Why Is It So Important for Kids to Write?
Statistics show that reading helps develop your writing skills, but writing helps develop your cognitive growth, organizational abilities, and the power to influence others through persuasion. In short, writing powers the brain. We spoke with AWE partner Scribblitt.com about the importance of creative writing.
Q: The focus of literacy is often on reading. What benefits come from creative writing?
Scribblitt: Studies show that children who practice creative writing more often are generally better in other subjects too, like math, science, and languages. Creative writing encourages kids to practice using their imaginations, improving their ability to come up with alternatives, problem-solving, and analysis. Writing involves a lot of thought, planning, organization, and the use of language to get a point across. What great practice for kids at laying out their thoughts and trying to clearly convince someone of their point of view.
Q: Given the focus on social-emotional learning in schools now, how can writing help?
Scribblitt: Children often have difficulty understanding and expressing how they feel. Through writing, children have a safe place to explore, and this can be a highly beneficial tool for expressing their feelings.
Q: How does writing improve self-confidence?
Scribblitt: Writing gives children more opportunity to assert themselves and their opinions and develop their ‘voice.’ These developments can really strengthen their self-confidence. Further, publishing their stories develops a sense of pride, and the opportunity to have others read their books shows that their words matter.
Q: Do we become less creative as we grow up?
Scribblitt: It’s true – creativity seems to diminish as we get older. The stories of fairytale
princesses saving the day later turn into business prose and factual writing. It is so important to encourage children to write, to be creative, and to use their imagination. It is equally important to build their confidence in communicating their point of view, their thoughts, and their feelings. Then they can think about publishing their stories to read over and over again at a kid-friendly site like Scribblitt.com and hold onto childhood just a little longer.
Q: What role do families play in AWE Learning’s mission?
Owen: Families are central. Libraries are often places where parents and caregivers juggle many needs, whether that’s job searching, classes, or using community services. Because our workstations are offline, AWE provides a safe, trusted space where children can learn independently without staff or parental supervision, which gives families flexibility. They can take advantage of the community programming libraries have to offer while knowing their kids are engaged in meaningful learning.
Scribblitt.com offers writing, illustration, and publishing tools for kids, and is free to join. Completed stories can be shared in the library, entered into writing contests or submitted to be a featured scribbler. You pay only for publishing. A hardcover book is $29.99, and a comic is $19.99 plus shipping. Email contact@scribblitt.com with questions.
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info@awelearning.com (610) 833-6400
