Creative writing for kids is more than just a subject taught in school. This is because language shapes the way we perceive the world around us and widens our understanding of different people and possibilities. Whether we come across writing in stories, news articles and fairytales, or in research, signs and coursework instructions, language allows us to communicate with one another and gain knowledge.
So where does creative writing for kids come into play? Creative writing skills equip our kids with vital tools to make sense of their emotions, thoughts, and what is happening in the world and in their lives.
Why Learning the Craft of Creative Writing Early Prepares Your Kid to Succeed in Life
In Singapore, creative writing for kids is regarded as an elective hobby. In fact, it is crucial for children to delve into creative writing because, as research shows, good writing skills are essential to a child’s success in school and beyond.
There are emotional benefits to creative writing for your child too. By engaging in more creative writing, your child will develop stronger self-awareness and observation skills. In addition, characterisation enables your child to put themselves in different people’s shoes, which cultivates empathy.
Creative writing entails more than forming one sentence after another. It fosters imagination and inspires children to have fun with writing. By expressing themselves in ways that are creative and compelling, they learn how to win over an audience’s attention. A child who is an eloquent writer and communicator will have an advantage in any field – in school and in life.
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Here are some simple strategies to encourage creative writing for kids in Singapore, and to help them become more adept at expressing themselves and the world around them:
1. Use writing prompts to jumpstart creativity.
To help your child his or her “writer’s block,” introduce an exciting topic. Writing prompts are often used in English enrichment classes and creative writing classes in Singapore as a technique to stimulate children’s imagination. Some examples of writing prompts include, “Describe your favourite place,” “Pretend you are writing a letter to your favourite character in a movie or book – for instance, ‘Dear Harry Potter…,’” or “Imagine that it’s your birthday party and a dinosaur suddenly shows up. What happens next?” An exercise like this puts the fun back in writing.
2. Emphasise character development before writing the story
While coming up with story ideas, ask your child questions about his or her main character’s background, personality, and motivations. In the MindChamps Writing Programme, students are taught how to create engaging characters in their stories by asking “What if” questions and adopting a different point-of-view of an imaginary character. To hear what parents have to say about the programme, check out MindChamps Reading & Writing Reviews.
Further Reading: How To Raise A Child Who Loves to Read
3. Build effective description
Details are what makes a story entertaining and convincing. Play observation and description games to free up your child’s imagination and encourage forming creative phrases in writing.
4. Use “Feeling” Words
Encourage your child to write and develop how an imaginary character feels in any situation. A “fleshed out” character is more relatable and likely to generate an emotional response from the reader. The use of figurative language including metaphors allows your child to effectively describe how they, or their characters, feel.
5. Encourage your child to keep a writing journal
From a young age, kids can start building a habit of creative writing by writing freely. When it comes to journalling and free-writing, the goal is to cultivate a love of personal expression. Refrain from correcting your child’s grammar and sentences in journal entries; in this case, creative writing for children should be as unrestricted as possible. By giving children the freedom to explore their own interests and voice, they are more likely to develop a fondness for expression in writing.
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