How to teach children to write well and neatly

Some parents may argue that when a child enters school or elementary school (SD) age, this means that the child no longer needs to be taught to write. This ability is considered to be automatically able to be done by children while studying at school. In fact, even though they are already in elementary school, it is not uncommon for children to still need to be taught to write well. Not only how to write, but also to help children understand the content of writing. Then, how do you teach children at school age to write?

Obstacles that can prevent children from writing well

Even though you can write, it doesn't mean that your elementary school children don't need to learn to write. The reason is, there are still certain obstacles that your child may still experience. This usually makes children's writing unreadable. If left unchecked, maybe this can also interfere with learning activities at school.

As a parent, of course you must be sensitive to the obstacles that children may experience in writing, for example:

Still likes to change hands between right and left when writing.
Writing very, very slowly, so it takes a lot of time.
Difficulty writing certain letters correctly.
The way a child holds a writing tool while writing looks different and unusual.
Having no interest, even avoiding activities that require him to write.
Bad handwriting so that the writing can't be read.
Cannot follow instructions given by the teacher while writing.

The symptoms that have been mentioned above indicate that even though you have become an elementary school student, you still have to teach children to write in the right way

How to teach children to write well and neatly

Launching Raising Children, the following ways might help you teach children to make good and neat handwriting.

1. Provide a comfortable place for children to practice writing

One way to teach children to be able to write good handwriting is to provide a comfortable place. Ensure that the child can practice writing on a stable chair with the flat of the table parallel to the child's navel.

Avoid using a desk or writing area that is too high because the child's position when learning to write can affect their writing.

2. Ask for help from teachers at school

Another way you can teach children to write is to ask the teacher for help. The reason is, when you were a school child, you could not be there. Therefore, you certainly need the help of teachers at school to supervise your children in writing.

For example, ask the teacher at school to provide writing practice papers, so that the child is also more enthusiastic about writing practice at home.

3. Write each letter first

The next way that may also be effective for teaching children to write is that you write each letter first. Show the child which side a letter should start from. If necessary, make a pattern using the dots that make up each letter, so that the child can write according to the pattern.

In addition, you can help the child to recognize letters in an interesting way, for example while singing or playing.

By doing this, it is hoped that the child can get used to writing using the patterns that you have made, so that the handwriting becomes tidier and easier to read.

4. Make good use of your time

Many exercises make children more used to it. Therefore, making good use of the time available includes ways to teach children to write that are quite effective. After all, writing by hand has its benefits too. The more often the child practices writing, the more accustomed the child will write well.

There are many interesting ideas that you can give as a way to teach children to write. For example, ask your child to write letters to grandparents, write birthday letters to friends, and so on.

Train children's ability to understand the content of writing by writing

It is not only the form of children's writing that must be continuously trained so that it can be read, the content of children's writing must also be continuously sharpened. Yes, children's literacy skills can also be trained by getting them used to writing.

However, when teaching children to write at home, you certainly don't want to do something boring or make children feel like they are in school. Then, how do you get your children to write at home?

1. Create a fun atmosphere for writing

You don't want to make your child feel “forced” when they are learning to write. The reason is, the content of children's writing is a creative work. Creativity certainly cannot be forced, because the results may not be optimal. So that, create a fun atmosphere for children as a way to teach children to write.

For example, make the child think that this is a play activity. If your child has been seemingly reluctant to learn to write, don't say it's a writing game.

Next, try to find that the topic that will be discussed in the writing is something your child likes. If your child likes sports, make sports a writing topic, as well as other topics of interest to him.

Then, talk about various ideas about the topic being discussed. Ask questions to stimulate the child's mind, in the hope that the child can get an idea of the process. In addition, listen to whatever the child says or asks, so that you can come up with clear answers.

Balance by drawing, or creatingmind mapof ideas that have been gathered together. Of course this makes it easier for children to always remember their ideas. Do not forget to give compliments at the right time and not too much. If necessary, praise your child when he does good writing.

If so, place the children's work in a place that is easily visible, so that other family members can enjoy the children's writing. Usually, children will be excited when the results of their writing can be read by others.

However, make sure that this method is right for you and your child. If it turns out that your child is not enjoying the learning process in the way you taught him to write, replace it with another method.

2. Free children to imagine

A way that is also effective in teaching children to improve their quality in writing is to free children to imagine in their writing. As a parent, you just need to supervise your child during the writing process. This method is quite suitable for teaching children who already have an interest in writing.

Let the children write from beginning to end, because from this process children can get various literacy knowledge. You can ask children about the writing they make as a form of appreciation for the work they have made.

In addition, with the various questions that you ask, you also help stimulate his brain to think more complex. It is possible that your question generates new ideas that your child had not previously thought of.

3. Co-write with children

Another effective way to teach children to write is to participate in writing with children. For example, you can decide which topic to write about. Then, you and your child together write one thing on the same topic. After you finish writing, you can exchange the writing with the child.

In addition, you can formulate ideas for children's writing. Only then did he leave the outline completely to him. Try to come up with ideas that are both interesting and different from the usual so that the child's mind will expand and continue to develop.

Teaching children at school age to write is not an easy matter. Of course the challenge is more difficult than teaching toddlers to write. Even so, considering that the language skills of children at school age are still developing, you also have to be more creative in supporting this child's development process.