Helping Your Child Become a Better Speller

by Thomas Armstrong, PhD

Spelling can be a difficult skill for some children. If your child has trouble spelling, here are some suggestions for ways you can help him improve in this area.

• Don't be overly concerned about the spelling errors he makes. Some experts recommend that children make up their own spellings to words they don't know. This helps them practice playing around with the sounds of letters and develops other skills necessary for good spelling later on.
• Play word games with your child. Games like Scrabble, anagrams, and even Wheel of Fortune help kids experiment with different spellings and get instant feedback.
• Encourage your child to read and write frequently. Reading exposes your child to correct spellings. Writing gives your child the opportunity to apply his existing knowledge of spelling rules.
• Finally, if your child wants to help with a word, write it down for him so he can see it clearly and refer to it later on.

  Remember not to judge or evaluate. Even Leonardo da Vinci and Henry Ford were poor spellers. The important thing is to help your child improve his spelling gradually. If you follow these suggestions, then certainly he will over time.

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