Writing essays is going to be a big part of what children have to manage in their school years. For one, they are a big part of GCSE exams and coursework which will challenge your child to think critically and to develop their debating skills. Essay writing also helps in other areas. For example in higher education, comprehension and for reading purposes.

Helping your child develop those skills in essay writing gives them a lot of skills that they can develop over time. Here are some ways you can help your child with their essay skills.

Ask your child to write about their day

Start small when it comes to essay writing; producing pages of words can always feel a bit daunting. If you have the chance to sit with your child for a few moments a day you can ask them to write a bit about what their day was like and what they got up to. Use relevant things that your child has recently learnt about to get them to write as well, such as something they got up to with their friends or a hobby they really like.

Encourage your child to write about all sorts of things

It doesn’t have to be tailored to your child’s subjects to get them to write. It can make them feel like they’re on the spot if they have to write about a particular subject.

A better approach is to get your child to write anything down that comes to mind. It could be their thoughts and feelings in a private journal, or a made up story. Sometimes just writing things down without any rhyme or reason can get children to enjoy the art of writing something unique and inspiring.

Pose healthy debates

A large portion of essay writing involves analysing something and developing your thoughts from that. You can encourage your child to develop this frame of mind by asking them questions on what they think about certain things. It can be as simple as do they prefer milk chocolate or white chocolate, and why. Making it fun can still test your child’s skills in the art of a healthy debate. An important skill to have when it comes to writing essays.

Essays are going to be commonplace as your child develops their skills. It’s important to explore ways for your child to enjoy writing in all forms. Plus make sure your giving your child the skills to develop their arguments, analyse texts, and more. And all schools will ensure their students have the means to write a good essay as their literacy skills grow through their school years.