creative writing ideas for kids

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225 Fun & Free Creative Writing Prompts for Kids in All Grade Levels

Written by Maria Kampen

• Teacher Resources

• Elementary school writing prompts
• Middle school writing prompts
• High school writing prompts
• Social emotional learning jounal prompts
• Math writing prompts

Writing prompts are meant to unlock creativity. They’re story starters designed to inspire creative thinking. They can take you to places you’ve been or recall an important time in your life. 

But mostly, they’re useful tools for teachers to inspire writing growth in students from grade school to high school.

“Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…”

It’s amazing how one simple sentence can send you on a journey to places you’ve never been, filled with untold possibilities. 

Reading is great, but you know what’s even better? Giving your students the power to write stories for themselves. 

Writing prompts for kids help students:

• Express themselves and their creativity
• Grasp lifelong literacy skills and concepts
• Tell their own stories and build self-confidence
• Develop a growth mindset when it comes to their writing skills

Writing is like a muscle — it takes practice to build up skills. Luckily, we put together a list of over 200 writing prompts to help your students get started. We’ve also organized them by middle school, high school and elementary school to help teachers decide whether these prompts are age-appropriate for their students.

Grade school writing prompts

Grade schoolers can definitely begin to address complex ideas when it comes to story writing — but you should seek to keep the prompts simple and straightforward. 

Reluctant writers might be intimidated by complicated writing ideas — and this is an age where we should be encouraging creativity.

Creative writing prompts for elementary schoolers

Whether it’s exploring the furthest reaches of outer space, traveling across the Sahara desert or sticking a little closer to home, these creative writing prompts will have students imagining endless possibilities for their writing.

• Write about what your life would be like if you turned into a squirrel. What would you do every day?
• A strange spaceship just crashed and landed in your backyard. What happens next?
• Make up a story about where thunder comes from.
• You find an old notebook hidden in an attic. What does it say? Who did it belong to?
• You have a magic garden. What magical plants do you grow? How do you take care of them?
• Write a story about running away with the circus when it comes to town.
• Rewrite “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” from the perspective of one of the dwarfs (Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy and Bashful).
• There once was a little boy who ate nothing but oranges. What happened to him?
• Write a story about a magical hat. Where is it from? What does it do? What does it look like?
• You’re exploring the rainforest and come across a flower that no one’s ever seen before. Describe it!
• Tell me a story about a dinosaur living a long, long time ago.
• Tell me a story about an astronaut visiting another planet. Where are they going? How do they get there? What do they take with them?
• You discover a magic portal in the park. Where does it lead to?
• Pick a partner and write a story together! Start by writing the first sentence, then pass it to your partner to write the second sentence.
• You find buried treasure in the park, hidden in a big wooden chest. What kind of treasure is it? Who left it there?
• Write a story about a family that can travel in time. 
• Write a story without using the letter “E”.
• Write the funniest story you can think of. 
• There’s a kangaroo in your classroom. How did it get there? What happens when you find it?
• Write a story about an explorer who keeps getting lost. Where are they trying to go? What do they find along the way?
• Write a story about a wooden door, a can of soda and a blue shoe.
• If there was a magical portal in the back of your closet, where would it lead to? 
• Finish this story: There was a knock on the door. I opened it to find a dog sitting there, and…
• You come home and find that everything in your house is upside down. What happened?
• Describe the color “red” without using the word “red”.
• There’s an old, abandoned house at the end of your street that’s been empty for years. One day, someone moves in.
• Rewrite the story of Cinderella from the perspective of the stepsisters.  
• Write a backstory for Ed, the orange Prodigy mascot. 
• You wake up one morning and find a mermaid in your bathtub. How did they get there? What do you do?
• Write a story about a monster looking for some friends. 
• Oh no — your balloon blew away! Write about what happens from the balloon’s perspective. 
• You and your friends are out for a walk when, out of nowhere, your friends start disappearing! What’s going on?
• Once upon a time, an old inventor built a weather machine. It sat undiscovered for years — until you found it. What happens next?
• You just ate a cookie that turned you 15 feet tall. What do you do next?

Fun writing prompts for grade schoolers

Everyday life is full of great inspiration for writing! Get students thinking with these easy and fun writing prompts.Write about something you are good at. 

• If you could write a book about anything, what would you write about?
• If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be and why?
• Do you have a favorite animal? Tell me all about it! Why do you like it?
• What would you do if you woke up one morning and everything was pink — including you?
• What food can you not live without? Why?
• If you could add any class to your school schedule, what would it be?
• Invent a new day of the week. What is it called? When is it? What do people usually do on that day of the week?
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? 
• If you could spend a Saturday doing anything you wanted, what adventures would you get up to?
• If you could have any wild animal as a pet, what would you choose? Why?
• What's your favorite, wacky food?
• Where is your favorite place to read? Why?
• What was the coolest day of school for you? What made it exciting?
• Which of your toys do you wish could talk? What would they say?
• If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it look like?
• Invent a machine to do a chore for you. What does the machine do? What does it look like?
• What's your favorite season? What makes it the best?
• What is your favorite math game and why?
• Describe your real-life superpower.
• Finish the story: When I'm older I want to be an expert in…
• If pets could talk to each other, what would they say?
• If you were the captain of a ship, what would you call your ship? What would it look like? Where would you go?
• If your pet could talk to you, what do you think it would say?
• If you were the only person on earth for one day, what would you do?
• Plan the perfect birthday party for yourself. 
• What is your favorite thing to do over summer break?
• Describe your ideal birthday cake. 
• If you could add any type of room to your house, what would it be?
• What’s your favorite movie and why?

Persuasive writing prompts for elementary school

Are your students’ opinions up for debate? Ask them to flex their critical thinking skills with these persuasive writing prompts. Once they’re done, get class discussion flowing with a spirited debate!

• Write a letter convincing your parents to let you get a pet dog. What arguments do you use to persuade them?
• Convince your teacher that you should be allowed an extra 15 minutes of recess.
• Convince your best friend to read your favorite book.
• How would you convince someone to do your chores for you?
• Write a commercial for your favorite breakfast food. What would convince someone else to try it?
• What flavor of chips is the best? Why?
• What would make a better pet — a monkey or a peacock?
• Do you think children should be allowed to stay up as late as they want?
• What’s your favorite holiday and why should it be everyone’s favorite? 
• Convince us that your favorite food should be a staple in everyone’s diet.

As students enter middle school, they’re starting to feel like bigger, older kids. They can start writing original short stories and abstract persuasive essays. 

