First, encourage writing at home. Bernard Ryan, author of HELPING YOURCHILD START SCHOOL concluded: “Children get a big kick out of writing their own stories and poems, even jokes and riddles. Encourage your child to write by making sure he has paper, pencils, and pens. If you have a computer in the house, introduce him to your word-processing program. Writing also calls for listening to books read aloud, so your child hears ideas expressed in sentences that move along into narratives. Keep reading aloud. You provide several messages when you read to your child. You show respect for the written word. You provide a warm, intimate experience that is particularly enjoyable, especially in the winding-down time before bed. Keep the praise flowing. Read your child’s stories, project papers, and book reports, but read conscientiously and praise honestly. Point out what is well done before you belabor the weaknesses, for encouragement is vital food for the writer.”