PICTURE IT! PUBLISH IT! READ IT! PARENTS AND CHILDREN WRITING TOGETHER

WHY WRITING?

We know that reading to children is important. Likewise, writing is also important. When parents encourage children’s writing they let children know it is valued. When parents write to and with their children, they become positive role models children want to copy.

THE BENEFITS Writing helps children: learn how print works develop an understanding that print has meaning understand that writing is thinking

Writing also helps children communicate with others develop a positive feeling of self- worth learn to make decisions

Writing can be highly motivating. It also demands active participation and is a complex problem solving activity.

Things To Know About Writing Well Writing is more than putting words on paper. It is the final stage of a complex communication process that begins with thinking. Writing well requires: Clear Thinking, Sufficient Time, Reading, A Meaningful Task, Interest, Practice, and Revising.

Together Time! Writing can be a shared family experience, just like story time, and can become one that is looked forward to by everyone in the family.

Home Writing Most of the writing we do in our homes is information writing. Some of it is planned, while some of it is spontaneous. Some writing is a group effort, while some is initiated by one or two family members.

Pointers For Parents Provide a place. It’s important for a child to have a good place to write, one where materials are easily accessible. Provide materials. Have a variety of kinds of paper, of various sizes, and things to write with; pencils, pens, markers, crayons, etc.

Allow time. Give your child time to think about a writing project or activity. Encourage your child to talk about the writing first. Respond. Respond to the ideas your child offers. Focus on what the child has written, the ideas and meaning, not on the how (penmanship, spelling).

Encourage Writing In Your Home Let your child see you write: letters, notes and messages, lists s in a diary or journal

Write with your child: send notes to family and friends write signs label creations or things around the house (My Room, etc.) make a family job chart mark events on a calendar keep a journal together

Take pictures of an activity that’s interesting to your child and use them to write a story. Bring writing materials with you, in a Ziploc bag, whenever you go to the doctor’s office, out to dinner, or for a long ride in the car. Write letters to your child and encourage him/her to write back.

Create a family communication centre where you can send notes to each other. This can be a small corkboard for pinning up messages or you can make a mailbox out of a shoe box for family mail.

Make lists: wish lists for Santa list of things to take to Grandma’s list of names to invite to a birthday party lists of books to read

Support your child’s writing Accept and encourage all forms of writing; story writing, letter writing, lists, etc. Display your child’s writing in a prominent place in your home; on the fridge, bulletin board, doors, etc. Keep a scrapbook of your child’s writing.

Share your child’s writing with other family members and friends. Listen to and read what your child writes!

Writing supplies to have on hand Pens, markers, pencils, crayons Assorted Paper (lined and unlined, coloured scraps, various sizes) Ink pads and stamps Post-its Envelopes

So remember… You are a powerful role model for your child. Involve yourself in your child’s writing in an enjoyable and natural way and writing will become a much more meaningful experience for your child.

For more information about PICTURE IT! PUBLISH IT! READ IT! Dr. Jane Baskwill (902) Dr. Mary Jane Harkins (902) Faculty of Education Mount Saint Vincent University 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6 Produced with the support from the Canadian Council on Learning, Knowledge Development Grant, 2007