It’s best to inspire creativity at this age and encourage them to explore their own voice and different writing styles. These prompts will definitely go a long way in inspiring that.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle Schoolers

• Invent a new type of transportation for the future. Who uses it? Where does it go?
• If you had a time machine, where would you visit first — the past or the future? Why?
• You get on the bus and find a four-piece jazz band giving a concert. What do you do?
• Design and name your own Prodigy pet . What element are they? What’s their special power?
• Finish this story: “Something just touched my foot,” they shouted, swimming frantically towards the shore. 
• Write a silly or scary story to tell around a campfire. 
• Finish this story: Everything was going so well today — until I tripped and fell, right in front of…
• Throughout your adventures as a pirate on the high seas, you’ve seen lots of strange and magical creatures. Which one was the most interesting?
• Deep in the heart of a dark and mysterious cave, there lies a magic stone. Write about your quest to find it. 
• Write an acrostic poem using the word “strawberry.”
• There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She knit and she baked, but what else did she do?
• Finish this story: “One thing I’ll never do again,” she said, “Is go on vacation with an alpaca.”
• Make up a new planet and describe it. 
• Write a story about a family of penguins living on an iceberg.
• Write a story about a girl who can walk through walls. 
• You’ve been invited to a ball at the Queen’s palace! What is it like?
• Imagine you’re exploring the Amazon jungle. Write a diary entry about your day.
• If you could invent a TV show, what would it be about?
• You discovered an underwater kingdom! What is it like there?
• A lonely trumpet player makes friends with the dancer who lives next door. What happens next?
• You go to the park to fly a kite, but get carried away by the wind! What happens next?
• Write a story about a volcano that’s about to erupt.
• Write a story about visiting an old lady who lives deep in the woods.
• Boom, you’re a superhero! Give yourself an origin story, describe your superpowers and plan what you’ll do to make the world a better place. 
• Write a story using these six words: calendar, headphones, lipstick, mug, bear.
• You wake up to find you’re invisible. How did it happen? What do you do?
• There’s been a robbery at the bank, and you’re in charge of finding the culprit. How do you solve the case?
• Finish the story: Once upon a time, there was a dragon...
• You just joined a super-secret spy organization. What’s your first mission?
• Write a story about being cold without using the word “cold.”
• You’re a scientist and you’ve just discovered a new type of bug. Describe what it looks like, where it’s from and what you’re going to call it. 
• Imagine a world where all the birds can talk. What would they say?
• Write about what happens after the end of your favorite book or movie.
• Finish the story: She sprinted down the driveway to the mailbox. The package was here!
• You’re on a hike and a bird starts talking to you. What do you do? What does it say?
• Write a story using these five words: bubblegum, stapler, spoon, lightbulb, strawberry.
• You ate a magical carrot and your skin turned orange! What happens next?
• Write about what it would be like if you had an elephant for a pet.

Fun Writing Prompts for Middle Schoolers

• If you were in charge of the classroom for a day, what would your class do?
• Tell me about the last dream you had.
• You’re trapped on a desert island. What three things did you bring with you and why?
• What mythical creature would you like to have as a pet? Why?
• Invent a new type of pasta. What does it look like? What does it taste like?
• If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Make a plan and tell the story of your dream vacation.
• Plan the perfect picnic. Where would it be? What food would you have?
• If you could decorate your bedroom any way you wanted, what would it look like?
• Write a story that sounds loud, using onomatopoeia (words that sound like their meaning, like crash, snort, bang and boom.)
• Invent a new type of cookie. What does it taste like?
• Invent a new sport. What is it called? What are the rules?
• How would you disguise yourself to blend in with a forest?
• You just won a special award from the president. What did you do to earn that award?
• Do you collect anything? What is it and why? If not, what would you like to collect?
• You just found a genie in a bottle. What three things would you wish for? (Remember, no wishing for extra wishes!
• Explain how to play your favorite sport or do your favorite hobby. Make it as exciting as possible!
• Describe the most beautiful sunrise or sunset you’ve ever seen.
• If you could live in any book or movie, which one would you choose and why?
• Imagine that you’re going on a camping trip. What do you pack to make sure the trip is fun?
• If you could invent a robot to do any chore, what chore would it be? How would the robot do it?
• Would you rather it was always raining, or always snowing?
• Imagine you’re a toy inventor. What will you create?
• Would you rather climb to the top of a mountain or go scuba diving?
• Interview a family member about their childhood, then write it as a story.
• What was your favorite toy growing up — why was it so special to you?

Persuasive Writing Prompts for Middle School

• If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be and why?
• Is it better to read the book before you watch the movie, or watch the movie before you read the book?
• Persuade someone to try out your favorite hobby or sport.
• What’s the best way to try and persuade a friend to do what you want to do?
• When is peer pressure good? When is peer pressure bad?
• Is it better to have lots of friends, or just a few really good friends?
• Should students be in charge of what they learn in school?

High school students can either be tasked with more complex writing prompts or breathe nuance into simple story ideas. Students can drive these prompts in a million different ways.

So while not necessarily more complicated than middle school, these prompts can be tweaked, either by the student or teacher, to encourage thought-provoking output.

Creative Writing Prompts for High Schoolers

• Write a story about someone your age who lives on the other side of the world. 
• Pick up the nearest book and turn to page 7. Close your eyes and point to a random word on the page, then write a story about that word.
• Write a story in ten words or less.
• You fell asleep for 100 years. What does the world look like when you wake up?
• Finish the story: “This isn’t what I hoped would happen,” she said….
• You’re walking down the street when you see someone who looks exactly like you.
• Write a story where the main character learns something new about themselves.
• Write a story that takes place in the desert. 
• Write a story about a day where everything seems to go wrong. 
• Write a poem about the color blue.
• How would your life be different if you didn’t have access to a computer, video games or your phone?

Fun writing prompts for high schoolers

• You win a million dollars, but there’s a catch — you have to spend it all in 24 hours, or you lose all the money. What do you do?
• Write about something you or your family does from the perspective of someone from another country.
• If you could make up a new holiday, when would it be and what would it celebrate?
• Go out on a nature walk and find a tree. Write the story of that tree, from the time it was a seed until now.
• What’s the most boring superpower you can think of? How would it be useful?
• If you could pass any law, what would it be?
• You meet yourself in the future, as a grown-up at age 35 — what do you talk about? 
• If you had to show aliens the most important/best things in the world, what would you show them?
• Who is your hero and why?
• Write about the best surprise you ever got. 
• What are three good things you can do for the environment? How can you encourage the people around you to do good things for the environment?
• What is your earliest memory? Write down as many details as you can remember.
• If you could take two people – real or fictional – on a cross-country road trip, who would you take? Where would you go?
• If you could have any job in the world tomorrow, what would you do?
• What is the best thing about living in your city or neighbourhood?
• Write a letter to your 30-year-old self. What do you think you’ll accomplish by then?
• Teach me how to make your favorite recipe.
• Describe the sound of your favorite song using descriptive words.

Persuasive writing prompts for high school

• Should kids be allowed to use social media unsupervised? Why or why not?
• Persuade someone to start a healthy habit, or get rid of a bad one.
• Should all single-use plastics be outlawed? Why or why not?
• Should our school have a dress code? Why or why not?
• Is it more important to be right or to not hurt someone else’s feelings?
• What important historical figure do you think belongs on the ten-dollar bill?
• Do you think you’re born with your personality traits, or do you gain them as you grow up?
• Should mobile apps be responsible for protecting your privacy — why or why not?

