Any Child Can Write: An At Home Guide to Enhancing Your Childs Elementary Education
by By Wiener, Harvey S.
Category: Social Science , Ethnic Studies , General

Writing is a magical realm of expression that allows children to come to terms with the joys and pains of daily living. It is a way for them to explore the inner self. A few words, a few sentences glow on a page like a little crayon drawing. It is an expression of personal vision, a perception of the world as the child sees it. It is also a permanent record of experience--words and sentences holding and keeping the essence of a moment in language.    In this delightful and engaging book, Dr. Harvey S. Wiener shows how parents can encourage their children to write with a home program that can be used from preschool through high school. As Dr. Wiener explains, such a program begins with the building of attitudes and moves through simple, varied, and practical experience with the written word. By setting up an atmosphere in the home that encourages creative written expression, coupled with a parent's guidance in writing (guidance that often falls short in many schools), children will gain an outlook on writing that will build confidence in their abilities to use language.     Children learn by imitation, and there are countless opportunities for a child to watch an adult performing simple writing tasks everyday. For example, lists are some of the most accessible day-to-day writing activities. Dr. Wiener shows that children of any grade level can work with an adult to put together a list: for family groceries, the next birtday party, a list of toys to take on a visit to Grandma's. And, as the child grows older the list can be adapted to his or her own interest and needs: a schedule of activities for after school, or a list of expenses to keep track of weekly allowance or money earned babysitting. Other enjoyable and easy writing experiences are room signs (Peter's Room), labels affixed to objects throughout the child's bedroom (window, closet, desk), birthday notes to parents, brothers, and sisters that can be displayed on the refrigerator, table, or bedroom door, and, with a home computer,  children can make signs for every holiday and celebration (Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Anniversary). Dr. Wiener goes on to offer ideas on how to use riddles, games, and rhymes to build vocabulary, and how to use a small child's crayon drawing as an inspiration for his or her first written communication.     Children love words, says Dr. Wiener; they are natural storytellers. In general, however, their writing skills seem to be getting poorer. This is due in part to to television, movies, tape and disk players, and other technological advances. Dr. Wiener insists that this can be overcome. Parents are a child's best teacher, and this wonderful book shows just how simple it is for a parent to help their child draw upon ordinary experiences and put them down on paper. He offers helpful hints for working with a child on homework, an entertaining list of one hundred ideas for writing at home for all ages, a special parents' refresher guide to the basics of grammar in clear, simple language--so parents can spot mistakes--and a reading list for young readers and their parents.    Written in a warm and engaging style by a renowned educational authority, Any Child Can Write will allow parents to instill positive attitudes toward writing in any child. Encouraging a child to write is giving the gift of communication. This fascinating book will help parent's give the gift of a lifetime.