Writing and reading are a part of every subject your child will study at school, and they're vital for many aspects of everyday life. It's crucial to encourage your child's writing skills as much as possible right from the start.

Tips and ideas

• Spend quality time each day talking with your child.
• Read to your child - not just stories but a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts - and discuss the ways that authors use words to shape their ideas.
• Be a writing model and encourage your child to write alongside you.
• Create real opportunities for your child to write, such as letters, posters or invitations.
• Have an exciting selection of writing materials readily available.
• Talk to your child about his writing and read it through together.
• Praise your child for trying.
• Don't dwell on mistakes, focus on the content.
• If your child brings a spelling list home to learn, try to make the practice fun by playing games that encourage careful listening to the sounds in words and looking for letter patterns. Your child may enjoy singing or reciting spellings, or writing them out and colouring letter patterns.

Most importantly remember that writing can be difficult, so be available, supply help if asked and marvel at how well your child is doing.