Social emotional learning journal prompts

School is about more than just books and quizzes — it’s about preparing students for the rest of their lives. Social emotional learning teaches them how to build good relationships with peers, understand and control their emotions and make healthy life decisions.

Journaling is a great way for students to reflect on their feelings in a safe, private space. Use these journaling prompts as thought starters for more social emotional learning!

Check out our list of the 25 best social emotional learning activities for students here. 

• Tell me about a tradition you have with your family or friends. 
• What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
• Have you ever found something that you lost? How did you feel when you found it?
• What is something you haven’t learned this school year that you’re still wondering about?
• What do you do when you’re angry? Write about three ways you calm yourself down.
• Where do you feel the safest? Why do you feel safe there?
• Write a poem to make a friend happy.
• When was the last time you were kind to someone? How can you be kind to someone today?
• How are you feeling today? Are you happy, sad, excited or anxious?
• If you could give your best friend a present, what would it be?
• What are the qualities you look for in a friend? Why is it important to be a good friend?
• What does responsibility mean to you?
• Who do you talk to when you’re worried about something? How do they make you feel better?
• If you could make a card for anyone in your life, who would it be for and what would it say?
• What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
• Write about a time you had to make a hard decision. How did you make your decision?
• What do you do to make yourself happy when you’re sad?
• Write about a time you were disappointed. 
• What are three things that make your best friend awesome?
• What do you think empathy means? Why is it important?
• How can you cheer up a friend who is sad?
• What makes you a good friend? How can you be a better friend?
• What’s the best piece of advice a friend, parent or teacher has ever given you?
• Write three goals for the rest of the school year. How are you going to accomplish them?
• What does responsibility mean to you? What are you responsible for at school and at home?
• What person in your life makes you feel confident?
• What scares you? How can you overcome your fears?
• Tell me about a time when you tried something new. How did it feel? Did you do it again?

Math writing prompts for kids

Whether it’s tackling word problems or explaining a new concept, writing is a surprisingly good tool for the math classroom. 

A math journal can help you understand what students already know, while giving them space to work through tricky concepts on their own. Use these writing prompts to promote literacy in every subject — and help students avoid math anxiety .

• Tell me everything you know about ________.
• Explain, in words, how to solve this problem.
• What is and isn’t true about this situation?
• What is _______?
• Explain two different ways to solve this problem. Which one is better?
• What did you get correct in this problem?
• What mistakes did you make while solving this problem?
• What do you not understand about _____?
• Write a word problem using the concept we’re learning about. 
• What did you learn today?
• How do you use math in your everyday life?
• What is the easiest/hardest part of math class?
• What discoveries did you make in math class today?

Final thoughts on writing prompts for kids

Writing prompts aren’t the end of the story — they’re just the beginning. Encourage your students to build a regular writing practice, and soon you’ll see the benefits in every class. 

Where will your students’ imaginations take them?

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100+ Fun Creative Writing Prompts for Kids (and Kids at Heart!)

by Sue Weems | 0 comments

One of the best ways you can foster a love of reading and writing in children is to offer lots of low-stakes opportunities to practice. These writing prompts can be used with any group of kids you're working with: elementary school, middle school, or high school writers.

Prompts can help kids break through creative writing idea blocks or boredom. Whether in a slump or starting a new project, try a prompt a day and see what happens.

Keep it as simple as possible: one notebook or document, one location, the same(-ish) time each day, and a timer set for 5, 10, or 15 minutes.

Don’t let yourself edit, reread, or rework anything. Just write. Keep the pen moving across the page. There’s no wrong way to play.

Plus, there's a great note for you, whether you're a parent or teacher or both, at the end.

Give these fun creative writing prompts a try and watch how consistent practice contributes to ideas, confidence, and yes, even stronger writing skills !

20 Journal Writing Prompts

Journal prompts are fun writing prompts that are great for recording your everyday life. It's like taking a snapshot. It's fun to look back in a month, a season, or a year to see how you've grown or changed.

One additional thought that is important to keep in mind when writing a journal writing prompt is that it encourages kids to explore answers beyond one word or sentence. The best way to get them to write more is to ask why  they answered a prompt the way they did.

Asking the question why not only encourages children to consider their beliefs, wants, and values, but also pushes them to really explore their voice through creative writing ideas .

Recommended time for each: 5-7 minutes

1. What is your earliest memory? Describe this memory.

2. What is the best part of your week and why?

3. What is your favorite thing to do after school? Why?

4. What is (or was) your favorite toy? Why?

5. Describe your favorite animal or pet. Why is this your favorite? (Fun variation: Describe your favorite pet or animal's perspective of you.)

6. Describe your typical morning as if you are your bathroom mirror or a door in your home.

7. What is your favorite food? If you could choose anything, what would you pick to eat for breakfast? For lunch? For dinner?

8. Describe your last birthday party or celebration. Why is this your favorite?

9. Describe your favorite game or video game as if you are a character in the game. Walk us through it.

10. Who is your favorite person? Describe how you spend your favorite holiday with them.

11. What is your favorite character from a TV show or book and why?

12. If your life was a fairy tale, which one would it most resemble and why?

13. What is your favorite movie and why? Favorite TV show?

14. What was your favorite book to read when you were younger? What is your favorite book now? Why do you love it?

15. What is something grown-ups or family members ask you about? How does it make you feel?

16. What is one thing you are grateful for this week? Why?

17. What would your dream job be? Why?

18. What do you know a lot about that you could talk (or write) about for days?

19. What is your favorite season and why?

20. What is your favorite sport or hobby and why?

Bonus  journal prompts !

21. What kind of ice cream or dessert do you love best? Why?

22. What do you hope to accomplish before you grow into an older kid or adult?

23. If you got to spend a whole day with one famous person, who would it be and what would you do?

20 Letter Writing Prompts

Letter writing may feel like a lost art, but it's a terrific way to help kids practice writing skills because it requires an audience and purpose. Letters can be written to send to real family members or best friends. And every person has a different writing style when they write a letter, which makes them unique!

Letters can also be creatively designed to be a part of a story. Or they can just be practice for writing with a fun writing prompt.

Whether or not you use letter writing prompts for students or as a meaningful exercise to strengthen writing skills with your kids at home, or as a method for creative writing practice in school, letters themselves are a timeless art and method of connecting with others.

Letters can also inspire writers to take up a diary. Who knows, maybe they'll even want to use some of these writing prompts for their next diary entry, just for continued practice.

Give these creative writing prompts a try!

