What if we made writing feel like play? What if scribbles became stories, doodles became drafts, and little characters became the heroes of their own adventure? The good news is: you can absolutely help that happen — with a smile, a gentle nudge, and some fun. Here are ten top tips plus some great Aussie external guides to support you on this journey.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, relative or mentor — you’re the perfect writing side‑kick for a child. I am not talking about ticking boxes or chasing grades — but opening the door to imagination, expression and confidence. Because let’s be honest: writing can feel like work.
But what if we made it feel like play? What if scribbles became stories, doodles became drafts, and little characters became the heroes of their own adventure? The good news is: you can absolutely help that happen — with a smile, a gentle nudge, and some fun.
Here are ten top tips plus some great Aussie external guides to support you on this journey.
1. Create a special writing space
Give your young writer a little zone that’s just for writing — maybe a corner of the room, a colourful notebook, some fun pens or felt‑tip markers, maybe even sticky notes and a jar of ideas. According to the Victorian Government’s Literacy Teaching Toolkit, providing engaging writing experiences supports children’s emergent literacy.
Tip: Make it playful. Add a writing cape (a hat maybe), a prompt jar (what if your pet could talk?), or a story snack (some popcorn just for writing time).
2. Show writing in action — model it
Kids learn heaps by watching. If you pick up your own notebook and write something in front of them — a quick grocery list, a note to a friend, a silly poem — you’re showing them that writing is part of life. According to the Literacy Hub “Writing for Families” guide, children learn to write by observing how adults write and by writing for different purposes.
Tip: Write something together — two voices, one page. Let them dictate, you write. Then swap. It becomes shared and fun.
3. Give freedom and mistakes permission
One of the best things we can say to young writers: “You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to start.” The Aussie Childcare Network article on foundation skills reminds us that children need time to explore writing, and foundational skills like drawing and talking support later writing.
Tip: Have a “no‑editing” scribble phase. Just words, nonsense words, drawings, bursts of imagination. Later you can tidy. But the first draft? Totally mess allowed.
4. Use prompts & play to spark ideas
When you hear “write a story” a blank page can look scary. So sprinkle in prompts, let them pick characters, settings, ask “what if…?” questions. The resource from Twinkl Australia gives “20 ways to encourage kids to write creatively” for parents and teachers. There are also a number of articles providing prompts for all ages and genres in the free resource library on www.scribbly.com.au. Just type prompt in the search bar.
Tip: Make a prompt jar or box — each week pull one out and both you and the child write for five minutes. Then share.
5. Talk story before writing story
Before putting pen to paper, chat. Ask: Who is your main character? What do they want? What stands in their way? What happens at the end? This soft planning gives structure without pressure. The Literacy Teaching Toolkit notes that writing with children involves scaffolding from scribbles and drawing into more complex text.
Tip: You can draw a simple map together: Beginning → Middle → End. Maybe add sticky notes for twists.
6. Celebrate small wins and effort
Writing isn’t always glamorous — there’ll be messy spelling, odd sentence beginnings, “I don’t know what to write…” sighs. That’s okay. The Reading Eggs guide “11 Ways to Teach Kids How to Write” emphasises that consistent encouragement and making writing purposeful build confidence.
Tip: After writing time, ask a few positive questions: “What part did you enjoy most?” “What made you giggle?” Then look together at what they’ve done and say: “Cool! You did it.”
7. Read, read & read some more
Writing and reading are best friends. The more children see how words work in books, the more ideas they’ll have for their own. The Reading Eggs article explains how reading helps writing and writing helps reading.
Tip: Pick books the child loves — maybe local Australian authors — then talk about how the writer used words and ideas. “What made that character funny?” “How did they start the story?” You can find books by local indie authors on a variety of platforms including www.bookree.com.au (our sponsor).
8. Let them share their work
Once a story, poem or journal entry is ready, let it go public in a small way — share with family, stick it on the fridge, email it to Grandma, read it out loud to pets. The “Writing for Families” guide suggests inviting children to write shopping lists, letters, notes — real writing for real purposes.
Tip: Have a “Writer’s Celebration” once a month — biscuits, reading aloud, maybe a little certificate: “Super Writer!”
9. Make writing a regular habit — but keep it short & sweet
Frequent little sessions beat one long slog. Even five‑ten minutes most days can build writing muscles. The Aussie Childcare Network article highlights that foundation skills grow gradually and writing stamina builds over time.
Tip: Choose a fixed time: maybe after afternoon play, or before dinner. Make it consistent so writing becomes just another fun part of the day.
10. Be playful, curious and joyful
This is the secret ingredient: your playful energy. Laugh at silly ideas, encourage weird words, say “that’s interesting, tell me more!”, write alongside them just for fun. The “20 Ways” article from Twinkl notes that reducing pressure and embracing creative play helps kids engage.
Tip: Sometimes swap roles: the child becomes the teacher and asks you to write something. Or imagine you two are undercover space‑detectives documenting a strange planet. The sillier the setup, the more the resistance melts away.
So there you have it — ten warm, playful tips to help your young writer bloom. Remember: it’s not about perfect grammar, it’s about voice, expression, fun. When children feel safe to write, they’ll surprise you with stories you never expected.
You’re the catalyst, the cheer‑squad, the side‑kick in their writing adventure. With your encouragement, their ideas, and a little bit of magic, who knows what tales will emerge?
Happy writing! Let’s watch those little pens dance.