<![CDATA[How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo)]]>The blank page can be a pretty scary place. Staring at a blank page with the pressure to write something can make even the best writers’ minds go as blank as the page too. If a child doesn’t want to write, it is important to find that one defining reason why.


I once had a student who sat staring at the prompt refusing to budge no matter how positive, approachable or scaffolded the task was. After kneeling down next to him and asking him, "how can I help you?", he whispered, "I can’t write here." Turns out the setting was unnerving him. His first composition was done lying on his tummy on the floor, away from the other students.

Here are some general hypothetical problems put together from my experience:

The reluctant writer who lacks confidence: These kids already THINK THEY SUCK no matter how hard they try. Don’t correct their language. Pick out all the great things about their writing. Their ideas, style, even their handwriting. Praise them on how their writing reveals their character and how it’s been a privilege getting a glimpse into their heads.

The perfectionist writer who cannot get started: These kids agonise over their introductions and have problems writing with a time limit. They often flunk school compositions in exams because they cannot put the pedal to the metal under pressure. Instead of writing whole stories, get them to write about short prompts. One paragraph will do. Tell them the first draft should’t be perfect and it’s okay to just flow through their ideas. They can edit and re-word things in their second draft.

The tongue-tied writer who cannot find the words to express ideas: These kids are brimming with ideas but struggle with vocabulary, spelling and syntax. They are the ones constantly asking for ‘which word’ or ‘what’s the spelling of’ or ‘how to say what-not’. As such, 2 paragraphs in and they’re exhausted. You’re exhausted. Start by having them show you a plan of what they want to write. Put together helping words and phrases they can use in draft 1. After they’re done, pick out 2 key language areas they should work on, underlining specific mistakes. Get the child to draft 2 to try to correct these mistakes independently, then come to you for help if they cannot figure it out.

The artist / chatter-box / musician / scientist / athlete / dancer whose passions don’t extend to writing: Ask the artist to add captions to their drawings, the chatter-box to record their story then transcribe the recording, the musician, scientist, athlete and dancer to tap into their passion and communicate it.

Writing is communication. It is connection. If children cannot see that they are making a connection with their reader, and their most important reader is you, no amount of drills or bribes or punishments will help.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/80789/how-to-motivate-p2-child-to-write-english-compoRSS for NodeWed, 13 May 2026 00:58:17 GMTFri, 13 Mar 2020 06:21:42 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:12:23 GMT]]>I think should really start from reading and from there give him/her some interesting writing assignments. For example: a spin-off of their favourite story, reasons why they enjoy the book etc

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1955968https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1955968Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:12:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Thu, 29 Jan 2015 14:24:01 GMT]]>

mceducation1:
Nahiz:

Hi everyone,

Just want to start this topic as my child (p2 next year) is bit reluctant to write.My ds when asked to write,will try his best to write as short sentence as he could plus not happy at all when mommy asks him to write.Going to p2 next year,just curious that any experienced mommies could help?
How can I develop his interest in writing and make him write at least 80 words story based on 4 pics with a nice flow ,start and ending?

Hope to get some suggestions from you all :hugs:

Hi Nahiz,

We do agree with the rest too in getting him started with writing short sentences. Pictures and illustrations also play an important role in developing interests in young children. They help children visualise and understand how and what they can write about.

For starters, how about collecting pictures that are of interest to your child? It could be pictures from magazines, newspapers, or even printed from the internet.

1. Get your child to talk about the picture
2. Write down a few sentences about the picture

Subsequently, you can give your child a topic, he could either find his own pictures or even illustrate them (children like to draw, I'm sure they will be more than glad to draw... This could make him look forward to writing too).

These writing exercises can be compiled into a book. Children will feel encouraged when they see their works appreciated.