Recommended time for each: 10+ minutes

24. Write a letter to the most used piece of furniture in your home.

25. Write a letter to a best friend or good friend about a wild adventure you'd like to take together.

26. Write a letter to your favorite movie star.

27. Write a letter to your favorite wild animal (or your least favorite!) in a zoo or aquarium.

28. Write a letter to a family member about something you learned on your first day of school.

29. Write a letter to your favorite TV show character about what they should do in a future episode.

30. Write a letter to an alien explaining how you do an everyday task like eating or playing.

31. Imagine you can send mail through a time machine. Write a letter to your past or future self.

32. Write a letter to the inventor of your favorite food, toy, or game. Tell them what you love about it.

33. Write a letter to a historical figure you admire.

34. Write a letter to your favorite athlete or musician explaining why you love to see them perform.

35. Write a letter to an inventor of a household object with ideas for its improvement.

36. Write a letter to a parent, teacher, or other grown up to thank them.

37. Write a letter to a person, school, or organization about something that needs to be changed.

38. Write a letter to your favorite childhood cartoon.

39. Write a letter to your favorite author.

40. Write a letter to a pet you wish you had. (This could be a wild animal or a magical creature!)

41. Write a letter to a grandparent, aunt, uncle or other grownup about the best thing they cook or bake for you.

42. Write a letter to a sibling or friend full of as many jokes as you can think of.

43. Write a letter to the sidewalk explaining why everyone walks on them.

Bonus letter writing prompts: postcards!

Postcards require you to condense your message into as few words as possible. Try these!

44. Write about a winter or summer vacation memory.

45. Tell a friend about your last school year.

20 Story Writing Prompts

If you have a little more time, you can try these prompts to write a short story. Sometimes the hardest part about writing a story is coming up with a story idea that can get you or your students and kids started.

This article is here to help everyone get over that slump. It doesn't have to be the funniest story or best story in the world to be a great story. Every writer only gets better with practice.

Don't feel like you have to take any of these upcoming story ideas too seriously. Writing a short story is not a life or death situation. It is something that you can use  to explore yourself, your beliefs, and big, unanswered questions—all of which you get to explore through the eyes of a fictional character you create!

Most stories feature a main character who wants something, but conflict gets in the way. And the conflict forces them to make a crucial decision.

How will your hero pursue their goal? Figure this out by writing out your story idea!

Recommended time for each: 15+ minutes

46. Write a new ending or a next chapter for your favorite or a well-known fairy tale.

47. You get a call from your best friend that their favorite item is missing. Write a story where you work together to find it.

48. Imagine your bus or car suddenly turns into a spaceship with a course charted for outer space. What happens next?

49. A classmate or sibling calls for help and disappears before you can react. How will you find out what happened to them?

50. You're watching your favorite TV show when the screen flickers and you're transported into the show. What happens next?

51. A magical bird flies into a house and won't leave. What happens next?

52. A character finds a diary on their way home from school, and it's full of clues to a well-known lost treasure. Follow the clues.

53. You build a robot that is able to solve the world's most pressing problem, but you've lost control of it. What will you do?

54. Rewrite an historical event from the perspective of a kid your age living through it.

55. A character wakes up as the star player for their favorite sports team. The only problem is that they didn't get the skills to match. They have to go to practice to fake it until they find a way to change back.

56. A character discovers that their friend group is having a bash on the beach without them, but they know their family will be in the same area that day. What do they do?

57. A character's parent needs life-saving medicine but they can't afford it. How will the character get help?

58. In the middle of an acting class, an actor gets carried away and admits a life-changing secret. What happens next?

59. Send a dog and an armadillo on an adventure together to save another animal. (Challenge: no animals die.)

60. A first-time thief accidentally breaks into the wrong house and chaos ensues. What happens?

61. A character takes a wrong turn in a basement and gets lost in a series of underground tunnels where they find . . . finish the story.

62. Rewrite your favorite superhero scene or battle from the viewpoint of the villain.

63. A character inadvertently swaps backpacks with someone who is clearly a spy. What happens next?

64. A bookworm gets locked in a haunted library and can only find the way out by solving a ghost's riddles. How will they do it?

65. A couple kids are fishing from their canoe when a whirlpool opens and . . . what happens?

20 Story Setting Prompts

One element that can make or break a short story is the setting. You can have the most exciting story idea in the world, but if the setting falls short, the story probably will, too.

Use these creative writing prompts to play with imaginative settings that you can combine with story idea starters or character conflict that can amaze your friends and family.

Recommended time for each: 5 minutes

66. Describe a drive to town. (Challenge: Before cars were invented.)

67. Describe an underground tunnel in a forest.

68. You've just moved into your dream house when disaster strikes. Describe the scene.

69. Describe standing in the middle of a rushing stream or river.

70. Describe a new planet where an astronaut landed when they took a wrong turn in space.

71. Describe an abandoned skate park or playground.

72. Describe experiencing a storm from inside a car or bus.

73. Describe a world where everyone forgets something all the time.

74. Describe what it feels like in the top bunk of a cabin in the woods at midnight with no electricity.

75. Describe what it feels like to dangle your feet in the water from the edge of a dock.

76. Describe a restaurant with over-the-top decor.

77. Describe climbing through the branches of a tree. (Challenge: a bear is chasing you)

78. Describe how it feels to play hide-and-seek from your favorite real or imagined hiding spot.

79. Describe a fashion show. (Challenge: for puppy clothes)

80. Describe a summer hike on a challenging mountain trail.

81. Describe sitting in the bleachers during a packed event.

82. Describe a classroom or living room with too much stuff in it.

83. Describe getting stuck on a boat in the middle of a large lake or the ocean.

84. Describe the control room of a space ship or space station. (Challenge: add an emergency alarm buzzing)

85. Describe a supervillain's lair. (Challenge: add a stuffed bunny and make us believe it)

20 Character Conflict Writing Prompts

Conflict is what keeps a character from getting what they want. It can be another person (like a villain) or bad luck, a fear or flaw.

As you use this set of writing prompts, focus on making your character act in the face of conflict.

86. You receive a letter that you've been admitted to a high school that builds treehouses, but on the first day, you realize you're afraid of heights. What will you do?

87. You discover you have a superpower only to realize that you can only use it in one small confined space. What will you do?

88. A character spent a month and a lot of money decorating and preparing for an outdoor party when a freak snow storm hits. What will they do?

89. In the middle of a talent show, a performer begins reciting a poem that someone else wrote and had never shared with anyone. Write the confrontation scene.

90. A wilderness guide wanders off track losing a group of kids who have to survive on their wits and teamwork. How will they do it?

91. A singer joins a reality TV show contest when their twin sibling shows up one stage and says they are singing the same song. What happens next?

92. A scientist finds a rare rock formation that opens into another world, but his arch enemy appears as they're inspecting it. What will they do?

93. A bully gets trapped inside their favorite social media app and has to figure out how to make amends with those they have hurt to find their way out. How will they do it?

94. A family who often argues gets snowed into a cabin together one winter. How will they survive the storm and each other?

95. A character's cat goes missing and a week later, they see a grumpy neighbor feeding it on the back porch. How will they get it back?

96. A gamer stumbles into a chat room where other users are planning to shut down the network, and he has to find a way to stop them before it's too late.

