You want your child to grow into a confident, capable reader and writer. As they grow and learn, they’ll likely explore something called invented spelling.
In this guide, we’ll explain what invented spelling is and give you some examples. We’ll also explore the benefits of this stage of development and provide tips to help you support your young speller.
Table of Contents
- What Is Inventive Spelling?
- Benefits of Inventive Spelling
- Tips to Help Your Child Become a Better Speller
What Is Invented Spelling?
Invented spelling (sometimes called inventive spelling) is a developmental stage most children go through as they learn to read and write. When they want to write a word, they use their knowledge of letter-sound relationships and phonics to decide how to spell it.
The result is unconventional spelling, such as “kat” for “cat” or “wuz” for “was.” This is a good sign that your child is beginning to understand how letters and sounds work together to form words.
Stages of Spelling
Your child won’t use invented spelling forever. It’s one of several spelling stages young learners go through as they try to master the English language.
Here’s a peek at each stage and when it typically occurs.
Pre-Communicative Spelling
At this stage, children use random scribbles or symbols to represent letters. They know written words have meaning but don’t yet understand the relationship between letters and sounds.
This stage is most common in preschool, though some kids may not reach it until kindergarten. You’ll know your child is in this stage when they hand you a “story” they wrote that has random letters written across the page with some squiggles thrown in for good measure.
You won’t be able to read or understand their writing, so this is a great time for you to talk about the story with your child and let them share what they are trying to express.
Semi-Phonetic Spelling
As your child learns more about phonics and starts to recognize letters of the alphabet by their sound, you’ll notice a change in their writing.
They’ll start using the initial sound in a word to represent the whole thing. For example, they may write about a man wearing a hat like this, “M W A H.”
Often, during this developmental phase, your child will write in all capital letters. This is also normal, so don’t worry!
As they progress, your child will start to use more letters in their words, though they won’t always choose the correct ones. For example, they may try to include a letter for each syllable in a word (like HP for happy) or write random letters between the two (HZPI for happy).
Phonetic Spelling
During this stage of spelling development, invented spelling takes off. It often happens during first grade, though all children develop at their own pace.
At this point, something exciting happens! You’ll be able to read much more of what your child writes. Because they’re using phonics, you’ll better understand what they’re trying to spell.
For example, instead of using “HP” for happy, your child’s spelling may now look like this: “HAPE.”
Transitional Spelling
The more your child reads and writes, the more familiar they’ll become with conventional spelling rules. At this point, they’ll have mastered spelling many irregular sight words like was and said, just because they’ve seen them so many times.
They also know how to use phonics “rules,” like adding an “e” to the end of a word to make a vowel long. But they won’t always apply these rules correctly. They might spell the word coat like this: “cote.”
Many students reach this stage by the end of first grade. However, they’ll likely stay here until third grade or even longer. After all, there’s a lot to learn!
Correct Spelling
After years of hard work, your child will reach the final stage of spelling development. They’ll be able to spell most words correctly. It doesn’t mean they’ll never make a spelling mistake again (because we all do!), but it does make their writing much easier to understand.
Benefits of Invented Spelling
Now that you know what invented spelling is and how it fits into your child’s overall spelling development, let’s look at the benefits of this stage.
- Encourages creativity: When children can spell words how they want, they can let their imagination run wild and write more creatively. This can foster a love of writing and storytelling.
- Boosts confidence: Inventive spelling allows children to express themselves without fear of getting something wrong. It can boost their self-confidence and motivate them to keep writing.
- Shows you what they know: Experimenting with different spellings provides insight into your child’s understanding of phonics and spelling patterns. You might be surprised by how much they already know!
Tips to Help Your Child Become a Better Speller
While it’s normal for your child to pass through all the stages of spelling development, there are some things you can do to help them become a better speller.
Be Encouraging
When your child hands you a paper filled with misspelled words, your first instinct may be to whip out a red pen and start correcting. But it’s important to resist that urge and instead focus on encouraging their efforts.
Make an effort to point out all the things they did right. Did they correctly identify the beginning letter of each word? Did they leave spaces between words? Did they use punctuation?
Highlight these successes and encourage them to keep writing!
Read, Read, Read
Reading is one of the best ways for your child to learn how to spell, so help them practice reading every day. As they read, they’ll start recognizing spelling patterns and rules they can apply to their own writing.
Play Word Games
Children learn through play, so try playing games that involve spelling. You can try traditional games like Scrabble® or Boggle®, or create your own word scrambles for them to decipher.
Digital games can also help your child improve their spelling skills. The HOMER app by Begin is a great place to start! It features playful learning across different subject areas. Best of all, each game is personalized for your child’s interests and abilities.
Use Magnet Letters
Invest in a set of magnet letters and encourage your child to spell words for you on the refrigerator. It’s a simple, hands-on way to get your child spelling.
You can also use these magnets to model how to spell words correctly. Form a word they know how to read and then mix up the letters. Ask them to put the letters back in the correct order.
Encourage Writing
Supply your child with plenty of paper and writing tools, and encourage them to write. They can make lists, write kind messages to others, or even create their own stories.
The more your child practices writing, the more their skills will naturally improve.
Regularly Practice “Correct” Spelling
While invented spelling is developmentally appropriate and completely normal, you don’t want your child to stay in this stage forever. Regularly practice and reinforce correct spelling for words that go along with the phonics patterns they’re learning.
Ask your child’s teacher about spelling lists, or find some online so you can practice at home. Once you have a list of words to study each week, make it a fun part of your routine.
You can have your child write the words:
- Out of play dough letters
- In a sand or salt tray
- By painting
- With their non-dominant hand
- With their eyes closed
Mix it up and keep your lessons short. By consistently practicing, your child’s spelling will improve.
Practice Spelling with Begin!
Invented spelling is a stepping stone in your child’s journey toward spelling mastery. By reinforcing phonics patterns, encouraging reading, and making spelling fun, you can help them become a confident speller!
Begin can also help your child improve their spelling skills. Our HOMER app uses fun, interactive games to reinforce spelling patterns. It’s a great way for children to practice spelling. Just 15 minutes a day is all it takes to boost their skills.
