My Child the Author

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”  ~ Albert Einstein

The imagination of a child is limited only by the restrictions we, as adults, place on them. If we want our children to grow and aspire to be better, to have more, and to do better than we did, then we must encourage the imagination of our children. The most impacting display of imagination is through creative writing. By encouraging a child to explore a story from beginning to end with all the detail that comes to their mind, you are allowing them to open new doors in life, look at things from a different perspective, and live happy, fulfilled lives.

I’m a firm believer in encouraging children to participate in creative writing. For nearly 20 years, my family has written a story and read it together as a family on Christmas Day. Each child and grandchild writes their part of the story.  It is then pulled together into one amazing emotional piece of creative art that has become a huge part of our annual Christmas tradition. Over the years we have learned so much about each other and I've watched as the kids matured in their writing styles. I know through personal experience that a child who has no earthly desire to write a single word can, with encouragement and growth, go on to write beautiful heartfelt stories.

Many children and adults alike are intimidated by the mere thought of putting pen to paper. The blank piece of paper can be a frightening monster, but if you allow your imagination to freely express itself that blank piece of paper becomes a canvas of life. A parent may never be more amused and inspired than when sitting down with a child to write a creative tale. A child may bring inanimate objects to life, give objects colors you would never imagine, or give people and animals superhero traits of the likes we have never seen.

Go on, you know your inner child wants to be released; you are just a click away from helping your child’s imagination fill their book of life. Below are resources for you to take a journey with your child. See the world through your child’s eyes and laugh like you did as a child. There is no greater opportunity in life than to be a part of a child’s life.  Why not share in their story?

1.       Scholastic: Wonderful tool with graphics and very user friendly, great for the beginning writer.

2.       My Story Maker: Allows your child’s story to be shared online for other budding authors.

3.       Storybird: A bit more complex tool yet allows for online sharing of the story.

Belinda @ Kids Matter