Did you know that many children with dyslexia are highly creative. At the RCA – the world’s number one art and design university – 29% of current students identify themselves as dyslexic, compared to 5-10% of the overall population. Here are some tips to support children with creative writing.
Encourage Emotional Engagement
Children who are dyslexic may be excellent story-tellers. Talk through the story together, so that your child sees the story clearly in their imagination. Help your child to feel excited about the story before they start writing.
Small Manageable Chunks
Encourage your child to write one paragraph at a time. Writing a whole story can be overwhelming so try planning the story together and then writing one section at a time. Take a break if your child seems tired and come back to it later.
Focus on the Story!
Don’t worry about spelling and grammar for now; that can be tackled separately. Focus on writing an exciting story, thinking about the plot and the characters!
Allow Typing
Typing the story can take the pressure off handwriting. Typing can also make editing an easier process. If your child can learn to touch-type, even better! There are dyslexia-friendly fonts as well which you can download for your child.
Colour and Illustrations
If your child enjoys sketching, allow them to add colourful illustrations alongside their writing. Drawing the characters and setting can help a child to add description to their story.
Give lots of Praise!
Creative writing can be a daunting process. It is essential to encourage your child throughout the journey to keep them feeling inspired! Congratulate them when they reach the end!
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