How Do I Help My 7 Year Son to Write

Work with his teacher to figure out one important thing: Is the problem his ability to get concepts onto paper, or is the problem the physical act of writing itself? It can be either or a combination of the two. If the problem is the act of writing, talk to the teacher about how to proceed and whether he should be evaluated by and work with an occupational therapist. (My friend's son was convinced he couldn't write, but once an OT evaluated him and started therapy with him, he improved a great deal and realized he could indeed get his great ideas into written words and his hands didn't have to "get in the way" of that!)

If the issue instead is getting the ideas he can think and speak onto paper, ask the teacher for some exercises, beyond his usual homework, to help him. The school may have access to specialists who can work with him during the school day until he's over this hurdle. It's fairly typical for some kids to have a tough time with getting words onto paper, whatever the reason, around first-second grade, so don't panic, but do work with him and the teacher on it now. By third grade and up he'll be expected to do much more on his own so this is a good year to help him through it.

Typical 7 year old boy syndrome. Give him time. Can he say them verbally? Is it just the wriing that he is struggling with? You might try giving him passages to use as copywork. You can use Scripture, a poem, famous quotes about manliness, really anything. Have him practice writing these sentences out, and he will learn how good sentences sound. Choose your copywork carefully as these words have great influence on him. Put before him truths and words you want him to know. He will get better with time.

Do you have an iPhone? There is an app I downloaded for my son called "Sentence Builder", it's really good.

Write a book with him. Pick out colorful, interesting and related pictures from a magazine or print them off the internet. Have him help you make up a story about what the pictures are about and write them out. Put them together and make a book.

While you are teaching him sentence structure, don't correct him on neatness or spelling. Get the sentence structure down and then go back and proof read for spelling and re-write for neatness.

The good thing about this technique is that it can be fun, lets him be creative, and you can do it a million times with a million different themes.