Three-quarters (73%) of children say that they don’t enjoy writing and one in ten (10%) UK children can’t write using a pen or pencil.
As a result, an education expert has shared six pieces of advice on how to keep children writing and learning while at home.
Greg Smith, head of operations at Oxford Home Schooling, has shared advice after his company’s recent research found that one in ten (10%) children can’t write using a pen or pencil, and one in nine (11%) struggle to physically hold a pen or pencil while handwriting.
Encourage journaling
“Keeping a journal or diary is a great way to encourage your child to practise writing daily and can be an expressive way to communicate their thoughts or feelings. It’s a fun and creative activity that can be introduced into their daily routine.”
Introduce a writing game
“Writing can often seem like a chore to children, so what better way to make it more engaging than by turning it into a game. The summer holidays are the perfect time to introduce new games, so get them to search for items within the home, once found, get them to write the word out on paper.”
Have fun with tech
“Technology plays a huge part in our child’s life and there’s no getting around the fact that it’s only going to get more prevalent. There’s a plethora of apps now available to develop your child’s writing skills so make the most of these fun and engaging tools.”
Write letters
“In this day and age, writing letters has become a thing of the past. To help engage your child in writing more at home, encourage them to write letters to their friends or family. It can be an exciting hobby, especially if they receive letters back.”
Create a writing nook
“Similar to a reading nook, create a dedicated space within the home for all things writing. This area of the home will help children to be less distracted when practising their writing skills.”
Don’t forget to praise them
“A vast number of children simply don’t enjoy handwriting and others may find it a difficult task, so don’t forget to shout about all their little wins when it comes to improving their skills.”
For more expert advice on how to encourage learning at home during the summer holidays, visit: https://www.oxfordhomeschooling.co.uk/blog/how-to-encourage-children-to-write-more-at-home/
