Fun Websites Improve Kids' Writing Skills
Help your child have fun while improving his or her writing!
6 Fun Writing Websites
Kids love computers and many could spend all evening and every weekend surfing the web. Most computer-savvy children are already familiar with common children’s websites based on their favorite TV shows and movies, and those sites can be great for providing some interesting reading geared to getting their attention. But check out these oddball top websites that help kids improve their writing:
Paralaughs – Mr. Nussbaum’s website has a multitude of activities that kids will enjoy while they are learning. One highlight is a Mad-Libs type activity called Paralaughs, where kids insert words according to category, click “submit,” and see their words star in a silly story. The whole family will enjoy creating zany stories together! (http://www.mrnussbaum.com/paralaughsindex.htm)
Dvolver Moviemaker – Kids will not even realize they are writing when they enter dialogue for action videos they can make using Dvolveer Moviemaker. They choose the scenery, plot, characters and music and are guided through writing the script themselves. You can email the finished product to all your friends and relatives right from the website. (http://www.dfilm.com/live/moviemaker.html)
Miss Spelling’s Spelling Bees – The spelling champ wannabe in your house will delight in testing her memory in Mrs. Spelling’s Spelling Bees multiple choice and real-time audio spelling bees based on the 100 most-often misspelled words in the English language. The spelling center is part of alphaDictionary’s Dr. Goodword’s Word Wizard Club. Take a look at some of the other language-based games and resources on the site. (http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/misspelling.html)
Comix – Another site for kids to entertain themselves with their own clever dialogue is at Bill Zimmerman’s Treasure Chest. The talented Zimmerman, author of many children’s books, has developed MakeBeliefsComix.com to give kids an opportunity to create their own comic strip. They can choose from among 20 characters in several poses, 25 objects and different types of talk and thought balloons. These comic creations can be printed and emailed directly from the site. http://www.makebeliefscomix.com
100 Most Common Words – The whole family will enjoy the games and quizzes on Sporcle, which bills itself as a purveyor of “mentally stimulating diversions.” Gather around the computer and try to come up with the 100 most common words in the English language. Have your child do the typing—he’ll be practicing his spelling and typing skills at the same time. You have 12 minutes to complete the quiz–no pressure!(http://www.sporcle.com/games/common_english_words.php)
Bookr – Pimpampum.net has created several creativity tools using Flickr images, including Bubblr, Phrasr, and an easy photobook maker called Bookr. Budding authors can choose from their own photos on Flickr by typing in their Flickr username, or access Flickr images that have been tagged by their owners. Try typing tags like “flies” or “gross” if you really want to spark a kid’s creativity! (http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/)
Next time your kids ask to use the computer, make a deal with them – you choose the sites. Why not take advantage of their interest and encourage your children to use these writing activities on webpages that will actually help them in school?