For many parents, teaching their child to write better is an important goal. Early writing experiences can help to lay the groundwork for a child’s later academic success. While learning to write is important, many children balk at the idea of having to sit down and spend time writing when they would rather be playing.

For this reason, parents can encourage their child to learn to write better by taking advantage of the following tips.

Encourage Writing Early
The earlier a child begins to experiment with writing, then the better their writing will be as the move through the academic system. To encourage early writing, it is best to begin offering writing opportunities as soon as your child can hold a pencil or crayon. When first beginning to write with your child, do not expect perfection. It is best to gradually introduce writing techniques as you child develops control over their motor skills.

Provide Fun Writing Utensils
Although many children may attempt to avoid writing, they tend to love art. To make writing interesting, try using a variety of writing utensils. Markers, crayons and colored pens can all enhance the writing experience. Additionally, feathers, flowers and other fun items can be taped to the end of a pencil or pen. Your child can then use these fun writing utensils to write letters to friends or family members to generate some excitement about writing as a means of communication.

Get Involved
Children respond to their parent’s involvement in their academic endeavors. Therefore, it is important to spend a few minutes each day learning about your child’s writing progress. For young children, this may mean writing alongside them while older children may need someone to proofread their work and provide feedback. As you work with your child, remember to offer praise along with constructive criticism to help them feel confident about their ability to write.

Teaching your child to write better will help them to succeed in school. When beginning to work with your child on their writing, it is important to remember to keep things positive and take a break if the child becomes frustrated. However, providing a variety of different writing opportunities and utensils will help to make learning to write an exciting and enjoyable event for any child.