LAHORE:
As an educationist with more than a decade of teaching experience, creative writing appears to be an area that most children struggle in. On the other hand, there are a few who are absolutely brilliant and would make really great story-tellers. But why do most children struggle to come up with ideas or engaging stories?
The answer lies in reading. Children who read a wide variety of books generally tend to be better at creative writing. Reading opens your mind to new and exciting possibilities and I often tell parents to paint ‘what if’ scenarios with their children to enable them to think of as many possibilities as they can. That is how a child’s imagination is stimulated and they are encouraged to look beyond the obvious. Children must be encouraged to question and dissect what they are reading or studying.
Middle school children love using big and difficult words and oftentimes look up synonyms which they think look and sound good on paper. However, many of them fail to understand that beauty lies in simplicity. Being able to create simple stories in a reader-friendly manner is a rare skill that comes with years of practice. Another very important skill is the real-time application of acquired knowledge. Why are creative writing skills important? Why is showing more important than telling? In order to emphasise the importance of being able to communicate effectively, children should be given real-life scenarios and must be taught the practical application of whatever they are studying.
But please remember that every child is unique and has a different skillset. Being able to bring out their potential, encouraging and nurturing it, and to allow it to blossom is one of the greatest achievements of an educationist and something that differentiates a true educationist from a mere instructor or tutor.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2021.
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