Summer is a fun time for kids and their break from school. We know that getting them to practice reading or writing during the fun summer months can be a challenge. Don’t worry parents, I’m here to help! These simple, authentic writing activities are the perfect way to get your child writing this summer (and all year long)!
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Authentic Writing Activities
These tips for parents can help your child practice writing this summer – without them even realizing it! That’s the benefit of authentic writing activities. It doesn’t feel like work for kids who are reluctant to write, especially during the summer months. These ideas can also provide authentic reading activities for your child (a win-win)!
Letters & Cards
Have your child write letters, cards, or postcards to family members and friends. It can be a birthday card or a postcard from vacation. You may even want to find a family member or friend in another town/state to be pen pals. A fun and authentic way to write!
Lists
There are so many options for list writing for kids! Plus the short text feels less intimidating to students who are reluctant to write.
- Grocery shopping lists
- Packing list for summer vacation or a trip to a relative’s house
- Birthday wish list
- Books to read this summer
- Indoor activity ideas for a rainy day
- Outdoor activities for a sunny day
Directions
Give your child a purpose for writing. It can be writing the directions for a game they’ve made up or a how-to manual about of their favorite hobbies.
Reviews
Kids can write reviews for a lot of things: toys, books, movies. Share these reviews with friends to get new ideas of things they may want to try themselves.
Journals
Journals are a great way to record your summer memories. Your child can write about activities you do or trips you take. Younger writers can draw and label their memories, which helps them still feel successful as a writer.
Recipes
Have your child write the ingredients and directions for a favorite recipe. You can start simple with making a bowl of cereal or a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. Be sure to try their recipe exactly as written to see if they accidentally left out some important details!
Invitations
Your child can write an invitation for a birthday party, sleep over, play date, or trip to the pool! It’s way more engaging to write for a fun reason!
Authentic Writing Tools
Sometimes all it takes is the right tool to get kids excited about writing! These inexpensive utensils (that you probably already have) are great for building excitement about writing!
- Sidewalk chalk
- Shaving cream
- Sugar/salt on a cookie sheet
- Smelly markers
- Write in sand
- Use a stick to write in the dirt
- Bathtub markers and crayons
There are endless possibilities! Find out about even more fun writing tools for your child!
Writing Challenges
Writing challenges are a fun way to get students write! Challenge your child to:
- Plan their dream vacation
- Write reasons they should get a pet, toy, phone, etc.
- Create a secret code and write messages with it
- Use a paintbrush with water to write on the sidewalk
- Try different types of writing: letters, poems, songs, advertisements
The possibilities are endless!
The Value of Authentic Writing
When kids see how authentic writing activities benefit them in their real life, they begin to understand the value of writing. They start viewing it as a helpful skill and not just something they learn in school. This helps them feel more successful as writers which leads to more willingness to write by choice.
What other authentic writing activities do you use at home? Share your ideas in the comments to help other parents and educators during those summer months!
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