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How I Can Help My Child

Ideas to Support Writing at Home

* Read to your child - not just stories but a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts - and discuss the ways that authors use words to shape their ideas.  If you haven’t already, join the public library.

* Have an exciting selection of writing materials readily available.

·        Talk to your child about their writing and read it through together.

·        Praise your child for trying.

·        Don't dwell on mistakes, focus on the content. 

* Have pens and paper around for your children to enjoy writing regularly and for fun.  Talk to your child about their writing and read it through together.

·        Diary writing

·        Comic strips

·        Creative stories etc

* Talk about words that are around you and discuss advertising and how it is presented.

* Be a writing model and encourage your child to write alongside you.

* Create real opportunities for your child to write, such as letters, posters or invitations.

 * If your child brings a spelling list home to learn, try to make the practice fun by playing games that encourage careful listening to the sounds in words and looking for letter patterns. Your child may enjoy singing or reciting spellings, or writing them out and colouring letter patterns.

 * Enjoy listening to and talking with your child about anything that is happening around you and allow them to be part of family discussions.

 * Spend quality time each day talking with your child.

 * Discuss and offer different experiences to broaden your child’s vocabulary.

 * Read books out loud to your child so they can enjoy books they are not yet ready to ready but are at their level of thinking.

 * Reading – refer to the links on the left.

Most importantly remember that writing can be difficult, so be available, supply help if asked and marvel at how well your child is doing.