Writing is a critical part of education. Improving one’s writing skills isn’t just for aspiring authors or writers, but for anyone who takes studying seriously.
Good writing skills help students express their understanding of complex ideas and concepts. Besides, writing is intricately linked to critical thinking. When we are writing, we are constantly formulating and organizing our thoughts to get the message/content across in a cohesive way. Writing prompts students to think, analyze the subject matter in order to convey the idea in the way they want to. Hence, strong writing skills are lifelong skills crucial for students to communicate effectively, and succeed in school and their careers.
But how to overcome the inherent reluctance towards writing? In this article, we’ll discuss some ways parents can help their pre-teens practice writing without hating it.
Why Some Middle Schoolers Dislike Writing
Some students are prolific writers; they are naturally inclined towards learning languages and expressing their thoughts through written texts. But there is a larger group of students who can be best categorized as reluctant or bored writers.
Writing can be hard, especially for young students. It can be intimidating to fill a blank piece of paper with their own thoughts and ideas. Most often, students are acquainted with writing in the form of homework and assignments, with a deadline looming over them, which makes it a lot harder to improve their skills.
Moreover, mastering the art of writing is an elaborate process that demands brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing. Additionally, skillful writing requires knowing proper grammar, a wide range of vocabulary, punctuation, text organization, coherence, and imagination, among many other things. All of these require practice. But how do you get a reluctant writer to write more? The answer is integrating writing activities that are fun and engaging for the students.
At Rise, we’ve seen many cases of students who were initially reluctant to write eventually blossom into passionate writers. They were able to find their voice only because they were writing with a purpose. In the next section, we’ll discuss writing activities that will make writing more engaging and compelling for pre-teens and teens, and help students build strong writing skills.
If you’re looking to improve your child’s writing process, check out our detailed guide from the expert. In this article we'll providing writing activities to get your child to write more!
8 Writing Activities for Middle Schoolers
Before we go further into this section, first let’s look at a few things that will supplement the activities discussed below.
Writing and content knowledge go hand in hand. You can’t write well about something you don’t know well. The more you know about a topic, the better you are able to write. Therefore, to become a better writer, students should first build their knowledge. There are different ways to do this. You can read books, watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, visit places, and interview people. Out of these, reading is the top choice that complements writing skill development. Reading not only facilitates knowledge building but also exposes them to different writing styles and techniques.
Now let’s look at some of the top activities that can turn writing fun and interesting for middle schoolers!
1. Character Sketch and People Watching
Encourage your child to observe people around them and write detailed character sketches. They can start with someone they know well, like a family member, a friend, or even a character from a movie, and then try creating fictional characters inspired by real-life observations. This activity sharpens their descriptive writing and helps them pay attention to details such as mannerisms, speech patterns, or unique personality traits.
How to Make It Fun: Take them to a park or café and ask them to observe and note down interesting behaviors and instances. Encourage them to be in the moment and write about their experiences as they go through them. Give them direction on what to write about—it may be the weather, buildings, nature, or people. It’s a creative way to help them think like a storyteller.
2. Chain Story
This can be an interesting activity for students who hate working alone. A chain story is a collaborative writing game that allows students to write part of a story and then pass it along for someone else to continue. Each participant builds on the previous section, creating a fun and unpredictable narrative.
How to Make It Fun: Play as a family or in a group setting. Add unexpected twists and turns to keep the momentum going. This activity builds creativity, teamwork, and spontaneity in writing. More importantly, students can write without worrying about making mistakes and let their imagination run freely, as the final result is a product of collaborative effort.
3. Writing Ads
Advertising is all about persuasive writing. Encourage your child to create catchy ads for imaginary products or services. They can design slogans, describe product features, and come up with creative campaigns.
How to Make It Fun: Let them pick a product they love, like their favorite snack or gadget, and create an ad for it. Even better, get them to come up with an imaginary product, for example, a magic pencil. Use props to present the ad as a mini-show, making it interactive and fun. This activity not only serves the function of developing writing skills but also teaches the basics of media literacy and may even spark interest in media and advertising in some.
4. "I Disagree" – Debate in Writing
Introduce debate writing to help your child form arguments, support them with evidence, and express their viewpoints clearly. Give them a topic like "Should school start later in the day?" and ask them to argue for or against it.
How to Make It Fun: Turn it into a friendly challenge. Let them present their argument in writing, and you or another family member can write a counterargument. This activity develops critical thinking and persuasive writing skills.
5. Comic Strip Creation
Combine visuals and writing by asking your child to create their own comic strips. They can draw characters, write dialogues, and build a storyline within the comic format. This form of writing is best for visual learners.
How to Make It Fun: Use templates or apps if drawing feels daunting. Encourage them to use humor or dramatize everyday situations for an extra dose of creativity. This activity teaches brevity and builds the skills to express their ideas concisely, which is often required in tests and assessments.
6. Journal Prompts
Journaling is an excellent way for students to practice reflective writing. Provide them with prompts like "Describe your dream vacation" or "What would you do if you were invisible for a day?" and let their imagination flow.
How to Make It Fun: Use fun journals with colorful designs, stickers, or themes they love. Encourage them to write freely without worrying about grammar or structure.
7. Short Story Challenges
Give your child a theme or a set of random words and challenge them to write a short story. This pushes their creativity within the boundaries and helps them practice narrative writing.
How to Make It Fun: Use a timer to make it a quick-writing challenge, or turn it into a game by voting on the best story when done with friends or family.
Writing doesn’t have to be a chore for middle schoolers. By integrating fun, purpose-driven activities like these, parents can help children explore the joy of writing and develop skills they’ll use for life. These activities not only foster creativity but also encourage critical thinking, self-expression, and effective communication—skills that are essential in academics and beyond. Start small, be patient, and celebrate their progress to make writing an enjoyable part of their daily routine.
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