97. A character is quietly finishing his work at school when there's a knock at the door and he gets called into the hallway where the frowning principal and another student wait. What happens next?

98. A knight is captured and told they will fight the fiercest creature in the land to the death. When they enter the arena, what do they see and how do they defeat it?

99. A spy on a top secret mission enters an enemy camp and sees their brother who is clearly part of the organization they're spying on. What do they do?

100. An assassin accidentally bumps into their arch enemy . . . at a children’s carnival where they’ve both taken their kids for an outing. What do they do?

101. A dancer gets a job on a video shoot for their favorite band of all time, but when rehearsal begins, they realize something isn't right. What happens and what will they do?

102. A tree crashes down destroying a hiker's only known bridge on the path back to their car, and their cell phone has no service. What will they do?

103. A soccer star is headed into the championship game, but they have been in a scoring slump for the entire series. What will they do to get out of their head and lead their team to victory?

104. Last year's art show winner is given the opportunity to judge this year's contest. They weren't supposed to see any of the entries before the competition, but they accidentally see a small section of the school bully's painting as they dragged it down the hall to display. When the judge arrives to view the show, they realize that the bully's work is really good, but the bully has been so mean to them and their friends. What will they do?

105. A student newspaper editor is stuck and doesn't know what to write, but their story deadline is tomorrow and they were just assigned a book report too! How will they finish on time?

A Special Note for Teachers and Parents of Kid Writers

Teaching kids to write can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t feel confident as a writer yourself. I work from three principles that help me encourage writers:

• Writing is hard work whether you are a beginner or a professional. Honor the process and write alongside your kids. It’s magic.
• Build on strengths and state explicitly what is working, what is clear, and what is unique about the writer’s voice and work.
• Beginning and developing writers cannot address everything at once. Invest in a cycle of deliberate practice, feedback , and application. Repeat.

Overall, writing is an amazing way to empower students by teaching them to use their voice and imaginations. Sometimes all they need is a little help getting started.

These writing prompts are designed for kids of all ages. Pull one or several and use as a great activator for a class—or a fun writing session in general!

It's important to teach children to use their voices, and to stretch their imaginations. Starting with these creative writing prompts for kids might be just what they need to get started, and gain confidence in exploring and sharing their ideas.

What are some of your favorite kids writing prompts?   Let us know in the comments .

It's time to use some of these creative writing prompts for kids to practice!

Depending on how much time you'd like to write, choose one of the writing prompts from this article's list. Set a timer for fifteen minutes , or ten or five. Then, write!

Don't worry about editing. Just press start and go for it! When you're done, take it one step further and share what you—or your students—come up with together.

If you're an adult/ kid-at-heart who wrote to a prompt, please share your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop here . And once you've shared, be sure to leave feedback for someone else who has shared their writing!

Sue Weems is a writer, teacher, and traveler with an advanced degree in (mostly fictional) revenge. When she’s not rationalizing her love for parentheses (and dramatic asides), she follows a sailor around the globe with their four children, two dogs, and an impossibly tall stack of books to read. You can read more of her writing tips on her website .

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57 Fun Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

General Education

With many kids learning from home due to Covid-19, easy-to-organize educational activities for students are more important than ever. Writing helps improve students' creativity, communication skills, and ability to focus, among other benefits.

Whether you're a teacher, a parent now homeschooling, or a student looking for something new and interesting to write about, these writing prompts are for you. We've collected 57 writing prompts for students of various ages, from elementary school through high school. From spooky story writing prompts to debating how to improve schools, this article has writing prompts that will appeal to all students.

Tips for Using These Writing Prompts

What's the best way to use these creative writing prompts for kids? It depends on a lot of factors, including the student's age, current schooling structure, and their own interests and abilities. Here are some suggestions:

Use as a daily writing prompts exercise. You can assign one of these prompts at the beginning or end of the school day, as a way to prepare for the rest of the day or unwind after schoolwork.

Set up a quiet space to write. Many people have a hard enough time writing even with no distractions, and it can be nearly impossible to respond thoughtfully to a prompt if there's a television on, people talking, etc. Having a distraction-free space can help your student focus on the work at hand and produce their best writing.

Suggest an estimated writing length. Most of these journal writing prompts are designed to be answered both briefly or much more in depth. By giving a number of words/pages to aim for, you'll give your student a better idea of how detailed their response should be.

Consider having students handwrite their responses. Writing by hand can help students be more thoughtful about their responses because they'll typically write slower than they can type. It can also help students improve their handwriting skills.

57 Fun Writing Prompts for Kids

Below are over 50 journal topics for kids, organized into three categories: narrative writing prompts, fiction/creative writing prompts, and argumentative writing prompts for kids.

Narrative Writing Prompts for Kids

#1: What is your favorite holiday or holiday tradition?

#2: If you could go back in time for one day, which time period would you choose?

#3: If you could learn one thing about your future, what would it be? Or, if you prefer not to know anything, why would you make that choice?

#4: Pretend you're writing an autobiography and need to create a table of contents. What would you name each chapter?

#5: What is your earliest memory? Write every detail you can remember about it.

#6: If you had the power to change one thing about school, what would you change and why?

#7: Describe three goals you have for yourself.

#8: Imagine you are creating your dream restaurant. What kind of food would you serve, what would the menu look like, and how would the restaurant be decorated?

#9: If you could build your dream house, what would it look like? What rooms would it have? What would the yard be like?

#10: What is the bravest thing you've done in your life? Why did you make the choice you did? How did you feel during and after the situation?

#11: What is the funniest thing you've ever seen?

#12: What is your dream job?

#13: What is one thing you're really good at?

#14: Pretend you are a professional reviewer and write a review of a book you recently read or a TV show/movie you recently watched. How many stars would you give it? What did you like about it, and what didn't you like?

#15: Write about a time you did something kind for someone else. What did you do, how did it make you feel, and how did it make the person you helped feel?

#16: Imagine your life in ten years. What do you think you will be like? What will you be doing?

#17: Write about the craziest dream you've ever had.

#18: What would your perfect weekend look like? What things would you do? Who would you see? What would you eat?

#19: Do you like your name? If so, why? If not, what would you change it to?

#20: Make a list of your favorite activities for each season.

#21: Write about your least favorite chore. What don't you like about it? What would you invent to make the chore easier?   

#22: What three pieces of advice would you give to your younger self?

#23: If you could be famous for anything, what would it be? 

#24: If you could create a new law, what would it be? Do you think it would be hard to enforce?

#25: Write about a time you think one or both of your parents made a mistake. What did they do, and what do you think they should have done? Did they admit their mistake?

#26: How would your best friend describe you? How would you describe your best friend? (You can also have your friend do this prompt and read each other's responses.)

Fiction and Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

#27: Write a story about a character taking a submarine ride under the sea. What sort of things do you think they would see there? Would they be afraid or excited?

#28: Write a new chapter for your favorite book or new scene for your favorite movie. Which characters would be there, and what would they be doing?

