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How to Develop a Child's Love for Words

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Exploring Words With Kids

For some children, putting words down on paper can be a terrifying task. Teaching them how to appreciate words can lead to a lifelong love for anything written.

While vocabulary lists and weekly tests are beneficial in teaching new words, they can do little to inspire the next Hemingway or J.K. Rowling. Instead of making word study a chore, parents can provide fun activities to explore the wonderful world of words.

Using Word Games to Promote Writing

Even though there are mixed reviews on the value of word searches and crossword puzzles, if used as a fun activity, they can help instill a love of words in children. The challenge of a puzzle can serve as a motivator and the reward is its completion. Lists, synonyms, and definitions all make up these games. Allow children to not only work the puzzles, but also create their own puzzles. There are plenty of websites devoted to that. The key is to get children working with the words.

Go On a Word Scavenger Hunt

Whether it's the daily newspaper or a novel, parents can involve children in a scavenger hunt for unusual words. Set a time for reading and have children look for the most interesting words they can find. The activity can be limited to themes like adjectives, nouns, or descriptive phrases. If the word is new to them, discuss its use in the sentence and its meaning. Pull out the dictionary if necessary.

Create a Word Journal

Unlike the scavenger hunt, this activity has children cutting words out of old magazines or junk mail. Kids look for fun words, silly phrases, interesting quotes, or words written in interesting fonts. These are cut out and glued into a word journal.

Any journal from the dollar section of a craft or department store can be used, as well as a spiral bound sketch pad. Have kids glue their words or phrases in the book in any way they choose. Allow kids the creativity to play around with the words and doodle on them. This is not the place to have children worry about defining the words or putting them into sentences.

Creating Art Out of Words

Not all words have to be confined to books or other print material. They can also be used as works of art. Turn a child's favorite poem, fairy tale, or quote from a character into something that can be enjoyed all the time.

Wordle.net allows users to type in their favorite words or phrases and create a collage. Font styles and colors can all be selected. The words are put into a random work of art that can be saved and printed. A copy center can enlarge it and, with a mat and frame, the words can be turned into a work of art.

Once children develop a love for words, writing comes easier. Whether it's a word game, a scavenger hunt, or turning words into art, kids see words in a different light and their potential for using them again becomes brighter.

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