You Can Write for Kids!

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child...
1 Corinthians 13: 11

Yes, I left the last sentence out of that verse. Before you put away your childish ways, if you write for children, keep these thoughts in mind.

Talk Like a Child

Talk to a child and listen how they talk. Kids skip formalities. They don't care how hot the day is or where the lake is located. They talk action. "Granny, today I went fishing and caught a huge snapping turtle." When you're writing for kids, start with action, and keep it moving. Slow down and you'll lose them. If you're writing for young kids, repetition and rhyming are good, but keep it active.

Think Like a Child

I love the way kids think. I have 12 grandchildren, from 18 years old to 4 years old. Each age group has a different way of thinking. Kids think without limitations. In their minds, anything is possible.

One summer evening, Makayla, my three-year old granddaughter wanted to find a rabbit's nest. I explained Mama Rabbit hid her nest under the ground. Undaunted, Makayla persisted over and

over again wanting to find a rabbit (Notice how repetitious kids are?). Finally, I came up with an idea. "We'll set a trap and catch a rabbit." I grabbed a plastic tub, propped it up with a small board, and Makayla put popcorn and carrots under the tub. Hey, she believed it would work. We waited and watched. After awhile, a rabbit came into the yard. Makayla's eyes grew huge, she clasped her hands over her mouth and said, "Is he gonna go into my trap?" I said, "I don't know. We'll watch and see." Makayla thought for a minute and said, "That's a gray rabbit, but I wanted a white one." Some time later, without a rabbit in our trap, Makayla went home. Before she left, she said. "Granny, when you catch a rabbit, c all me and I'll come after it."Such faith, I'll have to admit.

The next day, Granny and PaPa went to the rabbit store, bought a white rabbit and took it to her. She still thinks she caught it.

Reason Like a Child

Recently, we built a cabin nestled in the woods for our get-away. My husband, Tom, believes in letting kids learn, so he gave them all building jobs. Makayla, sat and hammered nails, one at a time in each floorboard. We all waited until she finished then we put another board down. Later, someone mentioned building a house. Makayla asked, after working hard at hammering nails, "We're not building anymore houses , are we, Granny?" Good reasoning.

My four Florida grandchildren visited me for two weeks during this summer. And yes, they too helped build the cabin. When I drove them to the Kansas City airport to fly home, Makayla and her mother, my daughter, rode with me. On our return trip, on top of the Loess Hills, my daughter spotted a huge cross. She'd never seen it before, so she pointed it out to me. Makayla spoke up and asked, "Is that where God died?" She knew Jesus died on a cross, on a hill, so she reasoned that hill must be the place.

Write for a Child

When you are a children's writer, spend time with kids. You'll learn how they talk, think and reason. They will give you endless ideas. Use those ideas in your writing.

Kids can inspire you to write. Why not write to inspire them?

Kay Gibson lives in Missouri and has been married to her husband, Tom, for 40 years. She is "Mom" to two girls, one boy, and "Granny" to twelve grandkids. Kay's articles have been published in: MY FRIEND, FAITH 'n STUFF (now GUIDEPOSTS FOR KIDS), POCKETS, CLUB CONNECTION, DISCOVERY TRAILS, SHINING STAR, STORK, TURTLE, HUMPTY DUMPTY, TOTLINE, ELDRIDGE PUBLISHING, MC GRAW HILL, BIRD WATCHER'S DIGEST, THE ALMANAC FOR FARMERS AND CITY FOLK, BACKHOME, THE INSTITUTE OF CHILDREN'SLITERATURE, THE SPIRIT LED WRITER, and other publications.

Kay's email address: kgibson@heartland.net