Brianne Wragg
The digital world is a treasure trove of opportunities for kids to express themselves, sharpen their writing crops, and connect with people all over the globe. Crafting a blog together with your kiddo is not only a fab way to spark creativity and tech skills, but it’s also a golden ticket to some quality bonding time.
Now, I’ve got to be honest with you – this guide is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whole universe of blogging know-how out there, and trust me, I’ve explored a fair bit of it, having run several blogs in business, e-commerce, and personal, and even mentored students on their blogging journey. But what I’ve covered here should give you and your writer a solid starting block.
So, grab a coffee, get comfy, and dive into the basics to kick things off!
Let me emphasize that blogging isn’t just about going with the trend or doing something “because everyone else is.” Kids flourish best when anchored in genuine curiosity, passion, or interest. If your child has that, a blog leverages that excitement and curiosity in creation and writing. I have seen kids who would never describe themselves as writers return daily to research, plan, and write blogs in our Writers’ 45 workshops.
If you need clarification on whether your child’s interest would engage them in blogging or if they have many interests, start a conversation. They may also consider other mediums, including photography, scrapbooking, or video production. Remember, it’s not just about finding a topic but identifying something they love and would be enthusiastic about sharing. It’s also important to acknowledge and embrace that children’s interests change as they grow. While consistency is key in blogging, it’s equally essential to be flexible and allow the blog’s theme to evolve with your child’s passions.
A blog may also be a space to share their creative works: short stories, character creations, illustrations, and poetry. One of our writers uses Notion to create a series of reverse poetry works.
Image: E Train is a 12 Year Old Award-Winning Literacy Advocate, Podcast Host, Public Speaker & Giving Tuesday Spark leader
As a blogger, this is my favorite part of the blogging process. I have created and planned countless blogs for firms, consultants, e-commerce stores, and personal brands. I love to see what people want to know about a niche or topic: facts, queries, biases, and competition for topics within niches – essentially, search optimization engine (SEO) research.
Now, search optimization engine research is complex and time-consuming, and many companies outsource the process to AI and software. However, you can beat any AI if you are willing to do the work (but maybe that is an opinion explored for another time). With this in mind, I don’t think you or your child need to learn the ins and outs of SEO – insider secret – many SEO companies rarely know it. However, researching what an audience wants to learn and understand about a topic is not only valuable for blogging. Still, it applies across other disciplines, subjects, and life events.
Here’s how I have approached this process in current and past mentorships.
Image: Ringtail Wear original blog ideas
Before penning the first post, it’s imperative to understand the depth and breadth of the chosen topic. Take your writer a long time, especially if they enjoy the process. If you notice that they have taken to a blog topic or idea, capitalize on that excitement and write the blog.
As a writer, my preferences always lean towards content creation next. I am always itching to start researching and writing instead of getting bogged down with design and technicalities. With a few blog posts ready or drafted, I get a clearer idea of what my blog will look like and what platform might serve best.
However, I understand that every child is different. Diving into the design and setup can be motivating for those who lean towards visual creativity or are interested in the technical side of things. It can give them a sense of ownership and enthusiasm. Sometimes, I alternate between writing sessions, design, or website-building sessions in mentorships. You know your child best, so the following steps are flexible.
In regards to choosing the right platform, here are some of the platforms we use in our mentorships:
There are many other platforms also suitable for kid writers to start blogging – and please feel free to do your own research. Also keep in mind about hosting and domains – for example, Squarespace is inclusive, whereas WordPress requires more customisation. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, considering ease of use, customization options, potential for learning, and future scalability.
Once content creation is in swing and a platform choice has been made, guide your readers through the basic setup steps for their selected platform.
Before diving into writing, starting with research is crucial, especially for non-fiction pieces or when positioning oneself as an expert in a niche. Kids need to learn the importance of backing up their existing knowledge or ideas with insights from other experts in the field. This solidifies their content and teaches them the importance of validation and credibility.
