How to Teach Children to Write Using Positive Reinforcement
For many children, writing can be a daunting task. However, by using positive reinforcement to build your child's skills, you can get her excited about writing. Praising your child's work and providing small rewards in order to build a positive relationship with writing, you can equip her with a skill set that will help her succeed in school and beyond.
Things You'll Need
- Pen or Pencil
- Paper
Instructions
Provide Praise
When your child is writing, praise his work. Be specific, saying things like "I love how you describe your nerves before the concert." Find the positive. Focus on the things they are doing well to condition good habits, according to Purdue University. Encourage the specific action, such as using solid descriptions, to build up your child's confidence, rather than focusing on the negatives, like grammar flaws. Focus on your feelings, rather then judging your child's writing as good or bad. For example, instead of saying, "This is a great story," say, "I really feel that you captured the moment perfectly in this paragraph." Make Writing Rewarding
Set an obtainable goal with your child. For example, "Write for five minutes daily," or "Use strong, active verbs in every sentence." Chose a reward that is motivating for your child. The reward could be related to writing, such as new pencils or a journal, but the most important factor is that it is something she is motivated to work toward. Make a chart that can show your child's progress toward her reward. A chart is an easy, clear way for children to see themselves moving closer to the goal and to their reward, according to Cobb Pediatric Therapy Services Encourage your child to participate in marking off his progress on the chart. This keeps him involved in the process and can build excitement about meeting his writing goal. When your child reaches her goal, reward her with the prize that was agreed upon ahead of time. Evaluate Progress
Save all of your child's work and be sure there is a date on each piece. Soon, you will both begin seeing improvements in your child's writing skills. Point out specific progress that your child makes. For example, say "Wow, Jane, in this piece from last month you used the same word four times, but in the paragraph you wrote today your vocabulary is much more varied." Set future goals. Continually assess your child's writing skills and select goals that will improve those skills.
