Every summer, my kids’ school sends home math workbooks and encourages students to read throughout the summer. This is great, but I also want them to work on their writing skills, which will help them in reading, math and in life. Here are some of my favorite ideas for making writing fun this summer.
Make your own journals. I love making journals, and while I’d love to fashion something clever and cute for my sons I know that a journal they decorate themselves will be more meaningful to them. (And frankly at 11 and 9, they are put off by anything “cute” these days.) I purchase a three pack of the slim moleskin cardboard cover journals available at big chain stores. (Also check out dollar stores.) You don’t even have to purchase anything. Staple paper together and have your child make a cover out of construction paper or poster board. Then give them stamps, markers, paints and other craft materials to decorate their summer journals.
Evening journaling. Each night before bed have your child write three or four sentences about their day. Don’t correct spelling or grammar. Just let them write. This a good way to help them wind down and reflect on the day.
Magazine photo prompts. Write stories using a picture in a magazine as a prompt. This a fun exercise in fiction or creative nonfiction writing if the photo reminds them of a personal story. Encourage your child to use his imagination and descriptive words. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Have your child choose and cut out an interesting photo or illustration from a magazine.
- Paste the picture to the top of a page or journal page.
- Set the timer for five minutes.
- Have your child write a story using the image as a prompt. (This is a fun exercise to do together, either interpreting the same picture or each choosing his/her own picture.)
- Preschoolers can draw pictures to tell their story about the image.
- After the timer goes off, take turns sharing your stories.
- Extra kudos for use of clever words, metaphors and correct sentence structure.
Illustrated letters. My kids love to send email to their grandparents and cousins, but old fashioned letter writing is extra special. Who doesn’t love getting mail that isn’t junk or a bill? My mother-in-law, who is an amazing artist used to send my boys illustrated letters when they were still learning to read. She’d draw pictures to replace words in sentences. There’s no reason why your child can’t do the same thing. If your youngster gets frustrated while writing, encourage her to write mixing words and pictures. Then mail the letter to a loved one.
Craft homemade cards. Another way to get your child writing letters is to have him make homemade cards that he can send to friends and family. Ask him to write two or three sentences in the card and sign his name.
Set up letter boxes. My oldest son likes creating mail boxes for each person in the house. This is a heartwarming way to exchange short notes with each other.
Publish a family newspaper. Have your kids publish their own weekly newspaper this summer. They can drop in photos, make captions, write stories about funny/interesting/sad/awkward/scary experiences during the week. They can create cartoons and crosswords and even design ads. Google docs has a variety of templates and so does Word. (Of course, this can be done as an unplugged activity too.)
Start a Blog. Kids who really love to write might enjoy starting a private blog that they can share with family members. They can publish their stories or short essays and enjoy feedback from their audience. Have them publish under a pen name.
Scrapbook. A crafty youngster might get a kick out of taking photos throughout the summer and creating a scrapbook of her activities and camps. She can practice writing captions, headlines and describing each activity for a fun memory book that they can hang onto for years to come.
Quotables. As kids get older, give them a quote from a book, famous author, spokesperson, pastor or executive. Have them write out the quote and then write a few sentences about what they think the quote means and how it applies or doesn’t apply in their life.
Book reviews. Each summer, we set a goal for book reading. But don’t stop there. After your child reads the book, have her write a short summary and review. How many stars would she give it? What was it about? What did she like about the book, the characters and the setting? What didn’t she like? This can be done with movies that your kids see too! Give your child an audience by having her read her book review aloud at dinner.
Mystery story bag. Include ten random objects from around the house in a paper bag. Ask your child to pull three items out of the bag without looking. Have her write a story that includes each of these objects. If you think your young writer is ready, ask her to include a setting, characters, a problem and a resolution in the story.
Make a Top 10 List. List writing is a fun and simple way to practice writing skills. Have your child make a list of 10 of her favorite ___________. Or have her keep a list of her favorite phrases/interesting words from a book that she’s reading. Here’s a fun book I got my son with list writing prompt ideas. My Listograph: My Amazing Life in Lists by Lisa Nola. Other lists that your child can write: grocery lists, to-do lists, etc.
Write a story together. Together choose a clever title. Have your child begin the story by writing the first sentence. Then you write the next sentence. Take turns until the story is finished.
Persuade me. Is there something your child really wants? Have her write you a letter detailing all of the reasons why she should have the object of her desire, including how she plans to earn it and care for it once it’s in her possession.
Get opinionated. Is your child upset about something that has happened in your community? Maybe she should write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or to a local leader. When I was a kid, I sometimes wrote letters to people who I felt needed to hear my opinion. 🙂 The fact that I was “just a kid” never stopped me. When I was about 12-years-old, I wrote a letter to our local television station. I was upset by a bigoted remark that a TV host made about women. I wrote him a letter expressing my disgust. I never heard anything back, but I felt better, especially after the station moved my show to a different time slot that he didn’t host. I doubt I had any influence on the decision, but it was a proactive way to practice my writing skills–and who knows how many letters he received that day!
Pen a screenplay. Got a budding actor or director in your midst? Have her write a play. If she’s really ambitious maybe she’ll recruit a few friends and act out her story.
Illustrate a comic strip. If your child prefers to illustrate characters, have him add dialogue by giving each character a speech bubble and create a short three-frame comic strip. Check out comic strips in the newspaper for ideas.
Wax poetic. Check out this website for some fun ideas to play with poetry.
Write a new ending. Was your youngster unhappy with the way a book ended? Challenge her to re-write the ending according to how she would have liked it to go.
Make a collage. Give your kids a pile of old magazines, a glue stick, scissors and poster board. They can cut out photos, words and phrases that they like, putting them together to make new sayings or personally inspiring messages.
There are all kinds of entertaining ways to get kids writing, and I’m sure I’ll continue to think of new ideas to add to this list. What are your favorite ways to get your kids to put pen to paper?
The one I love is the persuade me. I recall my daughter and a friend writing us a persuasive letter about why a sleepover was beneficial to them and us. We said yes and loved how they’d used their skills.
That’s an excellent example, Sue. I think it’s a great way to help kids learn how to put together a reasoned argument. And I love that your daughter and her friend were successful in their efforts! 🙂