Additionally, it’s essential to teach kids how to identify trustworthy and reliable sources of information, whether authoritative websites, books, interviews, or academic articles. It’s also important to explain the importance of cross-referencing information from multiple sources to ensure accuracy.
Finally, teach kids the importance of giving credit where credit is due. Whether it’s a quote, statistic, or image, mentioning the source is essential. Encourage kids to keep a list of their sources while creating content. This can be a simple document where they note down the URLs of the websites, books, or any other material they consult.
Once the research phase is complete, the next step is understanding the content writing basics. Start by explaining the importance of organizing information using headings (H2, H3, H4, etc.). This helps structure the blog and is crucial for report writing, narrative writing, and across various disciplines and subjects. Kids often make connections to other subjects at this point.
TIP: For tech-savvy kids interested in coding and website building, delve into the importance of headings for SEO. Explain that by using headings, we are essentially teaching Google and other AI how to read the blog. Indicating the most critical parts helps Google understand the blog’s content, making it more likely to recommend it to the right audience. This aspect often intrigues kids interested in science and technology, motivating them to write more efficiently for AI comprehension.
Image: Examples of different blog types
After grasping the importance of outlining and organizing, it’s time to explore the different styles and types of blogs:
This phase is also a great opportunity to introduce the concept of mentor texts. These are examples of the writing your child aspires to produce. They can be blog posts, book excerpts, or any other form of writing.
Using mentor texts can be more effective than navigating the vast sea of writing rules. For instance, in “The Adventures of a Young Naturalist” blog, I used a simple paragraph comparing “apples and oranges” as a guide for comparative writing. This enabled the young writer to understand the essence of comparison in writing and craft her blog based on the mentor text. The process was efficient, taking minutes to analyze and apply the style, followed by edits for individuality and variation.
Image: I chose this mentor text for a student who was writing a fantasy scene to demonstrate how expert writers weave in and out of different techniques.
It’s important to note that the first blog often takes the longest, and that’s okay. If your young writer’s stamina starts to waver, consider mixing in aspects of the design process alongside writing sessions. And remember, you don’t need to cover everything in one go. The goal isn’t to master every blog type or draw inspiration from another writer. Instead, the actual value of blogging is its capacity to document your child’s progression and value their passions and interests.
Style, techniques, and expertise will grow with each blog, and it’s a beautiful physical record of your child’s development. They can look back at their first blog in a few months and see how far they’ve come as writers. So, resist the urge to insist on perfectionism; that’s not the goal. What matters most is the journey and the progress made along the way.
The editing process is a crucial part of writing and offers a prime opportunity for mentorship. It’s not merely about rectifying mistakes; it’s a chance to refine the writing, clarify thoughts, and communicate the message effectively.
Start with a first pass of editing, encouraging your child to use a checklist as a guide. This checklist can encompass basics like spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence rephrasing. While correcting errors is essential, it’s also beneficial to focus on one specific aspect of the writing during each editing session. Trying to change everything at once can be overwhelming, especially for young writers. Instead, concentrate on one area, such as wordiness, structure, or vocabulary. This targeted approach enables the child to improve one aspect of their writing at a time, making the process more manageable and less daunting.
Some areas you might focus on in editing include:
For certain writers, I employ the ‘Three Trusted Friends’ approach, which involves soliciting feedback from three individuals, either adults or older peers. This tactic is valuable as it allows the writer to receive feedback from three perspectives. However, as the mentor, you must ensure your feedback is simple and concise.
Over time, make a point to revisit these focus areas regularly. This repetition will help reinforce these concepts, and eventually, your young writer will start to pick up on these areas in their first pass of editing. As they progress, you can add more complexity to the revisions, helping them continue developing their skills.
Remember, the goal is to help your child improve their writing, not to overwhelm them with corrections. Be supportive and encouraging throughout the editing process, and celebrate the progress they make along the way.
