8 ways to nurture your child's creativity

It’s a well-known fact that sharing books with our children has huge benefits in almost every area of learning – not to mention in cultivating a love of reading. But writing for pleasure often takes a back seat to reading. A recent study by the National Literacy Trust shows that only half of children enjoy writing outside school, whether it’s because they can’t think of what to write, or struggle with spelling and grammar.

‘I firmly believe that everyone has a story to tell,’ says Gill Pawley, who runs Inkpots Writing Workshops for children and young people. ‘In a world which is increasingly busy and confusing, anything that provides our children with a creative outlet to help them express feelings and thoughts can only help. It’s also a chance to encourage a break from electronic devices.’

Writing stories doesn’t always involve putting pen to paper. ‘Some children will find it easier to write stories down than others, but there are many other ways that stories can be told,’ Gill explains. ‘Pictures, videos and photographs can all be used, for example.’

Here are Gill’s top tips for encouraging your child to unleash their creativity.
 

1. Start an ideas book

Encourage your child to keep a notebook of their observations. ‘When David Walliams goes into schools to talk about his writing, he encourages children to open their eyes and ears,’ says Gill. ‘Everyday situations can inspire some amazing stories, but we quickly forget what’s happened, so keeping a book of ideas is a real help.’ Holidays are a particularly good opportunity to get your child started with their ideas book, and you can support your child by keeping a notebook yourself, too.

2. Keep a creative folder

Allocate a special plastic folder to the creative work that your child does at home. ‘This should be separate from schoolwork; writing that isn’t homework should be fun and pleasurable,’ says Gill. Folders can be decorated with pens and stickers, too, to make them even more distinct from schoolwork.
 

3. Use nice stationery

There’s a huge range of fun and funky stationery on the market, ranging from gel pens to metallic and day-glo ink, and some lovely new pens and pencils can be a great incentive for children to write. ‘Some children like to use particular pens and pencils for their writing and drawing,’ Gill says. ‘You can keep these all together in the folder, too.’
 

4. Encourage imagination

Don’t be afraid to encourage your child to let their imagination go wild: when they’re writing for pleasure, their ideas can be as wacky as they want. ‘I’ve noticed that some children almost need permission to explore their ideas, but the most popular authors like Roald Dahl and David Walliams always have larger than life characters and situations,’ Gill explains. Forget realism; this is your child’s chance to bring their fantasy worlds to life.
 

5. Enter writing competitions

Competitions are a good way of helping your child get used to working towards a deadline without too much pressure. ‘Writing competitions are a useful tool for those who struggle to finish a story; you can often find details of these competitions on social media,’ Gill says. The incentive of winning a prize is also a great motivator.
 

6. Write a letter to an author

Writing to a favourite author – and maybe even getting a reply – is a brilliant idea that will inspire children with their own writing. ‘Obviously, not all authors are able to reply because of the number of letters they receive, but most children’s writers have something in place for their young fans, so that children get some kind of response,’ Gill says. ‘It’s always exciting for a child to get a letter in the post from one of their literary heroes.’
 

7. Bypass pencil and paper

Some children aren’t natural writers but are fantastic storytellers, so experiment with different ways for them to express themselves. ‘Quite often, it’s just a case of finding the right vehicle for their ideas,’ explains Gill. ‘For example, some children enjoy making a comic strip, particularly if they prefer drawing to writing.’ The brilliant Comics Club blog has monthly challenges for children. 
 

8. Join a writing group

Joining a club will give your young writer or illustrator the support and encouragement of being with like-minded children. ‘Some schools run creative groups, or there may be one locally to you,’ Gill says.