Write Like a Pro: Fun Techniques to Improve Writing Skills for Kids

As an educator, your mission to nurture and keep creativity alive in your students is crucial. One effective way to do this is encouraging them to pen down their adventures. 

One key aspect of any child’s development is writing skills. A child with good writing skills can express themselves better and have better creativity. However, many children face issues when it comes to writing. The most common struggle is with generating ideas, grammar and structure. 

This article offers practical, engaging techniques that are easy to implement and can significantly improve children’s writing skills. These techniques can make writing more enjoyable for children and help them blossom into confident writers.

1. Unlocking Thoughts: Talking Before Writing

We often notice that children have trouble writing. This usually happens when they are unable to form their own thoughts. The fix is easy: You must talk to your students. Talk to them about ideas, dreams, and favorite heroes. 

When children verbalize their thoughts, it helps them sort their ideas and build a framework for writing. Start with their favorite topics and ask questions that will help them expand their horizons. The most fun way is to use voice recordings. Ask them to record their ideas, then listen to and refine them again.

These brainstorming methods can be a helpful way to transition into written expressions and improve writing skills for kids. 

2. Overcoming the Blank Page

A blank page can feel intimidating for anyone, especially children. Instead of asking them to write a full essay, introduce engaging prewriting activities to help them organise their thoughts.

Start with rough outlines, idea lists, or even doodles related to the topic. These activities make the writing process less daunting and help spark creativity. For example, you could give prompts like, “What if you were the President for a day?” This approach encourages children to think freely, structure their ideas, and gradually build confidence in their writing skills.

3. Be Consistent: Write Daily!

Use brief writing sessions to develop the habit of writing daily. Like any other skill, writing also takes some time, and while long sessions can be tedious, short sessions can hold interest for far longer. This consistent practice can significantly improve writing skills in children. 

Inspire their creativity by asking them to write stories for family members or to create superheroes they like. When children write about topics they are interested in, they develop a liking for writing. 

This approach helps transition writing from a chore to a hobby, which is excellent and can develop writing skills in children. 

4. Show, Don’t Tell – A Word Picture

Expecting depth and detailed descriptions too soon can be counterproductive when children begin writing. Many parents and educators unintentionally pressure their children or students to be more expressive, leading to frustration and disengagement. Writing should feel like a creative outlet, not a rigid task.

You can use this technique called “show, don’t tell.”

In this technique, you do not say that the sky is blue or the road is black; you say things that define the same. For example, you say, “I am the canvas where clouds dance,” or “I am the concrete park on which you walk.” This is a key component in improving kids’ writing skills. They can develop vivid language along with sensory details.  

5. Learn While Reading, Copying and Twisting

Reading as much as possible is the best way to learn about different writing styles, structures, and vocabulary. Encourage children to read and engage in a “read, copy and twist” activity. Have them choose a paragraph from their favorite book and copy it verbatim.

Once done, challenge them to change certain elements, such as setting characters or different POVs, while keeping the original structure and style. This exercise helps them understand how good writing works and provides a framework for their writing, helping develop writing skills in a child.  

6. Grammar Games: Making Learning Fun

Grammar can be challenging for children, but the right approach can make it an enjoyable learning experience. Give them grammatically incorrect sentences to fix and also find the errors. Ask them to correct the mistakes they have seen. This simple activity can make grammar learning fun and engaging, all the while improving kids’ writing skills. 

One of the best ways to improve grammar skills in children is through books that integrate games and activities. Viva Education has designed its books to excite grammar learning by incorporating stories, interactive exercises, and game-based activities. Our Let’s Play Grammar section includes fun challenges encourage students to explore grammar creatively and engagingly.

To see how Viva Education brings grammar to life, explore Viva Education’s Everyday English Grammar and Composition Series. Grammar learning can be effective and fun with the right resources and teaching methods!

7. Feedback is Important

While providing feedback is essential, delivering that feedback correctly is even more critical. Do not jump the gun and go straight to the bad parts; instead, start with the positives first.

Here’s how to reframe feedback more constructively: