Children Today

: Kids are less in control of their emotions; expect more frequent "highs and lows" and reactions driven by being overwhelmed [17].

: Encourage children to write their own stories without worrying about mistakes. An adult can sit with them to help "stretch out" sounds for spelling [15]. CHILDREN

: Define a specific age group, as word counts and themes vary wildly: Picture Books (Ages 4–8) : 600–1,000 words [33]. Chapter Books (Ages 6–10) : 8,500–12,000 words [33]. Middle Grade (Ages 8–12) : 30,000–50,000 words [33]. : Kids are less in control of their