WA researchers find parents who teach kids to write through imaginative play make for better writers

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WA researchers find parents who teach kids to write through imaginative play make for better writers

WA researchers have good news and bad news for parents who want to turn their kids into better writers.

The good news is that mums and dads have more influence than they realise.

The bad news is that they need to make it fun — and not just for the child.

Edith Cowan University research suggests that parents who make writing fun through imaginative play and creative activities produce better writers. That might look like parents and children playing a game of “restaurant”, where children construct menus and take orders, a round of Scrabble or writing birthday cards together.

Those who try to help their children with writing out of a sense of guilt or make it into a negative experience are less likely to have a positive outcome.

Lead author Bronte Kelso-March said the research looked at the connection between parents’ motivation for and method of helping children with their writing at home and compared it to the quality of their child’s writing and how they felt about it.

“What we found is when parents enjoy getting involved in writing activities with their children, they have a positive impact on their child’s enjoyment of writing, and in turn, how well their child can write,” she said.

“Parents should avoid being involved in their children’s writing due to their feelings of shame or ‘parent guilt’, or simply because they have to or should. Instead of treating it like a box ticking exercise, embed joyful writing activities in your family life.”

Camera IconKelly Ye and her son Christian. Credit: Ian Munro/The West ***********

She said treating writing like a game, not a chore, was “key”.

“Our message to parents is don’t underestimate the positive influence you are,” she said. “You don’t have to be an expert. And it doesn’t have to feel like homework or be a high-level task.”

Kelly Ye tries to keep writing at home fun with her six-year-old, Christian. He writes birthday cards for friends, enjoys scrawling on a whiteboard and does activity books for fun — and gold star rewards.

“Christian really likes writing family and friends names while drawing pictures to give to us and his friends,” she said. “One of his favourite is helping write and draw our shopping list together.

“I find the more we spend time with Christian each day the better and more confident he is in writing and spelling. It is a challenge when juggling two kids while being on my own most days as my partner is away for work a lot.”

Even Christian’s little sister Saskia, 1, is starting to take an interest.

“Saskia loves scribbling and attempting to draw pictures and getting a hold of pens, crayons and all media she can get her hands on when she sees her brother,” Ms Ye said. “We try to get her involved in some ways every time and her smile says it all.”

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