Here are 2 strategies in helping your child get started in writing:

http://i57.tinypic.com/2mmbyo9.jpg\">
http://i57.tinypic.com/2aeqbs2.jpg\">

Extracted from The Write Way

Hope this helps 🙂

Aww thanks a lot for the help;)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1459098https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1459098Thu, 29 Jan 2015 14:24:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:50:49 GMT]]>Hi,

I "gave up" teaching compo writing to my dd. So, I outsource to "The Writer’s Place" and they are doing an excellent job guiding her. I just have to reinforce the vocabulary and sentence construction every week.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1446655https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1446655Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:50:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:25:51 GMT]]>

Nahiz:
Hi everyone,

Just want to start this topic as my child (p2 next year) is bit reluctant to write.My ds when asked to write,will try his best to write as short sentence as he could plus not happy at all when mommy asks him to write.Going to p2 next year,just curious that any experienced mommies could help?
How can I develop his interest in writing and make him write at least 80 words story based on 4 pics with a nice flow ,start and ending?

Hope to get some suggestions from you all :hugs:
Hi Nahiz,

We do agree with the rest too in getting him started with writing short sentences. Pictures and illustrations also play an important role in developing interests in young children. They help children visualise and understand how and what they can write about.

For starters, how about collecting pictures that are of interest to your child? It could be pictures from magazines, newspapers, or even printed from the internet.

1. Get your child to talk about the picture
2. Write down a few sentences about the picture

Subsequently, you can give your child a topic, he could either find his own pictures or even illustrate them (children like to draw, I'm sure they will be more than glad to draw... This could make him look forward to writing too).

These writing exercises can be compiled into a book. Children will feel encouraged when they see their works appreciated.

Here are 2 strategies in helping your child get started in writing:

http://i57.tinypic.com/2mmbyo9.jpg\">
http://i57.tinypic.com/2aeqbs2.jpg\">

Extracted from The Write Way

Hope this helps 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1442982https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1442982Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:25:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:02:51 GMT]]>Start with short sentences or even pictures and encourage him to write more lengthy sentences thereafter.


With that in mind, reading widely may also enable him to have interest in more things and encourage him to share with you by saying and writing it down.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1434649https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1434649Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:02:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:12:00 GMT]]>Thanks a million slmkhoo,happyheart and Beem2, trying my best to make writing fun and interesting for him not just a forced study,your suggestions will surely help:)

Some other parents please welcome to suggest any other ideas for how to develop interest of writing in 7-8 years old?

Thanks :hugs:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1417261https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1417261Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:12:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:56:30 GMT]]>I will get my child to write short phrases n explain to them Why it is important. Make reading a habit for them by linking it to beautiful pictures, perhaps it works better. Otherwise, you use show n tell technique.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1417004https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1417004Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:56:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:31:23 GMT]]>I bought nice thick notebook for both DS, they are allowed to scribble any thoughts, ideas and stories that come to them. I do not grade but I can see they enjoyed quiet moment as they write away on their bed 😄


DS1 is a good writer, as told by many teachers and one of the publisher he met on an occasion.Btw, his compo at P4 was rated as bad in school :yikes:

DS2 is an average writer when it comes to school compo writing. He still more exposure and practice. However,they are both avid readers, I have faith that reading will benefit DS2 in time to come.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1416995https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1416995Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:31:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How to motivate P2 child to write! (English compo) on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:12:39 GMT]]>

Nahiz:
Hi everyone,

Just want to start this topic as my child (p2 next year) is bit reluctant to write.My ds when asked to write,will try his best to write as short sentence as he could plus not happy at all when mommy asks him to write.Going to p2 next year,just curious that any experienced mommies could help?
How can I develop his interest in writing and make him write at least 80 words story based on 4 pics with a nice flow ,start and ending?

Hope to get some suggestions from you all :hugs:
Personally, I find that writing to school requirements is really boring and too restrictive. My kids always hated it even though they were OK, even keen, when writing for other reasons. If your child is not a keen writer, start with more interesting writing to start with so he learns to put words down easily and maybe even get interested in writing, and the school compos will seem less difficult after that. You can get him to keep a journal (not necessarily daily, but just when something more interesting has happened), use varied writing prompts to stimulate him to write (google for ideas and lists of prompts), invent his own stories, write 'instruction manuals' if he has some particular interest such as constructing models etc. The holidays are a good time to start, and don't try to get him to write school-type compos until school begins. Also, don't be critical about spelling, grammar, style etc to start with - you can point out mistakes and suggest better phrasing and vocab, but don't make him do corrections!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1416985https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1416985Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:12:39 GMT