How to Entice Children to Write More

My children in grades three and five never write anything but school assignments. Is there any way to entice them to write more? -- Concerned

Answer: You are lucky that your children still pick up a pencil or pen to do their homework. In many schools that have gone totally paperless, children only use their computers for any form of written communication. When you talk about writing, you are talking about fine motor skills that are harder to learn and require more practice to develop than other motor skills.

It takes people over 20 years to perfect their fine motor skills; however, the first six or seven years are the most critical in developing the basic skills. Your child may not be judged in school by how he colors, copies, pastes or cuts, but his ability to do these tasks will make a major difference in learning how to write legibly, which is important to teachers.

If you truly want your children to develop better handwriting skills or just practice their handwriting, try getting them great and interesting writing props like calligraphy pens, invisible ink pens, colored pencils and a great electric pencil sharper, glitter pens, gel pens, feather quills and bottles of ink, along with a wide selection of different kinds and colors of paper. Having a chalkboard or dry erase board also gives children an opportunity to write messages or even share jokes with their families.

Play games where children will need to write, like pictogram, hangman or even crossword puzzles. Blank books also lure children into writing more, as they can doodle or draw illustrations and then write down the thoughts that go with the illustrations.