at focused, high-achieving students. She’s particulary passionate about helping girls to unlock their potential. 

Join Clare’s 28-day 11+ English Kickstart Programme

Website: www.creativehare.co.uk  | Email: clare@creativehare.co.uk