#29: Invent a new pet. What would it look like, and what would you call it? What would it eat, and how would you care for it?

#30: Start a story with a lyric from a song.

#31: Pick something nearby (toy, pet, flower, etc.) and write a haiku about it. Bonus points if it rhymes!

#32: Write a story about a character who gets lost in the woods and discovers a mysterious person there.

#33: Write your own silly internet quiz.

#34: Choose an object in the house and describe it in as much detail as you can without saying what it is. Then, have a parent or sibling try to guess what you described.

#35: Write a scary story that includes: a spooky pumpkin patch, a vampire afraid of garlic, and a black cat.

#36: Do some people watching out your window. Write a story using one or more of them as the characters. Make up backstories and imagine what they're doing.

#37: Write a story about what you think your parents were like when they were younger.

#38: Your character survives a shipwreck and washes up on a mysterious island. What is on the island and how does (s)he get back home?

#39: Imagine you can choose to be any animal for a day. Which animal would you choose? What would you do?

#40: Write a poem about your favorite season.

#41: Imagine you are chosen for the first mission to Mars. What would you bring with you, and what do you think exploring the planet would be like?

#42: Write a sympathetic story from the point of view of the "bad guy." (Think fractured fairy tales like Wicked or The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! , although the story doesn't have to be a fairy tale.)

#43: Imagine your pet gets a day to roam free before returning home. Where would it go, and what would it see?

#44: If you could have dinner with any three people (real or fictional), who would you choose and what would you talk about? What would you eat?

#45: Look through photographs, drawings, and paintings. Choose one and write a story about it, imagining where it is and the types of people/things there.

#46: Imagine aliens landed on earth. What would they look like, and how would they act? Would they be friendly or not?

Argumentative Writing Prompts for Kids

#47: Are there dangers of teenagers spending too much time on social media?

#48: Does homework actually help students learn?

#49: Should students doing e-learning this year get letter grades, pass/fail, or no grades?

#50: At what age should children get their own cell phone?

#51: Which is best: ebooks, audiobooks, or traditional print books?

#52: What's more important, PE classes or art classes?

#53: Which celebrity is the best role model for kids? Which is the worst?

#54: Should parents or teachers be able to ban certain books from schools?

#55: Which season is the best?

#56: Should students recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school?

#57: Should students go to school year-round and have shorter breaks throughout the year rather than one long summer vacation?

What's Next?

Also looking for science activities for kids?  Check out our 37 science experiments for kids that you can do at home!

Want to make some slime? We tell you how to make slimes without borax and without glue as well as how to craft the ultimate super slime .

Pipe cleaners can provide endless craft ideas. Read our guide for simple instructions for 31 fun pipe cleaner crafts for kids.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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• Writing Prompts

300+ Writing Prompts for Kids (+ Free Printable)

This is the ultimate bank of over 300 writing prompts for kids. From creative writing prompts to journal ideas and even quick poetry prompts . Whenever you’re bored or need a little inspiration, here are some fun ideas for kids writing prompts that can be used over and over again.

This list of creative writing prompts for kids includes a mixture of writing exercises, short story ideas, creative prompts and image prompts . All perfect for beating writer’s block and even for helping you write a whole story . If this list is too difficult to read through, you can use the writing prompts generator below to get some quick random ideas. And there’s even a free PDF version of this post available right at the end of this list – Just keep on reading!

Random Writing Prompts Generator

We put some of our favourite writing prompts in a video for quick viewing:

