"You can make anything by writing." — C.S. Lewis
Famous words from one of the most influential writers in modern history.
Every child is a writer. You may not realize it. They may not realize it. But it’s true. Each individual has something of value worth sharing.
That’s all a writer is. Someone who finds their voice and puts their words on paper.
And on that note….
November is NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month — and what better way to celebrate than by listening to good stories on Pinna!?
Below, we’re sharing 7 exciting ways to commemorate National Novel Writing Month with your kids.
Bonus: we’ve also got a roundup of podcasts and audiobooks on Pinna to inspire your young writer.
7 Ways to Celebrate NaNoWriMo With Your Kids
Though writing an entire novel in a month is the premise of NaNoWriMo (and totally possible for kids to do, if they’re interested!), it can be quite a challenge. Remember, your kids don’t have to write a whole book to be successful in celebrating National Novel Writing Month.
Here are 7 fun projects you can do at home with your budding writers this November.
1. Take on the challenge together. Go big or go home, right? If you’re up for participating in National Novel Writing Month yourself, you may as well get your kids involved too. Here is some information to check out if your child is interested in writing a novel through the NaNoWriMo program.
2. Try creating your own comic strip. If writing a novel is too much right now, start smaller. Writing and illustrating a comic strip is a fun way to put your creative writing skills to work in a less intimidating capacity.
3. Host a family game night — with a twist! Choose games that focus on building key literacy skills needed for future storytelling pursuits. You can play games like Scrabble, Boggle, Apples to Apples Junior, Tall Tales, Rory’s Story Cubes, and more.
4. Start a parent-child journal together. You can buy premade journals made for this purpose, or you can simply use an inexpensive spiral notebook. Write your child a note and leave the journal under their pillow. When they are ready, they can write back to you and leave the journal under your pillow. This builds both writing and communication skills. Plus, it’s fun!
5. Publish a family newsletter. Relatives and friends will be thrilled to see your latest family updates in a new, unique format. You can create your newsletter in print or online and then send it out to everyone you know.
6. Find a pen pal for your child. Writing to friends in far-off places gives kids a chance to practice their reading and writing skills while learning to appreciate the joy of sending and receiving snail mail.
7. Read together. There’s no better way to celebrate National Novel Writing Month than to take the time to savor a good story. If you want to kick it up a notch, try listening to high-quality podcasts or audiobooks with your kids. Pinna has an awesome audio library full of exciting choices for the whole family.
What to Listen to on Pinna For NaNoWriMo
Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest
Hosted by Adam Gidwitz, each of these episodes is a prime example of good storytelling. Not only is Adam an incredible writer, he’s a talented narrator as well. The fairy tale retellings in Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest will keep your whole family on the edge of your seats. Tune in to see what happens!
Dream Breachers
Dream Breachers is another example of how good writing can make or break a story. In Dream Breachers, you not only have an excellent script, but you also get to hear a top rate cast of voice actors and sound engineers bring this compelling story to life.
The KidLit Show
Want to encourage your kids to love reading? Positive peer pressure, for the win! In The KidLit Show, 10-year-old Olivia Van Ledtje shares favorite book lists, conversations with popular children’s authors, and so much more.
The Start
We’ve mentioned The Start before, but we can’t help sharing it again. The Start consists of short soundscapes that serve as audio prompts for a variety of creative pursuits. While episodes in The Start can be used as the jumping off point for almost any artistic venture, they make a wonderful alternative to writing prompts for kids who want to kickstart their NaNoWriMo journey.
Quentin and Alfie’s ABC Adventures
For younger kids learning their alphabet, Quentin and Alfie’s ABC Adventures offers a fun way to practice letters and letter sounds at home or on the go. Be sure to check out the educator resource section for printables to go along with each episode in this podcast.
Hey Story Go!
Another fun choice for toddlers and preschoolers, Hey Story Go is a podcast that encourages kids to move their bodies while interacting with the story. Each episode is right around 15 minutes, the perfect length of time for little ones.
The Wrap-Up
Pinna is an excellent tool for screen-free learning and fun all year round. Keep your kids engaged and entertained with Pinna’s comprehensive and growing library.
We’re all ears!
How do you encourage a love of books in your home? We’d love to hear from you! Find us on all our social platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest – or email us at contact@pinna.fm.
