Games for Writing: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Write

by Peggy Kaye

There is no skill more important for a child to master more than writing - and none more difficult or fraught with anxiety. Peggy Kaye, renowned teacher and author of the widely praised Games for Math, Games for Reading, and Games for Learning , now gives parents more than fifty ways to help their children become skilled, confident, and enthusiastic writers.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Parenting, Writing, Teaching, Reference, School

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

About the author

Peggy Kaye has a master's degree in early childhood education from Columbia University's Teacher's College, and has taught in both public and private elementary schools in New York City.

Reviews

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ideas, ideas, ideas for games that use writing -- all geared for K-3 grade. Exactly what I need for my son who is not interested in using his fine motor skills for anything other than Lego building. I'll come back and review after we try some of them out over the summer break.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource for parents...as well as teachers. So many ways to make writing fun for young kids (aimed for K-3rd grade).... many ideas could be adapted for use in school (and in fact she gives suggestions of how to do that). The activities are engaging and usually only require materials you'd have readily available in your home (pencil/pen/paper/some dice/construction paper, etc.) I've tried a couple out with my own children and 2 activities out with my students.

A few ideas that I'd like to try are to keep a family journal and once a week or once a month have everyone sit down and write down a few sentences about what happened to them that month...the best part, the worst part, something funny or whatever they want. Young children could dictate what to write while the parent acts as scribe and then draw a picture. During the summer, I think creating our own board game would be fun. I can see that making the "longest" story ever (by writing on adding tape... and measuring the length of the story) could motivate some kids to write more.

This is a book I'd like to buy so I can refer back to it.

[Jennifer]

I haven't tried any of the games yet, but this looks promising. Wish I had found this book a couple of years ago!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend all her books. I find them to work very well for B.'s needs. Many of her activities seems like they would work as enrichment for some students and "remedial" (I hate that term) work for other students. In other words, they are very adaptable. Some of them frankly take more work than I can always give (making up board games, etc.) but others are so simple and effective. I have most of her books (Games for Writing, Reading, Math and Learning) and use them all. I also used her "Games with Books" extensively in B.'s Kindergarten/First Grade years. Yay for Peggy Kaye!

[Dietmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book!! My kids and I have had so much fun playing writing games-especially at the early stages when my boys detested writing--I could get them writing volumes with some of these games--where writing one word in other instances would bring them to tears. Can't say enough good about this one!!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like these Games for. . . books by Kaye. They remind me of the importance of trying to keep learning fun. The book takes your children through about a 3rd-grade-level of writing, with ideas to help them enjoy it along the way. I'll definitely continue to refer back to this book.

[Moriah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son (second grade) gets hung up on spelling accurately and not being able to quickly write down the thoughts in his head, so he generally grumbles over writing assignments. This book has some really great ways to get a reluctant child writing without worry.

[Dawn Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK! I know this because I have checked it out of the library at least 4 times in the past year. It has so many fun ideas for writing "games"! I don't know why I haven't purchased it yet! I am going to have to put this one on my wish list!

[Jane H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this, what wonderful ways to help children find enjoyment in writing! My son doesn't do so well with contrived ideas so I'm trying to store these ideas in my brain, for retrieval at just the right spontaneous time.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like all the different areas of focus, and the different levels. No matter where your child is at, there is a game for them so they can improve.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helped us through a really tough time when my sone HATED to write. The games in here are quite fun and distracting enough that he didn't realize he was doing "writing".

[Evelyn Repass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collections of games to occupy time and create interest and help cultivate a thrill for writing.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource if you have a reluctant writer. Full of ideas that will have you slapping your forehead going " Why didn't I think of that?!"

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowed from the library... Now buying my own copy... ;)