Junior Infants to 1^st Class

• Model writing yourself – shopping lists/letters/cards etc
• Provide a special place for your child to write/scribble, provide a variety of materials – crayons/markers/pencils
• Display your child’s name as often as possible i.e. Séan’s Room
• Teach your child the letters of his/her own name
• Provide alphabet books friezes
• Write messages/reminders to your child
• Encourage child to write his/her own messages using the computer
• Praise your child’s efforts
• Ask child to read their own messages
• Respond to the messages and not to grammar and spelling

2^nd Class to 4^th Class

• Praise your child’s efforts – respond to the message and not spelling/handwriting grammar
• Look for opportunities for purposeful writing activities at home – writing greeting cards/notes/telephone messages
• Encourage your child to use a word processor/computer
• Provide a quiet writing/study area for your child well equipped with pencils/paper
• Encourage your child to keep a diary
• Support your child’s spelling attempts
• Encourage him/her to have a go at spelling difficult words
• Use scrapbooks to support the child’s hobby/special interests.  Presents that support writing
• Make sure your child has a dictionary to help with writing
• Help child fill in personal details on forms etc

5^th Class to 6^th Class

• Encourage your child to keep a diary.  Respect privacy
• Encourage your child to write for real purposes everyday – shopping lists/phone messages etc
• Praise the effort and respond to the message and not the handwriting/grammar
• Make sure that your child has access to a dictionary/thesaurus to help with writing
• Allow your child to work on a word processor
• Try crossword puzzles and “Find the Word” puzzles
• Provide a range of attractive writing materials – coloured pens/fancy paper
• Encourage your child to write greeting cards/thank you notes etc
• Encourage your child to take part in writing competitions/community projects
• Show your child that you value writing by writing yourself