Writing Can Be Online

There are numerous fun and interactive websites designed to encourage kids to write for an audience. The websites listed below can serve as excellent alternative writing opportunities for your child. (As with anything related to the Internet, it is imperative that parents supervise children when they're online.)

• Monster Motel: As children log onto the website, they are shown an image of a creepy monster motel. Children are challenged to write about the crazy monsters that reside in the motel rooms. They can read the entries other children have written to get ideas. Children can also enter information and ideas in to a grid to get an instant monster story. Find the site here: http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/motel/
• Wacky Web Tales: This wacky website offers kids the chance to choose a story topic, fill in a list of verbs and nouns, and click a button. Voila! A story appears with all of the words your child chose. A glorified mad lib, it is a fun way to think about writing. Find the site here: http://www.eduplace.com/tales
• Kids' Castle: This interactive website encourages kids to visit different areas of the Kids' Castle. In each room, children learn a little bit about the castle and its inhabitants. Each room or area poses a different writing prompt or activity. Kids can write diary entries, stories, or poems. They can also read entries that have already been created by other children. Find the site here: http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/castle/

In any writing experiences at home, aim to keep it fun. Don't worry about spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Allowing your child the chance to express ideas freely without laboring over the conventions of writing will help creative juices to flow. These at-home writing experiences are meant to be exciting and exploratory. Let your child's teacher worry about explicit writing instruction and enjoy your child as the emerging author he or she is!