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If writing time feels more like a battlefield than a that beautiful Pinterest-worthy learning moment in your home, you're not alone.
SO MANY OF US parents find ourselves questioning our own credentials when we have a child who resists writing. Whether it’s a reluctant writer, a perfectionist, or a child who struggles with spelling and grammar, writing can become a stressor instead of a skill-builder. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are five realistic and relationship-building ways we've used in our homeschool to support a kiddo who struggles with writing at home—sidestepping the tears and battles of will.
1. Start with Conversation, Not Composition
Ok, imagine I told you, "Write a story about a superhero!". The cognitive load of planning out a story is considerable. Before a child can write, they need ideas—and those come from conversation and think time. If your child freezes when they start with a blank page, try beginning with a simple conversation (or even these writing activities our kids love) instead. Ask open-ended questions, brainstorm aloud, or let them narrate a story to you. Treat it like storytelling, not schoolwork.
Tip: Use voice memos to capture their stories or thoughts. Later, they can transcribe or type them (or you can help).
Here are those adventure writing activities:
2. Focus on One Skill at a Time
Writing is a complex process. When kids are asked to juggle spelling, grammar, punctuation, handwriting, and ideas all at once, it's easy to shut down.
Instead, zoom in. One day, just focus on building ideas. Another day, revise a sentence together. Don’t feel like every piece of writing has to be perfect or complete. I love using Google Docs to do this. I explain how we do that in this video, in case you'd like to see it in action!
Progress often looks like small steps in one direction—not leaps in every direction.
3. Make It Personal (and Playful)
Kids are far more motivated when they write about something they care about. Let them write a comic strip, a note to a sibling, or a pretend text message to a historical figure. Writing doesn’t have to look like a five-paragraph essay to “count.”
I'd also say this goes for reading. Those graphic novels and audiobooks? Yeah, they count too! Even my friend Ashley, a reading specialist, agrees. Listen to our conversation about how this goes in our homeschool.
Would your child rather write about dragons, Roblox, or slime recipes? Go for it.
4. Give Choices and Breaks
I've mentioned this before, but I tend to think about my day in percentages. One percentage I'm always working to increase is the amount of questions I ask versus the commands I give.
I shared about that a bit in this podcast about parenting in a distracted world.
Power struggles often come from a lack of control. When kids feel forced into writing a certain way, resistance naturally follows.
Try this:
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“Do you want to write with a pencil or on the computer?”
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“Do you want to write now or after snack?”
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“Would you rather make a list or a paragraph?”
And don’t forget the value of short, frequent breaks. Sometimes five minutes of movement makes all the difference.
5. Find Outside Support That Fits Your Values
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take the pressure off yourself. An experienced, encouraging writing teacher can create a safe space for your child to grow without the stress that often comes with learning at home.
If you're looking for writing classes that meet your child where they are—offering real-world topics, gentle feedback, and zero stress—I’d love to invite you to explore our ELA and writing classes designed for homeschool families and independent learners.
👉 Check out our ELA classes here!
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to turn writing into a power struggle. With a few small shifts—and some compassionate support—your child can grow into a confident communicator. Writing doesn’t have to be a daily battle. It can become a place where their voice, creativity, and confidence shine.
