5. Special Interest
What;are;your;kids;passionate;about?
It should be easy to write a hundred
words telling why they love something.
Later have them write another hundred words about the same subject,
using three or more facts they have
discovered. Maybe your teenage son
loves;Ford;Mustangs.;He;can;look;up
the price of a new one, the price of the
first model, and find out which model
sold best. If your daughter is chomp-ing;at;the;bit;to;wear;make-up;as;soon
as;she;turns;16,;have;her;look;up;some
facts, such as the best make-up for
her skin type, the right eye shadow
for her coloring, and maybe she could
find out the age when girls in England
generally;begin;to;wear;make-up.;It’s;a
small assignment, but it develops her
research;skills;and;general;knowledge
and teaches her that writing can be
enjoyable.
6. Journal
Give;your;kids;journals;and;ask;them
to write a little bit every day. If you
guarantee them you will not invade their
privacy;(and;stick;to;it),;writing;can;be
cathartic. It also helps them organize
their thoughts, and for young children,
keeping;a;journal;gives;them;handwrit-
ing practice.
If;you’re;taking;a;family;trip,;purchase
special;notebooks;(maybe;one;for;each
child);and;require;kids;to;record;certain
details of the trip:
•;The;reason;for;the;trip
•;The;dates;of;the;trip;and;the;season
•;The;method;of;travel
•;Stops;along;the;way
•;Landmarks;visited
•;Interesting;things;that;happened;(“Da-
vid;almost;got;left;at;the;rest;stop”;or
“We;passed;a;big;truck;carrying;car-
nival;rides”;or;“Mom;fell;asleep;in;the
passenger;seat;and;her;face;stuck;to;the
window”).
Whatever;you;do;to;get;your;kids;writ-
ing, try not to direct their stories. To
develop their abilities, they need to use
their own imaginations, so shape, but
don’t;push.;Talk;about;a;story;while;you
are riding in the car with them. While
you’re;at;it,;take;them;to;the;dollar;store
where, for very little money, you can let
them choose colorful pens and paper.
The bottom line is, writing ability is a
powerful;tool;that;can;put;your;kids;head
and shoulders above the competition—at
school,;in;the;work;world,;and;in;stress-
ful situations. It can also be fun and even
profitable;.;.;.;if;only;they;do;not;give;up.
Don’t;forget:;“A;professional;writer;is
an;amateur;who;didn’t;quit.”;Anybody
can do it.
Teresa Ambord is a full-time editor/au-thor for a major publisher. She works from
home surrounded by her posse of small,
rescued dogs. She’s had numerous family
stories published in anthologies such as
Chicken Soup for the Soul. If you need help
coaching your children to become writers, Teresa maintains a small, affordable
coaching practice. You can contact her at
ambertreespublishing@charter.net.
122;Annual;Print;Book;2014;•;Grooming;Great;Writers;www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
Why;not;.;.;.;tell;your;kids;to;make;up;their;own;Mad;Libs;for;your;next;trip?
