Becoming your child’s pen pal

Does your reluctant writer hate journaling, dictation, or narration? Do you need a way to encourage him? Try becoming your child’s pen pal!

This activity is best for children in the 8- to 12-year-old range, but you might also try it with other writing-phobic kiddos who live at your house.

Getting Started 

First, buy an inexpensive spiral notebook or composition notebook. If a colorful or thematic cover helps to wow your child, so much the better. Otherwise, a plain one will work just fine. Begin by writing a prompt at the top of the first page. Here’s a good place to start if you need ideas.

Tell your child there are no rules, no right, no wrong. She must simply write about the given topic and express herself however she chooses. No critiquing is allowed!

At first, don’t expect much. All she may give you is lists! But eventually she’ll begin to write more, especially if she finds the prompt particularly appealing.

Turning the Tables

Next, let your child choose a prompt for you on the next page so you can write back to her. Offering her the chance to ask you questions can give her the sense of fairness and control. Who knows what she’ll want to know!

As your child’s confidence grows and she becomes more willing to write, you’ll start to get glimpses into who she is and how she thinks. Plus, you’ll have a treasure of recorded “conversations” between the two of you.

Give it a try!

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Kim Kautzer is co-author of the WriteShop program. Visit writeshop.com to learn more.