You Are a Writer
We are a family of writers. Sometimes we are scribbling on napkins, ATM deposit envelopes, dollar store notepads or tapping our ideas out on a keyboard. Our children watch us.
Mia usually has a pint size notepad that fits perfectly in her uniform jumper pocket. She calls it her “just in case” notebook that goes along with her “just in case” pencil box in her backpack. The notebook is stuffed with ideas and drawings that she jots down during recess with her friends. She has started an anthology about about the land of Sweetopia. Yummy with a spoon.
Max announced this week, “I want to be a writer like Dad, but I don’t know how to write all the words.” He shrugged, shoulders plopping on the floor.
I smiled thinking to myself, “A chip off the old block and prodigious in my mind no matter what he chooses to do in life.”
“Well Max, a writer doesn’t just write the words,” I smiled. “A writer also thinks about the words that draw the pictures.” He looked at me curiously. “You know, like a movie in your mind.”
“A Mind Movie?” he exclaimed.
Exactly.
“When I say words like slippery, smooth, and soft what do you think about?”
“My mint chip colored “night night” that I sleep with.” he said.
“If I say creamy, sweet, and cold…”
“Ice cream!” he started to jump.
Without boring him with a lesson on adjectives, we “popcorned,” passing 3 describing words back and forth and making it a guessing game of which word the other was thinking about as we strolled to the library on our way to check out AUDIO BOOKS and a fresh set of stories.
Max is 4. He IS a writer, but needs us to show him the power he possesses and guide him in a developmentally appropriate way so that he can produce the words to express all the beautiful ideas he has in the mind movie his brain is constantly creating.
Max has ideas, his pictures tell stories and most importantly, he has language – the greatest gift of all.
Max, you are a writer and we will lead you the way with an unlimited number of language experiences to help you write in your best voice.
What are some ways your family celebrates language?
Cindy
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A beautiful and wonderfully useful post, Cindy!
We all read. My son writes stories and his wit curls me up. My daughter writes songs, books, plays and screenplays. I write anything that can be expressed in words. Like your wee stars, my kids were raised on words – daily dialogue, stories, songs, books, films and foreign languages.
The kids that pass through your online school will have a marvellous start!
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Janice: Thank your for being a cheerleader. Your family sounds amazingly talented. The apple does not fall far huh? Words are powerful along with actions. I feel proud that our minds run through the same rivers.
cindy platt’s last blog post..You are a Writer
Awesome example for parents and mentors! I’ll have to pass this on to my nieces who have some young children filled with imagination.
“What are some ways your family celebrates language?” — My sister, who was 13 years older and died in her early 20s, left my three older brothers and me a legacy of writing after she wrote a humorous tale about a unique rock we’d had as a door stop in the family for years named George. Although she died young, her story and the rock remained as a challenge to us siblings to write our own stories. Funny thing is, today — Memorial Day — the youngest of my three older brothers handed George off to me to keep for awhile. I’m hoping the old boy will be a good luck charm for my current writing. I’m sure the next generation, who have all heard the story as well, will keep the legacy alive, and George will remain busy motivating young writers.
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My aunt and mother both loved to write and they celebrated language by passing that love down to me. My daughter writes beautiful poetry. As a family we light up when we hear something uttered in a new descriptive way. Children especially, in their innocence, will come up with new verbal creations and we wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
I will use the tips that you used with Max to teach my fifth graders creative writing this summer. I think it will be just the impetus they need. Thanks for sharing them.
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Lori: Ahhh. The story rock that rolls to and fro. It gathers energy and momentum and becomes an icon that connects and gives us more to make it grow and stay alive. That is how a good story turns into a great story. Nice tradition. I have several rocks I keep in my pocket when I am feeling a need to reach into my pocket and feel safe. I would like to try your idea. I know just the right rock.
Randi: Children do say the greatest “Aha!” kinds of thoughts. It blows me away every day. I refuse to go to sleep until I have a a minimum of 5 of those genuine connected moments with
our children. The classroom is just a machine gun of ideas and I fulfill that void by teaching writer’s workshops at Mia’s school. Volunteerism and enrichment at its best.
cindy platt’s last blog post..You are a Writer
great post!
we sing (a lot) songs, or make-up songs or our own little rhymes. daddy is especially talented in this area and the kids always enjoy chiming in.
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