Adapted from an article by Professor Trevor H. Cairney, fellow of MindChamps’ World Research, Advisory & Education Team and Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales, Department of Education.
Exposing your child to a wide variety of stories where they can explore and grow as readers and writers is something you can easily do, according to Professor Trevor H. Cairney.
There will always be a level of reciprocity between reading and writing. In fact, the reading of one text will always prime and connect with the memory of other stories, explains Professor Cairney.
Therefore, writing can be inspired by books (or other media).
Here are 7 tips you can bond with your child immediately!
- From birth, fill your child’s lives with expository, descriptive (including poetry, journals/diaries, novels, & plays) and persuasive texts (letters, advertisements etc.)
- Read to your child from birth. And make time to share literature in the elementary years of schooling.
- Don’t lose your own passion for literature, so that you might ‘infect’ your child with this same passion.
- Help your child to celebrate the writings of others and acknowledge the inspiration for their writing and ideas.
- Encourage experimentation with writing, in form, at the ideas level and in purpose.
- Try to create an environment where stories are shared, talked about and celebrated.
- Use the school and local libraries to consider books and borrow them.
