My posting this week comes from the suggestions of the U.S. Department of Education: Office of Educational Research and Improvement. No, I didn’t mean to scare you off with such a fancy introduction! You’ll find it quite practical leaving you with the sense of, “I can do this for my child!”
As a parent you’ve heard and innately know that a child’s first and primary teachers are their parents. I guess when you do the math and figure out the number of hours your child is in school it rings true. But, yes, it’s easier said than done. Ask yourself this, “Should I help my child with writing?” The answer is yes if you want your child to: do well in school, enjoy self-expression, and become more self-reliant.
The following are some thoughts to keep in mind when helping your child to write. Writing is…
…practical.
…job related.
…making lists, jotting down reminders, writing notes and instructions.
…stimulating.
…a way for us to write thank-you notes and letters to friends at least now and then.
…therapeutic.
It can be helpful to express feelings in writing that cannot be expressed so easily by speaking.You know how important writing will be to your child’s life. It will be important from Kindergarten through college and throughout adulthood.