Over 300 Writing Prompts for Kids

• “Ready or not, here I come!” shouted Millie in the distance.
• 2 million years ago, one curious caveman makes an interesting discovery, which takes him to a city in the year 2020. Here’s a video for more inspiration on this prompt.
• A box is delivered to your house. You open it and find…What’s inside the box? Continue this story.
• A girl at your school has been hiding her true identity for years. Until one day it’s revealed that she is an alien from outer space with mysterious powers.
• A group of young puppies are separated at birth. One of them becomes a circus performer. The other, a well-pampered house pet and the final one a stray dog.
• A kind princess gets locked in a tower which once belonged to a powerful wizard. Instead of waiting for a prince or knight to save her, she creates her own spells to get out. Soon the spells start taking over and turn her into an evil witch.
• A man obsessed with comic books starts thinking that he is actually a supervillain from one of his favourite comic books. And now he is plotting world domination.
• A mastermind supervillain is tired of people always booing him and wishing him to disappear. He decides to become a good guy or a superhero and tries to get people to like him.
• A monkey at the zoo wants to run away from the zoo to join a circus.
• A mouse believes that he can talk to cheese. The other mice think he’s crazy – but is he?
• A new magic shop has just opened in town. You decide to get your brother a magic playset for his birthday from this shop. Instead of just playful magic, the magic set turns your brother into a warlock capable of turning humans into frogs and more
• A physics professor at a top university creates a gadget that can turn back time. He starts using it for his own personal gain, such as winning the lottery. Then he realises that he has created multiple timelines, where multiple versions of himself have been created.
• A superhero who catches the bad guy, but actually helps the “real” bad guy escape.
• A vegetarian shark explains how he feels like an outsider and doesn’t fit in anywhere. 
• A witch kidnaps you and locks you up in a tower. How will you escape? Why have you been kidnapped?
• A young Prince has locked himself in his castle to avoid eye contact with any human person. One look could turn them to stone.
• A young witch turns her three older sisters into dolls and plays with them every day. How will the three older witches become real again?
• A zombie who wants to become a vegetarian.
• After 30 years in prison, the big bad wolf is finally out. Write a short story about the big bad wolf’s life after prison. You can watch this video for further inspiration and clues.
• After a thunderstorm, you find a mysterious egg in your backyard. It starts to hatch and out comes a baby dragon! What do you do next? For help take a look at our dragon invasion video prompt .
• After eating a strange-looking vegetable, your pet bunny becomes a disgusting zombie bunny.
• After reading a magical book, you gain some magical powers. However, it turns out that you always had these magical abilities inside of you.
• After the accident, Nelson never felt safe again.
• Aliens are coming to invade Earth! Send them a letter to convince them to stop invading Earth.
• All humans eventually get a superpower. However, David is the only kid at school with no superpowers at all.
• All your life you knew your best friend. But one day you find out that your real best friend passed away years ago and was replaced by a robot.
• An adventurer discovers a glowing cube inside a dark cave in South America. But when they try to leave the cave, the cube summons a secret league of assassins.
• An everyday boy walks up from a coma to discover the world has been taken over by aliens – But is this all a dream?
• An evil conman (or any other type of villain) turns out to be your hero’s only saviour.
• An expedition in the Amazon rainforest gets deadly when you and your team encounter a group of warriors protecting the rainforest from outsiders.
• Another tea party, another game.
• Blinded by a bright light outside his window, Jake jumped up in horror.
• Bridget has been best friends with Charlie since elementary school. Everything changes when a new girl Chrissy becomes Charlie’s other best friend.
• Can you help Freddie the ninja cat write up a game plan to rescue his best friend and save the day? Here’s a video for more inspiration on this prompt.
• Can you write a how-to guide on how to make friends at a new school? Watch this video prompt for more inspiration.
• Can you write a short fantasy story about a strange key that opens up portals to new worlds? Here is a video to help you out with this creative prompt.
• Can you write a short story about a group of forest animals working together to save their home from deforestation? You can watch this video to inspire you further with this prompt.
• Can you write down at least 10 ways to show love to someone you care about, such as friends and family? You can use this video to help you out with this prompt.
• Describe the city of the future. In 100 years time, what will the world look like?
• Do you have a favourite magazine that you read? Write a letter to your favourite publication telling them how good their recent issue was.
• During a family camping trip, you find a backpack containing a strange-looking map, compass and a solid gold snake ring. What do you do next
• During the night, your house gets robbed. Now you’re on a mission to find the stolen items and punish the robber.
• Every night the same whispers. Every night the same cries. Who could this be and what do they want?
• Everything he touches turns to bananas that must be the worst superpower ever. When will it ever come in handy?
• Everything will be automated in the future. Humans won’t even need to walk or get up. The robots can do that for them. In fact, humans don’t do anything, apart from just exist in the world. This gives aliens from a nearby planet, the perfect opportunity to invade and take over planet Earth (see our planet name generator for more inspiration).
• Finish this sentence: For lunch today, I…
• Finish this sentence: If I could change one thing about myself, it would be…
• For years you have had breathing problems and suffered from asthma. You also had an extreme phobia of the ocean and deep water. Then one day, someone from your school invites you to a beach party. At the party, you learn that you’re a mermaid.
• For years you have played the role of a good superhero. Always saving lives and watching the people you love disappear. Now you had enough, it’s time to be the bad guy, it’s time to play the villain.
• Gavin was always getting the best presents. For once I wish I could be like him.
• Having a superpower was cool until Mindy started losing control of her power. It was like the darkness was taking over her whole body. She is now a danger to everyone, including herself.
• How was the very first superhuman or human with superpowers created?
• If dogs could speak, then Spike would be thanking Chris right now.
• Imagine if animals could write. Choose an animal of your choice and write a letter to them.
• Imagine that you are a fork. What would your life be like as a fork that humans use for eating with? As a talking fork, what would you say?
• In a futuristic world, humans are fighting against robots to keep their race alive. However, it turns out that everyone is a robot anyway and the true human race died out years ago.
• In a war between humans and aliens, you lose your best friend. However, he/she is really alive and working with the aliens.
• In the damp streets of Manhattan, there lived a fierce little cat.
• In the story of Hansel and Gretal, write from the perspective of the witch that lives in the Gingerbread house. 
• Is your family wealthy or short on money? Money can be a strong motivator and a source of conflict for many people. How does money make you feel?
• It’s ‘Bring a Parent to School Day’. But your main character’s parents are so busy that they can’t make it, so they bring their much older brother to school instead.
• It’s the 1930s and you are making your first debut as a circus clown. However, on the first night of the circus opening, things end very badly.
• It’s the annual snail racing championships. Pretend that you are a commentator for a snail race.
• It’s the year 2070 and crime is at an all-time high. To combat crime, one town has completely replaced its police officers with robot officers. However, the robot police officers malfunction and start thinking that all humans are criminals.
• Legend says that if you breathe in and out ten times in front of a mirror something strange happens.
• Life is good, life is perfect until you realise everything is a hologram and the real world is a dark and broken place.
• Life wasn’t great at all for Mr Pea. It wasn’t even mildly good.
• Loneliness is a strong emotion. Write about a time when you felt alone and what did you do to cheer yourself up.
• Look through some old family photos and pick one at random. Use this photo as inspiration for your next story.
• Make a bucket list of all the places you want to visit.
• Meeting a group of talking monkeys in the jungle.
• Mother has always warned me about not eating too much cheese before bedtime and now I know why! Cheese makes your nightmares come true!
• On her 13th birthday, Cassie was cursed to never speak again. She was such a loud, outgoing girl, now she’s almost invisible.
• One day, you notice that cats keep following you home from school. You eventually find out that you’re slowly turning into a cat yourself. How will you stop this from happening?
• People ran inside their homes, as the alarm rang.
• Pick a fairytale character of your choice and write a letter to them.
• Pick an inspirational quote and design a whole page around it in your journal.
• Robbie the robin thinks that he is the best singer in the world. But all the other birds think he sounds like a broken flute.
• Sitting alone in the dark, Jesse feared the outside world. She just wants to be alone.
• Sitting at his computer, Martin noticed something odd about his favourite computer game.
• Some say the number 7 is unlucky, but to me, it wasn’t.
• Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Spiderman – Whoever your favourite superhero is, write an imaginary letter to them.
• Tabitha the house cat knows there’s a mouse hiding in the kitchen. Write a monologue scene of Tabitha dreaming about catching the mouse.
• Talk about the struggles of being the most popular girl or boy in school. Think about the peer pressure you face daily.
• The desert-like sun burned his skin as he lay scorching in the sand.
• The room was a dump, as Jack frantically searched every corner.
• The same words over and over again scattered all over the floor.
• The sun shone brightly on the Oakland farm, but not all was bright.
