Encouraging Your Child to Write Creatively

Is it important for kids to learn to write and construct a story? Deb Pruett, a Kindergarten teacher at Naylor Elementary in Naylor, Mo., says yes.

“It’s communication,” she said. “It’s all part of our critical thinking skills and being problem solvers.”

If your kid resists sitting down to write, Pruett suggested encouraging them to write about something they enjoy. The soccer star can craft a short story about kicking the winning goal or the budding astronaut could construct sentences about a trip to Mars.

“Find something they’re interested in and really delve into that,” she said. “You can make a story out of anything and they [can] draw on those experiences.”

Consider a writing contest for kids who rise to a challenge.

The Idaho Public Television PBS KIDS Writers Contest is one of many writing contests that PBS KIDS hosts around the country. Both of Gina Pannell’s daughters, Addy and Kenna, won second place in the contest in different age brackets.

“I thought it was a great opportunity for them,” the Boise, Idaho resident said. “They’re really creative kiddos. It was an opportunity for them to be exposed to something new.”

Addy, Pannell’s youngest child, submitted a story about a mermaid who saves a dolphin. Kenna wrote about a kid who learned to love the outdoors after their parents took away video games.

“I think that they wanted to create something that other people could enjoy,” she said. “They’re hooked on it and asking when the next writing contest is.”

Three of Jeanna Meacham’s children won awards for Idaho's PBS KIDS Writers Contest. Now, her youngest is itching to win a prize.

“What’s nice about the competition is that it’s not any specific genre,” she said. “They can write about anything that they want to and get their creative juices going.”

As a ​​third grade teacher at Nezperce Elementary in Nezperce, Idaho, Meacham views the competition from both an educator and a parent perspective.

“As a parent, it’s really fun to see their ownership,” she said. “They really take it to heart and make their own revisions.”

Debby Moore held writing contests consistently when she taught in Williamson County, Tenn. The students’ stories would line the walls outside the classroom so they could see the stories submitted for the last contest.

“We were constantly evaluating our effort,” the retired teacher said. “It was a competition within themselves to go to that next level. The real prize is if you did better than you did last time.”

Moore’s students weren’t only motivated by their previous work, but by the work of others. “I would show students examples from the year before and then students would want to do better than those,” she said.

Pannell had a similar experience. They read previous PBS KIDS writing contest stories that won, which helped her daughters get excited and to come up with story ideas.

Sit down with your kids to read through writing by other kids their age. This is a simple way to let your child know that writing a story at their age is possible. If you don’t have access to kids’ stories, then check out the Story Pirates. This group of professionals perform songs and sketches based on stories submitted by kids.

Pannell’s mom was the one who discovered the PBS KIDS Writers Contest and encouraged her granddaughters to apply. She’d have them tell her the story they wanted to write and then she would ask questions to help them begin to build it out.

“Family encouragement was really beneficial,” Pannell said. “They needed the explanation of what to expect.”

Pruett says that any activity with your child can be used to encourage writing. Offer them your special sticky pad to take notes while you bake cookies or during a neighborhood walk.

“You have to be a role model as the adult,” Pruett said. “You have to show them that you’re enthusiastic about writing.”

The easiest and most useful step is to uplift your kids by complimenting them to others. Pruett says to brag on your kids when you know they can overhear it. “If they really think you’re proud they're going to have more buy-in,” she said.

If you are interested in a PBS KIDS writing contest, contact your local station to see if there is one offered in your area!