When you hear someone talk about ‘blogging’, do you automatically assume they must be talking about something written by adults, for adults? If so, you may think the idea of ​​kids blogging is weird and unnecessary, but you’d be wrong. Writing a blog can have great benefits for a child and can help them in many areas of their development.

But what do kids really get out of blogging, and what could they write about? More importantly, how do you ensure that children remain safe and happy while writing online? Here are some tips for those looking to get their kids to blog for the first time:

Blogging and the development of children’s skills: a natural relationship

The most immediate benefit of blogging is that it gives kids an excuse to write regularly. At a young age, this is often the best way for children to learn new words and develop an understanding of sentence forms. It will also give them the opportunity to write substantive pieces, build arguments, and understand structural elements like paragraphs. In addition, they will use a keyboard and software to do so, which means they will gain greater confidence and familiarity with computers.

The online aspect of blogging allows children to connect with other children’s bloggers, and free children’s blogging sites offer the opportunity to join a community of writers. This sharing opportunity can be great for motivating children to write, as they will feel like they are writing for an audience and want to produce their best work. Also, knowing that your work is being read by others can be a huge boost to your self-esteem and confidence.

But what to write?

Blogs are versatile and can host almost any type of writing. One popular option is for children to write stories on their blog, inspired by events in their lives or perhaps just their imaginations. This is a great way for children to explore their creative side and the more they write the better their stories will be. Alternatively, they could use it as a journal or as a way to report news from their school. These more objective activities require research and planning skills, which means that the child will develop academically while having fun.

However, they don’t have to be just words. Blogs can host all kinds of content, including images, sound, and video. These can be used to supplement writing, allowing your child to develop an integrated approach to media that will serve as fantastic preparation for the future.

Making sure kids are safe while blogging

Some parents and teachers may feel uncomfortable allowing their children to share things online, for good reason. One strategy to meet this security consideration is to host the child’s blog on the school’s internal network, so that only their friends can view and comment on it. Alternatively, you can use popular blogging platforms like WordPress or Blogger. Setting it up to moderate all comments, and making sure your child doesn’t post personal information on the blog, can go a long way toward ensuring your child’s safety online.

E-learning software and educational websites also offer convenient spaces for children to blog and are often carefully monitored to ensure that the experience is enjoyable. Blogging can bring great benefits to children and can play an important role in their early development, so why not introduce your kids to blogging today?