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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