The best way to raise future writers is to make writing fun while children are young. Three writing games for kids help: telephone on paper, a story written one sentence at a time, and a persuasive letter about something they really want.
When children learn to love something, that love often stays with them as they grow up. The same is true of reading and writing: when writing is fun, children come to love it.
Getting them there can be a challenge. Many kids happily spend hours texting and chatting with their friends, yet getting them to sit down and write more than a few sentences can be like pulling teeth. As adults, though, they will need to write well. Children who learn to love writing will be ahead of the game when the time comes to write reports and proposals at work, write letters to solve a problem, and fill in applications.
3 writing games for kids
1. Telephone on paper
One of the best writing games for kids is based on the "telephone" game you probably played as a child.
Line up a group of kids and have the first child write a sentence on a piece of paper. The child folds the paper and passes it to the next child, who reads the sentence and writes it again on a new piece of paper, changing one word. Each child in the line gets only the latest sentence, writes it out again, and changes one word.
At the end of the game, read the first sentence aloud, then the last one, and see how much the meaning changed, one word at a time.
2. Add a sentence
The second game is to have the children write a story together, one sentence at a time. The first child starts the story with a sentence and passes the paper on. The next child writes the second sentence, the third child writes the third, and so on. For even more surprises, fold the paper after each turn so that every child sees only the sentence before their own.
When the story is complete, have one of the children read the whole story aloud, and enjoy the laughs that are sure to follow.
3. Write with a purpose
This game helps children move from "fun" games to "real" writing. Your kids probably come across things they "must have" quite often. Instead of listening to them talk about it again and again, turn it into a chance for them to practice their writing.
Have them present their case to you in writing. The letter should describe what they want, why they want it, and why they think they deserve it. The same works when they want to go somewhere, or when they try to talk you into anything else.
Because the letter is meant to persuade, part of the exercise is to check its spelling and basic grammar, for example with the Spell Checker. In adult life, a resume, an application, or even a letter of complaint full of typos is easily dismissed. Checking their writing before they hand it over is a great habit to start early, and children who understand why good spelling matters will benefit from it as adults.
For more ideas, see these tips for helping your child be a better writer and how word games can improve your writing.