Writing can be easier for children when they have something meaningful and familiar to write about. Real experiences such as a family outing, school activity, cooking, shopping or visiting a new place can give children ideas, vocabulary and a clear sequence of events to draw on.
Using real experiences for writing can also reduce the pressure of having to invent a story from scratch. Children can talk about what happened, organise the events in order and then use those ideas to create sentences, recounts or stories.
Why can real experiences make writing easier for children?
Real experiences give children something concrete to remember and talk about. Instead of creating every detail from imagination, they can draw on what they saw, heard, did and felt.
This can support writing in several ways. Children may find it easier to:
- generate ideas
- remember the order of events
- use relevant vocabulary
- describe people, places and actions
- explain what happened first, next and last
- add details that make their writing clearer
- talk through their ideas before putting them onto the page
For example, after visiting a park, a child may be able to write about what they played on, who they were with, what happened and how the experience ended.
Talking about the experience first can also help. Parents and carers can use photographs, drawings or simple questions to help the child remember important details and organise the events before writing begins.
Tips and tricks to achieve this at home.
Creating ‘real experiences’ doesn’t have to be difficult! Check out these activities you can do using things you have in your house:
- Make a yummy snack! Try making a sandwich or delicious iced chocolate.
- Create easy science experiments with the ingredients you have in your pantry. Our favourites are the Lava Lamp and Baking Soda Volcano.
- Stuck for ideas? Why not look through photographs of a recent event that your child participated in? A friend’s birthday party or trip to the zoo are just a few experiences your child can write about.
- Think about real experiences that the child encounters in everyday life (e.g. helping a parent prepare a meal).
Support your child’s success by using written instructions with photographs to support their understanding. You can also watch a video tutorial before completing the task so they know exactly what to do. Each step can be captured with a photo. Have these handy while your child is writing so they can remember what they did.
Tip: Before asking your child to write, spend a few minutes talking about the experience and putting the main events in order.
Talk to your Speech Pathologist.
Start with an experience your child remembers well. It might be a trip to the park, a birthday, cooking something together, visiting family, going shopping or taking part in a school activity.
Then work through the experience in simple steps:
- Talk about what happened. Ask your child to tell you about the experience in their own words.
- Put the events in order. Use simple prompts such as “What happened first?”, “What happened next?” and “How did it end?”
- Use photos if you have them. Photographs can help children remember details and sequence events.
- Write down key words. Make a short list of people, places, actions and important details before writing full sentences.
- Build the story together. Help your child turn the ideas into sentences or a short recount.
- Add extra detail afterward. Once the main ideas are on the page, go back and add descriptions, feelings or interesting details.
The goal is to make the writing process feel manageable. Children do not need to produce a long piece of writing for the activity to be useful. Even a few well-organised sentences can provide meaningful practice.
Tip: If writing is difficult, let your child tell the story aloud first while you jot down the main ideas.
How can photos and visual supports help with writing?
Photos, drawings and simple visual supports can help children remember what happened and organise their ideas before they begin writing.
You might:
- use photos from an outing or event and arrange them in order
- ask your child to draw the beginning, middle and end of the experience
- create a simple first-next-last sequence
- write key words beside each picture
- use a short checklist to remind your child what to include
- talk through each step before turning the ideas into sentences
These supports can reduce the amount of information a child needs to hold in mind at one time and can make the writing task feel more structured.
As children become more confident, the level of support can be adjusted. Some children may continue to benefit from visual planning, while others may gradually need fewer prompts.
You can also read our guide to Story Writing for Children for more ideas on helping children organise stories, build narrative skills and develop written expression.
Tip: Keep the visual planning simple. Too many pictures, prompts or questions can make the task feel harder rather than easier.
How can Speech Pathology support writing and narrative skills?
Some children may find it difficult to organise ideas, retell events, sequence information or use language clearly enough to turn an experience into a written story or recount.
A Speech Pathologist can assess the language skills that support writing and help children develop areas such as vocabulary, sentence structure, sequencing, narrative organisation and explaining ideas clearly.
Therapy may also involve helping children move from spoken storytelling to written expression. For example, a child might first talk through an experience, organise the main events and then use those ideas to create sentences or a short written recount.
At Innerlink Therapy, our Speech Pathologists support children with communication, language and literacy skills that contribute to participation at school and in everyday life.
If your child finds it difficult to organise ideas, retell experiences or express those ideas in writing, contact Innerlink Therapy to discuss whether Speech Pathology may be appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do real experiences help children with writing? Real experiences give children something familiar to remember and describe. This can make it easier to generate ideas, organise events, use relevant vocabulary and explain what happened in a logical order.
What kinds of experiences can my child write about? Everyday experiences can work well, including family outings, cooking, shopping, school activities, birthdays, visiting relatives, going to the park or trying something new.
Should my child talk about the experience before writing?
Yes. Talking through what happened first can help children organise their ideas, remember important details and work out the sequence before they begin writing.
Can photos help with writing? Photos can be useful prompts because they help children remember people, places, actions and the order of events. They can also make it easier to discuss the experience before writing.
What if my child struggles to put events in order? Try using simple prompts such as “What happened first?”, “What happened next?” and “How did it end?” Photos, drawings or a first-next-last visual can also help organise the sequence.
When should I consider seeing a Speech Pathologist? You may consider speaking with a Speech Pathologist if your child regularly has difficulty retelling events, organising ideas, sequencing information, building sentences or expressing those ideas clearly in writing.
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