writing-711281_960_720Learning to write well can be difficult for children, but it is a critical skill that they will likely use every day as adults. From holding a pencil correctly and forming letters to spelling, punctuating, and using grammar correctly to conveying their ideas, there are many tasks when writing that a child can struggle with. Great Schools has a list of 19 tips to help your child with writing. Here are some key ones:

  • Talk to your child’s teacher if they are struggling
  • Don’t write their assignments for them. Be a coach.
  • Make sure your child sees you writing in your home—notes on the refrigerator, thank you notes for gifts, e-mails, etc.
  • If they are overwhelmed by a longer writing assignment, help them break it into smaller pieces.
  • Emphasize that writing well always involves revising what you write. Teach them to get ideas down in the first draft and then have them organize the ideas and correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation in the second draft.
  • When an assignment is done, have them read it aloud. They may find things they want to revise that don’t sound right.
  • With long-term writing projects, help them create a schedule over the time they have to complete the assignment.
  • Writing well takes lots of practice, so encourage your child to find ways to write every day.

For more on these and other tips, be sure to check out the full article at Great Schools.