When a Child Doesn’t Like to Write
Working with children for many years, I've seen a trend: older children dislike writing. I have theories. One is that parents start pushing toddlers to duplicate letters, retain letters on lines of lined paper, and handle conventional writing instruments far before they are developmentally competent to do so. Because they cannot physically execute what is required, they may get frustrated with writing or associate it with dislike. They start to perceive themselves as “bad writers”. Another argument is that parents start forcing writing suggestions on youngsters as they become older. Writing about someone else's concept is harder and less intriguing than writing about your own. Lack of choice may breed bitterness and a dislike for writing. The difficulty is that we know a good writer must write. So, how can we involve youngsters in this important work while keeping it fun? First, provide engaging writing tools. Markers, coloured pencils, and unusual pens may be more enticing th...