Writing is much more than lining up words to form pretty sentences. It’s a complex task that involves your imagination, your memory, and all kinds of knowledge. To help your child stay focused when writing, you can create an environment specifically for this purpose.
Above all, a space that’s conducive to writing should be comfortably situated in a permanent location. The ideal writing corner should have the following qualities:
- Peaceful
- Well organized
- Free of distractions
- Etc.
Decorative elements that showcase the written word will not only brighten up your child’s writing space, but also put them in the right frame of mind. Consider displaying some of the following:
- Quotes
- Photos (e.g., a typewriter, a breathtaking library, a portrait of a famous author)
- Excerpts from your child’s writing
- Prints of book covers
- Etc.
To motivate your child, involve them in the decoration process. Showing an interest in their tastes will have a positive effect on their self-esteem.
Whether your child is typing on a computer or practising calligraphy (the art of producing decorative handwriting), their work station needs to be comfortable so they can focus. To help your child write under the best conditions, make sure their writing corner has the following:
- A small desk adjusted to their height
- A comfortable chair
- Adequate and sufficient lighting
- Etc.
Most writers agree that, to write well, you need to set up a routine. Developing certain habits can put you in a creative mood and stimulate your imagination. Why not suggest that your child develop their own writing routine? It could include the following:
- Warm up by wiggling my fingers
- Take three deep breaths
- Adjust my chair and sit upright
- Sharpen my pencil
- Meditate
- Write down or draw ideas for characters or events
- Etc.
Ask your child to write down their routine on a sheet of paper or blackboard and display it in their writing space.
Theoretically, a pencil and paper are all you need to write. But there’s no denying that certain materials can help get the ideas flowing! Here are some items that might help your child’s creative process:
- Coloured pencils
- Notebooks
- A computer
- A dictionary
- A thesaurus
- A whiteboard
- Etc.
Of course, not all households are large enough for a dedicated writing corner. Feel free to adapt these suggestions to suit your reality. The important thing is to encourage your child’s writing, one way or another!
Writing : Vivianne Asselin
Scientific review : Mathieu Labine-Daigneault, resource teacher
Rewriting : The Alloprof Parents' team
Connell, J. P. et Wellborn, J. G., cités dans Guay, F., Falardeau, É. et Valois, P. (2014), « Évaluer l’efficacité et l’impact du programme d’intervention CASIS-écriture pour augmenter la motivation d’élèves du primaire envers l’écriture », Sainte-Foy, Université Laval.
Hayes, J., « A new framework for understanding cognition and affect in writing », dans C. M. Levy et S. Ransdell (dir.),The Science of Writing, Mahwah, Lawrence Erlbau Associates, 1996, p.1-27.
Stanké, B., Les dyslexies-dysorthographies, Québec, Presses de l’Université du Québec, « Collection Éducation intervention », 2016, 213 p.