Summer Writing Fun for Kids

Let's make writing projects a part of the summer break. Start by creating a "writing box" to gather supplies for the projects. Use a shoe box or other similar box with a lib. Your child can use colorful wrapping paper to cover the box and decorate the outside. In the box, place pencils, colored pencils, colored markers and crayons, index cards, note pads, and assorted sheets of paper. This handy box can be taken in the car on road trips and will be a special collections tool on vacation or visits to relatives during the summer.


Here are a few writing ideas you can try with your child to encourage creative writing experiences during the summer.

1. Making signs to identify rooms in your house (bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc)

2. Making labels to identify items around the house (table, sofa, chair, stove, chest, etc). This activity will aid in vocabulary development and help with spelling.

3. Allow your child to use inventive spelling when writing stories. This gives your child practice in using spelling skills by "sounding out" words and will encourage his writing to be more creative. For older children, show them how to edit their writing by making spelling corrections. This is a great opportunity to introduce the dictionary if your child is not familiar with using this reference book.

4. For younger children, they can dictate stories and you can write the words for them. Have your child illustrate the story and help him to read the story back to you in his own words.

5. There are many different kinds of writing. Have your child try a few of these:

• writing letters to family members or to friends

• write notes such as: Thank you notes for gifts or invitations to a family cookout, also let your child write the grocery list as you dictate the items to him


The most important thing to remember about summer writing activities, is to make writing fun and entertaining and not a chore. You want your child to gain a love for writing that becomes a lifelong, joyful experience.