Fun writing activities for kids with Huntington Learning Center

SPRINGFIELD, MAss. (Mass Appeal) - One of the most important skills a young child can master is the art of effective communication.

Deborah Alli, Executive Director at Huntington Learning Center , joined us with an educational tip.

Fun writing activities for kid:

1. Story Starter Deck - Grab a stack of index cards and a pile of old magazines and have your child cut out any interesting pictures or phrases. Glue or tape each clipping to a card and shuffle the deck. Have your child choose one or more cards and use the pictures and words as inspiration for a short story. Buy a special journal or notebook for your child to write in and collect all of his or her stories.

2. Ship's Log - On ships, the captain keeps a daily record of what happens on the journey. Have your child keep a ship's log of what happens each day. This activity is especially fun on family trips, but even the banal events of your child's daily life will be fun to read about months and years from now. With some added photos or drawings, the completed ship's log could make a wonderful gift or keepsake, too.

3. Greeting Cards - Make a list of any upcoming birthdays, events and holidays and set your child to work writing poems and designing greeting cards. Look up different poem styles for your child to try-shape poems, haikus, acrostics, diamantes or cinquains. Try checking out some children's poetry collections from your library or spending an hour in the greeting card aisle at the grocery store to serve as inspiration.

4. Letter to a Character - Have your child write a letter to his or her favorite character from a book or movie. Help your child brainstorm questions to ask the character, then ask your child to write a letter from the character answering the questions. This activity is a great opportunity to discuss the form and parts of a letter, as well as the correct way to address an envelope.

5. What Happens Next? - Read a favorite story with your child (short picture books are ideal for this exercise) and then ask him or her to imagine and write down what happens next. Alternately, children can write "missing" scenes from books, or describe details that appear in the pictures, but not in the text. Older students might enjoy crafting stories about themselves interacting with their favorite characters. As a prompt, tell your child that his or her favorite character knocks on the door, and then ask, "What happens next?"

Many young students find writing to be difficult, but as with any subject, the more they enjoy it, the easier it will become. Give your child opportunities to try a variety of writing activities that will help him or her practice and improve this skill-while having fun in the process.

Events at Huntington Learning Center:

Children's Night at Texas Roadhouse
Monday, November 12th
4:00PM
Crafts, games, tons of fun!

Homework Survival Guide for Parents

• Thursday, November 8th
  6:30PM - 7:30PM and 7:30PM - 8:30PM
   
• Saturday, November 10th
  11AM - NOON

Huntington Learning Center
Five Town Plaza
352 Cooley Street
Springfield, MA

Parents who want additional information are encouraged to call the local Huntington Learning Center at 413-783-8010 or visit huntingtonhelps.com .

About Huntington Learning Center:

This simple statement is the criterion by which all decisions are made - what is best for the student guides all decisions.

Each center's director must make dozens - even hundreds - of decisions about how best to guide a student to achieve her or his goals. In every case, the criteria by which the director makes those decisions is our mission statement and our code of ethics.

These decisions involve the kind of program the director recommends, the tutor to be assigned to work with the student, the curricula to be used, the program duration, and many, many more decisions. By understanding what's best for the student, the director can make the best decision possible.