The Secret Superpower Every Kid Needs: How Reading and Writing Build Resilience

Okay, parents—let's talk about something that’s probably crossed your mind at least once: your kid’s reading struggles. Whether it’s that sigh of frustration when they can’t make it through a book or that look of pure confusion when they come across a tricky word, we’ve all seen our kids go through some serious reading challenges. I often tell the story about how our youngest son was turned off by reading during his early elementary years, but he had a passion for writing. We often found him in his room, letting his creative young mind run wild, writing short stories or short movie scripts—his favorite. I did not know this at the time, but the thing is: one of the easiest ways to help them become better readers isn’t by pushing them to read more—it’s by getting them to write. Yes, you heard me right. Writing can actually boost your kid’s reading skills. Sounds too good to be true, right? Let’s dive into it. Writing Makes Reading Less of a Mystery Here’s a little wisdom from Colleen Cruz, author of “Writers Read Better,” who knows a thing or two about literacy: "...if something is challenging to a reader, one of the most accessible paths to overcoming that challenge is through writing." In other words, when kids are struggling to read or understand a passage, sometimes the best thing to do is not force more reading on them but to encourage writing . Writing helps kids make sense of words, sentence structure, and the flow of ideas in a way that just reading doesn’t always do. It’s like they’re building the framework for reading in their brains, brick by brick. Pretty neat, right? Think of it like this: when you’re assembling furniture, you can stare at the instructions all day and still have no idea how that bookshelf is going to look in the end. But once you start putting those pieces together—once you build it—it starts making sense. The same goes for writing and reading. Writing helps them understand the “pieces” of language, like punctuation, vocabulary, and sentence structure. So when they go back to reading, they see how all those pieces fit together to make sense. It’s like unlocking a secret reading cheat code. The Magic of Writing Early and Often But wait, it gets better. According to Pam Allyn, a literacy expert and all-around reading guru, writing early and often is a "powerful lever for helping our students learn to read profoundly." Now, you might be wondering, “Does this mean I have to force my child to write five pages every night?” Absolutely not. But regular writing—whether it's journaling, creative stories, or even silly notes to their friends—helps kids develop a deeper understanding of language. When kids write regularly, they get to experiment with how words look, sound, and feel on the page. They learn about spelling and grammar without even realizing it. And when they see how words come together to form sentences and stories, it helps them recognize those same patterns when they’re reading. It’s like getting to practice the moves in a dance before you have to perform the routine in front of an audience (aka reading comprehension tests). The more they write, the more their brain is geared up to tackle reading. It’s All About Confidence Okay, so why does writing help with confidence? Simple: writing is a safe space . It’s where kids can mess up, cross things out, and get creative without the fear of judgment or failing. When they write, they’re practicing making sense of their thoughts, and that translates into reading. If your child is confident in their ability to put words together on the page, they’re more likely to have confidence when they face tricky words or complex sentences in a book. Writing gives them a tool to fight back when reading feels overwhelming. Plus, there’s something about expressing their own ideas through writing that makes reading feel less intimidating. Instead of seeing reading as a mountain to climb, writing lets them practice being on the “other side” of the mountain—knowing that they’re in control and can figure things out, one word at a time. Writing = Reading Superpower Look, as parents, we don’t want to be the “pushy” ones, constantly nagging our kids to read more. But encouraging writing? That’s something they can enjoy while sneaking in some reading practice without even realizing it. Whether it’s writing short stories, keeping a journal, or even composing letters to their favorite characters, it all helps. And if you're wondering, “How do I get them to write without it feeling like a chore?” Well, start small. Let them write about what they love—whether it’s about their favorite video game, the weird dream they had last night, or maybe they enjoy creating movie scripts like our son did. The key is to make writing fun —because the more they write, the better readers they’ll become. And who doesn’t want to have a little fun while becoming a reading ninja? In Conclusion... So, next time your kid’s struggling to get through a chapter, try handing them a notebook and saying, “Hey, want to write about your day or invent a new superhero?” It’s like the ultimate two-for-one deal: more writing = better reading. According to Colleen Cruz and Pam Allyn, writing isn’t just a sidekick to reading; it’s the superhero cape that helps kids soar to new literacy heights. Plus, you’ll be the parent that can proudly say, “I’m not just making them read—I’m making them write their way to success.” Now, that’s some parenting power!