Everyday Writing Year 1

Make Writing Fun

Make writing fun

  • Help your child write an alphabet letter, then go letter hunting in your house or in a book to find that letter
  • Let your child see you writing – you can use your first language
  • Encourage them to write shopping lists or make birthday cards
  • Water and a paintbrush on a dry path and a stick on sand are fun ways to write letters and words.

Here's a tip - Don’t worry if your child’s letters or words are sometimes backwards or misspelt at this age. The important thing is that they have fun writing at home and are making an effort.

Reasons to Write

Give them reasons to write

  • Write to each other. Write notes to your child and leave them in interesting places, like their lunch box. Ask them to write a reply
  • Help them email, text or write to family, whānau or friends
  • Work with them to put labels on special things – like the door to their room or their toy box.

Here's a tip - display their work. Put it on the fridge. Be proud of it. Share it with others.

Talk About Writing

Talk about their writing

  • Talk about the letters in your child’s name and where the name comes from.
  • Help them create a scrapbook with pictures. Encourage them to write stories under the pictures and talk to you about them.
  • Ask them to write about pictures they draw - on paper or on the computer. Or get them to tell you the story and you write it under the picture.

Here's a tip - talk about what your child writes. Be interested. If you don’t understand what your child’s picture or story is about, ask them to tell you about it.