The older you get, the more you realize you wish you could remember things for the way they actually were. Imagine being able to recollect your memories exactly as they truly were when you first learned to ride a bike. Or think about reading through a journal and reading about the ways you felt toward your parents when they grounded you.
When we read through stories and journal pieces we wrote years ago, we get taken back to a period of time that fully engulfs us with detailed memories and it helps us understand our thinking processes from when we were younger, which is vital in being able to understand our children today.
Unfortunately, there's a good chance you didn't keep a journal as you were growing up, and if you did, you probably didn't start until you were a teenager. Ideally, the younger you are when start writing, the better. For now, let's take a quick look at the top three ways you should encourage your child to find their inner voice and be a creative writer.
Require Them to Write
For some parents, there's little that goes into enticing children to write. Some children just simply love writing and they love spending hours each day creating stories and keeping up with their latest memories by journaling. For other parents, though, it can be a struggle to get children to write even a sentence. This is why parents should require children to write at least once a week and this form of writing should be left up to the child him or herself. If you're being forced to write, don't you at least want to be able to write about something you enjoy? The same applies to your child.
Have Them Keep a Journal of Detailed Memories
Creativity can really be seen in the details of life and if you will have your child keep a journal with at least one entry a day detailing his or her most memorable moment of the day, you will quickly have a child who actually enjoys keeping a diary. Even better is that years down the road, your child will have a go-to journal that he or she can read to help with parenting their own children.
Never Force Writing to Be Completed in a Single Session
Ever heard of writer's block? Ever had it yourself? Some people find it difficult to write, especially for long periods of time. This is why you should never force your child to write for more than five minutes at a time. If there is a certain number of words you are wanting your child to write, make sure they understand they have all day to finish the words. Sometimes, all it takes is a short break from writing in a journal to come back and write the best, most detailed piece ever created.
