Children who enjoy writing in their free time do better at writing in school. A study by the National Literacy Trust, a UK literacy charity, found that they were seven times more likely to write above the level expected for their age than children who did not enjoy writing.
Good writing skills help in many parts of life, at school and later at work. For parents, the study is one more reason to encourage their children to write more often. If your child enjoys writing outside the classroom, chances are they will do better at it.
What the study found
The National Literacy Trust asked almost 40,000 children and young people aged 8 to 18 across the UK about writing. Those who enjoyed writing outside the classroom were far more likely to write above the level expected for their age: about 23% of them did, compared with about 3% of the children who did not enjoy writing. That is roughly seven times as many.
At the same time, only about half of the children (51%) said that they enjoyed writing. So almost half of them do not write for pleasure once they leave the classroom.
The study shows a link, not a cause: children who already write well may also enjoy it more. Either way, enjoyment and skill go together, and each can feed the other.
Writing for pleasure deserves attention
Reading for pleasure has been a focus of parents, schools, and campaigns for a long time. The study argues that writing for pleasure deserves the same attention. Children who don't enjoy writing, or who write only at school, may not be reaching their full potential.
Who enjoys writing most
Girls enjoyed writing for fun more than boys did, and the gap between them grew as the children got older. Younger children also enjoyed writing more than older ones: those aged 8 to 11 took more pleasure in it than those aged 14 to 16.
How to encourage kids to write
Need ideas? These writing games for kids make writing feel like play, and these tips for helping your child be a better writer show how to support them at home.
The lesson for parents and teachers is simple: encourage children not only to read outside the classroom, but also to write. A diary, a story, or a letter to a grandparent all count, and the habit can make a real difference later in their lives.