The write start - Jennifer Hallissy 2010

Tools, Materials, and Spaces That Promote Writing
The Write Stuff

TO TURN AN IDEA into reality, a young writer requires only a few simple tools. Like a carpenter who always looks into his toolbox for a hammer and nails, a child needs only the most basic tools—a pencil and paper—to build a story. Add some crayons to young writers’ toolboxes, a handful of colored pencils, maybe a few washable markers, and writers will be geared up for constructing an endless array of bright ideas.

The just-right tools get the job done. Decidedly un-fancy, they seem to pale in comparison to the bells-and-whistles educational toys on the shelves. But don’t be fooled. Even though batteries aren’t included, that small cardboard box of crayons or forty-nine-cent pack of pencils has a power all its own. The less that an “educational” thing does by itself right out of the box, the more children are required to do for themselves. No-frills writing tools are educational in the truest sense of the word, not to mention empowering, and that is, of course, priceless.

Well-equipped young writers are ready for anything. With a natural sense of wonder, newly acquired skills, and good tools at their disposal, they are all set to rise to the occasion. A parent’s role at this stage is easy yet essential. Simply keep a stash of writing tools well-stocked and within reach. And remember, when it comes to useful utensils, you can’t beat the basics. Why? Because children have a wealth of amazing stories inside them already. All they need are a few carefully chosen tools to help them get their ideas out and onto the page.