How to use text to image AI to encourage your child to write

Today we will explore text to image AI, namely the one offered by Bing and powered by Dall-E by Open AI, ie the same developers as Chat GPT.

It is text to image AI, so where does writing come into it, you might ask.

Well, as parents, we should embrace technology and think of ways to use technology to teach our kids. Technology has many pros and cons. We can be blissfully unaware if our kids use it to generate art and pass it off as their own by copying it or we can use it in creative ways to teach our children. Here is one way you can use it positively.

Text to image AI requires you to describe the pictures in your mind and the AI will generate it. The better the description, the better the output. 

With this in mind, here's how we can encourage our kids to write by using the text to image AI.

1. Describe the real thing. Real people, real places etc that children remember. Encourage your kids to describe the pictures in their mind. Remember, the better the description, the better the output. Ask them to describe things around the house, describe each individual around the house including you, their parent (eg a lady cooking in the kitchen, with yellow tiles and brown kitchen cabinets and a pot of flower on the centre table) if this is how they imagine you to be. You can ask them to use adjectives, colours and put everything in their mind into words. This is suitable for younger kids to help them express the things they see into words and then see the picture in their minds being rendered into art.

2. Describe something in their imagination. Now this is really fun and creative. For kids who love to write stories and novels, here is something slightly more advanced you can do. Unlike the above where the kid is supposed to describe into words something real that they observe around the house or when they are out, ask your kid to describe something in their imagination. Ask the AI to render the art from their imagination and then ask them to use the pictures as prompts to write a short story or a novel if they so fancy. This is great for aspiring young writers, preteens or teens.

Important Tip: Use words like digital art, 3-D rendition, origami art, watercolor painting, cinematic landscape, Japanese anime, pop art, retro, geometric, ukiyo-e style, black and white pencil drawing, cartoon, futuristic, abstract macro photography, vintage, Chinese brush painting and many other words to render different genres of art.

Here are a few examples.

"space scene with man in spacesuit, rockets and planets futuristic cinematic"

"girl in a magical library with flying books japanese anime"

"door leading to secret garden"

"enchanted fairy tale house cinematic landscape night time winter"

"boy with a dog in a summer field vintage style drawing"

Now time to try it out here: https://www.bing.com/create

This is something you can do with bored kids at home during the school holidays.

You may also like: Using Chat GPT for school, what parents should know

Here are more fun stuff for kids to do at home during the school holidays:

Arts and Crafts.

Get from Shopee: https://shope.ee/LH2C1jIZM

Puzzles, Activities and Books 

Get from Lazada: https://c.lazada.com.my/t/c.cHluux

 

Get from Lazada: https://c.lazada.com.my/t/c.cHluuI

How to help your Lower Primary child if they struggle with reading

This post was brought to you by British Council Malaysia.

The ability to read can widen your child’s world – opening up a new and lifelong source of enjoyment as well as supporting their language development in all areas. 

Primary years are crucial for nurturing reading confidence, and there are many ways that parents can help. It’s important not to worry if your child appears to be making slower progress than their peers; some grasp reading and comprehension skills quickly, while others may learn more gradually. Either way, with your support at home, they will be well on their way to becoming independent readers by the time they are approaching secondary school.

How to support your child’s English reading at home

Read together daily

Make reading a regular activity. Consider when they will be most able to focus quietly (being hungry, tired or distracted will work against your efforts!) and try to stick to this same time each day. This way, they will begin to expect reading sessions as a part of their daily routine. Keep sessions short and positive so that it doesn’t become hard work – children always learn best when they are enjoying themselves.

Play to their interests

Allow your child to choose their own books whenever possible to make learning as fun as it can be. Presenting them with a selection of library books (or other materials, such as comics) that align with what they are excited by will help them to develop a love of learning. Not only will they be more motivated to read, they are also more likely to expand their reading interests going forward. If they select books that are too challenging for them, you can help them by reading to them, or by breaking down longer segments. Remember to chime in with praise and encouragement whenever they ask a question or attempt something tricky.

Reread the same stories

Variety is key to keeping these daily sessions stimulating. But repetition can also be incredibly effective as a learning strategy. If your child has a favourite book, read it together over and over to boost their confidence and comprehension skills. You can try reading the same text in different ways (such as in different voices) to keep the story fresh.

Sound it out

If your child is struggling, simplify reading as much as you can by gradually building up the letter patterns and sounds. When they get stuck on a word, help them to break it down, then blend the sounds together. As you are reading, track the words with your finger to prevent them from becoming overwhelmed by the overall task, and always take a break if they begin to get frustrated or tired. One other tip to note is to give them the space to attempt difficult words before prompting them – they will feel a greater sense of reward and make further strides in their learning this way.

About our Primary Plus courses

Developed by our team of English experts, our Primary Plus courses will spark your child’s imagination, so they can express themselves with confidence that goes beyond their English language skills.

Your child will also develop leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking skills in a relaxed environment where they can be themselves and do independent study on the Learning Hub before and after class.

About The British Council in Malaysia

The British Council in Malaysia offers a wide range of English classes for young children - including group courses and customised one-to-one courses. Your child will learn more than just language, they will develop skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, and making connections. Our aim is to nurture our students to become creative thinkers and confident communicators, so that they may thrive both inside and outside of the classroom.

To find out more about our courses for kids and teens, visit our website or book a free consultation with our friendly consultant.