5 Common Writing Mistakes Tweens Make (And How to Fix Them)

Writing is a skill that takes time and practice to master, but many tweens struggle with common pitfalls. Here are five common writing mistakes that students often make—and how to help them improve:

 
  1. Run-On Sentences: Tweens often try to pack too much information into one sentence, leading to run-ons. Solution: Teach your child to break long sentences into two or more clear and concise ones.
  2. Lack of Sentence Variety: Repeating the same sentence structure can make writing sound flat. Solution: Encourage them to vary sentence lengths and types—combine short and long sentences, and introduce sentence starters to add flair.
  3. Weak Paragraph Structure: Some tweens struggle to organize their thoughts into cohesive paragraphs. Solution: Teach them to start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence and to follow with supporting details.
  4. Using Simple Vocabulary: While simplicity is good, repetitive use of the same words weakens writing. Solution: Encourage your child to expand their vocabulary through reading and introduce them to thesauruses or word-building exercises.
  5. Not Proofreading: Many tweens don’t reread their work, leading to simple mistakes. Solution: Show them how to proofread their work for errors and how to revise for clarity and flow.
 
Ready to Unlock Your Child's Writing Potential?

Explore the Smart Little Writers program—an online academic writing program for kids. Smart Little Writers helps kids build confidence in their writing while learning independently in a modern, digital environment. With tailored lessons, interactive activities, and expert guidance, your child will develop the skills they need to write clearly, think critically, and express themselves creatively. Visit Smart Little Writers today to learn more!
 

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