Designing a blog is an exciting and creative process that our writers should enjoy. Start by seeking inspiration. Spend time exploring other websites and blogs, which will provide design ideas and help your child understand what appeals to them and why. You can look for inspiration that already exists within your writer’s niche or outside. It’s essential to involve kids in decision-making, so let them have a say in choosing the blog’s theme or design. This involvement fosters a sense of ownership and pride in their blog, which can be incredibly motivating.
Image: Blog from Adventures of a Young Naturalist
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Consider discussions around how your blogger wants their audience to use the blog. In mentorships, we usually discuss ways to ensure the blog is easy to navigate and how information should be presented to be accessible. Highlight that the best designs often keep the reader in mind, making it easy to find the information they seek.
Finally, dive into the exciting world of customization. This is a chance to play with colors, choose quirky or elegant fonts, and pick images that resonate with the blog’s theme and blogger’s personality. Please encourage your child to experiment and have fun with this process, as this is their chance to express their creativity and make their blog their own.
Now, let’s talk about consistency and motivation. Remember, blogging is more of a marathon than a sprint. Setting achievable goals, like posting once a week or bi-weekly, is essential, and then sticking to them. Consistency is key to building an audience and improving your child’s writing skills. However, staying motivated can be a challenge, especially for kids. So, setting aside dedicated writing time, celebrating small milestones, and taking short breaks is essential to avoid burnout.
Now, onto some practical lessons. First and foremost, safety. Make sure your child understands the importance of online safety. This means not sharing personal details, disabling comments, and regularly updating passwords.
Next up is a super important skill, not just for blogging but for life – handling feedback. This is an excellent opportunity to chat with your kiddo about the ins and outs of criticism. Not super comfy with giving feedback on writing, or a tad nervous about how it’ll be received? No worries! I have a few go-to phrases that I find super helpful:
It’s all about arming them with the skills to take on board all kinds of feedback, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And hey, while we’re at it, let’s remind them about the gold in constructive criticism and the importance of not taking things too personally.
Additionally, time management is crucial. Introduce simple time management techniques to help your child balance school, hobbies, and blogging. Here’s my final recommendation – it can be more than just about the writing. For instance, creating infographics and images for the blog is super fun and a great way to stay pumped and pick up some graphic design skills. I enjoy Canva; it’s super easy to use! Mixing up the activities related to the blog can keep things exciting and help avoid that dreaded burnout.
Final Thoughts
Starting a blog with your child can be an enriching experience, nurturing creativity, technical know-how, and an understanding of the digital world. It’s not just about writing; it’s about expression, commitment, and connection. By guiding them through this journey, you’re equipping them with skills that go beyond the keyboard, skills that will serve them in many facets of life.
Seek Personalized Guidance?
If your child would benefit from one-on-one guidance as they embark on this blogging adventure, consider enrolling them in a personal mentorship program. Your child can be set on a path to blogging success with tailored advice, feedback, and consistent support.
Interested in kickstarting your child’s blogging journey with expert mentorship? Click here to learn more about our personalized blogging mentorship program! Join me on a Meet & Greet to get started!
About the Author
Brianne Wragg is a self-described "deschooled English". After leaving the teaching profession, she started writing as a copywriter, ghostwriter and editor for companies and individuals. She returned to education, working at Synthesis School and starting Writers' Genesis for kids aged 10-15 years old.
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Imagine a space where your child can unleash their thoughts without barriers, where the clock encourages a thrilling chase of words. A Quick Write is this spirited sprint—a short, timed writing bout that challenges young minds to flow with creativity without the brakes of perfectionism.
The label’ teacher’ feels overly restrictive. I don’t want to critique or elevate one role over the others, but I wish to share why the labels of mentor and coach resonate more deeply with me.
The old woman finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, yet it permeated the room with a ghostly resonance. “Secrets are heavy burdens. To release them, one must be prepared for the void they leave behind. It can be filled with something far weightier.”
Weekly writing sessions and community to develop creative thinking, writing skills, and imagination for kids ages 10 to 16.