• The world’s longest game of tic-tac-toe – For some reason, it just never seems to end.
• There’s an old ancient belief that the ocean is alive. When pirates pollute it with rubbish and hurt the sea creatures it makes the ocean angry. Write a short story from the perspective of the ocean.
• Think about a difficult decision you had to make recently. For example, did you have to choose between going to your best friend’s birthday party or visiting your dad in another country?
• Think about how your self-image has changed over the past few years. Has your confidence grown or withered away? Use this as your inspiration for your next short story.
• Think about the first time you met your friend. Write a letter to them reminding them of this time.
• Think about the funniest thing that happened in your life and use it as an inspiration for your next short story.
• This Halloween you decide to go as a simple ghost. What you didn’t realise is that by wearing the costume, you actually became a ghost. And your best friend dressed up as a vampire, is now actually a vampire!
• Thomas Saint designed the first-ever sewing machine. Write a story from the perspective of Thomas and how he came up with the idea.
• Three brothers are fighting with each other to be the next king of their kingdom – who will win?
• Tick… tock… tick… tock… time was going so slow.
• To make some extra money on the side, a farmer decides to open a knock-off version of Disneyland.
• Weather is a common theme in poems. Pick any weather of your choice, such as rain, snow, a sunny day and then write a poem about it.
• What do you think the world will be like in 10, 50 or even 100 years time?
• What hobby do you enjoy the most and how did you get into it?
• Write a biography of your life, as the child of an infamous pirate living out at sea. You can view this video for more inspiration.
• Write a day in the life story of a talking ice-cream family. You can watch this video prompt for further inspiration.
• Write a fairytale about a young prince cursed with the power of darkness. Take a look at this video for more inspiration.
• Write a letter to a company that you want to work for in the future. Tell them why you would make a good worker and why they should hire you.
• Write a letter to cheer someone up who is sad. You could include a funny story or joke in this letter.
• Write a letter to your favourite celebrity.
• Write a script of a conversation between you and a talking tree. You can view this video for more inspiration.
• Write a short story about a dog travelling across America to find his mother.
• Write a short story about being turned into a rat. You can use the clues and questions in this video to help you with your story.
• Write a short story about the life of being a husky dog working in Alaska to help pull equipment and people around in the snowy landscape.
• Write a short story titled, Raining Doughnuts. You can use the information in this video to help you out with this prompt.
• Write a story about a young boy or girl, who leaves their home to find that everyone is gone. Their friends, family, neighbours, pets – Everyone is gone. Watch this video prompt for more inspiration.
• Write a story dedicated to the best teacher or mentor you ever had so far in your life.
• Write about a nightmare you recently had.
• Write about a recent achievement or goal you accomplished. 
• Write at least 7 journal entries about being lost on a deserted island . You can use this video prompt to help you out.
• Write out a simple storyline for a new video game. Think about the year your game will be set in, who the enemies will be and how the game will start and end? Watch this video for more clues on what to include in your video game.
• You and your friends finally find the courage to enter the haunted house in your neighbourhood. But what exactly lurks inside the house?
• You are a master chef at a top restaurant. To keep the restaurant going, you need to come up with a new recipe or dish to include on the menu. Can you invent a new dish or menu item? Watch this video for more inspiration.
• You are going to visit your grandma. It’s a two-hour car drive to get and the traffic is extra busy today. While stuck in the traffic you have some funny, yet strange encounters with other drivers.
• You are researching your family tree for a school project. You thought your family was small until you stumbled upon some old family photos All those aunts, uncles, cousins that you never saw your whole life. Why keep them a secret?
• You are the best dark assassin in the kingdom. The king’s son has hired you to kill the king in secret. What do you do?
• You are the most famous superhero of all time. But what you don’t know is that your father is actually a supervillain which you’ll have to take down.
• You become the very first superhuman in the whole world after discovering that you can move objects with just your mind. You decide to keep it a secret and only ever use it when you’re really desperate. But this all changes one day
• You finally solve a Rubix cube to get trapped inside a life-size cube. Where you have to solve many cube-like puzzles to get released.
• You get an unknown phone call from someone. The person tells you that someone will knock at your door very soon and that you should not open it. You hear a knock at the door – What do you do?
• You just landed on a new planet. Describe this new planet to the other people on your spaceship. Watch this video for some clues and ideas to help you with this prompt.
• You’re the son of a mad scientist who rides a snail to school every day.
• You’re leaving a long adventure and you don’t know when you’ll be back. Write a goodbye letter to your loved ones and friends.
• Your best friend and you sneak into the school cafeteria after school to steal some food. But as soon as you open the door you hear the dinner ladies chanting some spell over something that looks like a smoking cauldron.
• Your long, lost sister who you thought was dead knocks at your door.
• Your main character is a poor farmer’s boy. One day his fortune turns around when he finds a magician’s spellbook deep in the forest.
• Your main character is a street thief and a shapeshifter. They can change into any human or animal. As the lowest ranking member of society, your main character is tired of being treated like dirt, so they decide to impersonate the king and take over the kingdom.
• Your main character is a werewolf hunter, but it turns out that he himself is a werewolf.
• Your main character is plotting the greatest revenge in history in their own mind.
• Your best friend died years ago and was replaced by a cyborg. And you only just found out recently.
• After going through some old stuff in the attic, you learn that your great grandfather was a war hero.
• Earth’s weather system has dramatically changed in the future. Now the weather forecast talks about balls of fire falling from the sky and tornadoes made of water flooding random towns.
• Everyone looked up to Lava Knight until he accidentally hurt someone with his superpowers. Now all humans are protesting against superheroes. They demand that all superheroes are stripped off their superpowers.
• On your 12th birthday, you’ll be old enough to join any of the four clans: Steel Warriors, Earth Souls, The Healers or the Wise Ones. But a secret group living underground called the Dark Assassins want to recruit you. What will happen next? (If you like cats and warriors, take a look at the Imagine Forest Warrior Cat name generator .)
• Your character has a big confession to make to the world.
• Your family is hiding a big, dark secret and they’ll do anything to keep it a secret from your other relatives.
• Alone sitting at a dinner party fit for 20 people, the main character explains how they lost it all for nothing.
• Have you ever felt pressured to do something? Write about this peer pressure from the perspective of your future self in 5 years time.
• Write a short story from the perspective of an alien living on Mars. You can use the following sentence as inspiration, “Humans are real! We are not alone! Humans are real” Chanted the crowd.
• Every year your family goes on a family vacation. But this year, the annual family vacation has been cancelled.
• “Master Jewel Thief Caught And Locked Up!” – That’s what the newspaper headline read on Saturday morning. It’s now Wednesday morning and another diamond robbery took place last night.
• During a cruise ship holiday, the ship starts sinking. You end up stranded on an island, where you have to survive until someone rescues you.
• You and your best friend find a beautiful sports car parked outside your home. The keys are inside and the door has been left open.
• Write a short story about a mad scientist who has found a way to combine human DNA with animal DNA to create superhumans.
• As an orphan child, Cassie always felt alone. Until she joined an art club and met her two best friends, Edwin and Miranda. Now she found a family that she never thought she’ll have.
• Each snowflake is unique and delicate. With only a few seconds before you melt, write a short monologue from the perspective of a snowflake falling from the sky.
• A cure for a rare disease mutates humans into flesh-eating zombies.
• Who raised you the most when growing up? What lessons did they teach you? How do they inspire you?
• There are many benefits to being a middle child. You don’t have the responsibility of being the eldest and you aren’t treated like a baby like the youngest. But still, you always feel misunderstood by your family and are always on the outside.
• Earth was created as a prison for all badly behaved humans. And now that the prison sentence is over, everyone can finally go home to their real planet.
• Your main character follows a street cat and ends up in a world where cats rule the planet and humans are their pets.
• The lights turn off, as your master goes to sleep. One dog sits by the bed of his master – What is he wondering about?
• You find an old pen in a magic shop. Every time you write something down using that pen it becomes true.
• A hard-working lawyer decides to leave the city life behind to start a new life in the country. As he ventures off to the country he realises that country life is not as calm or as relaxing as he thought it would be.
• Your main character is a spy in the year 1570. They have been hired to protect the queen from a secret league of assassins.
• It’s the year 2135, every household has their own robot servant. After years of learning from human behaviour, the robot servants develop a mind of their own and start to attack humans.
• For two whole years, you thought Catelyn was your best friend. So many secrets shared. So many moments shared. But she was just a fake friend – She was never there when you really needed her.
• One by one students from your class are going missing. It’s up to you to find out what happened to them.
• Everyone thinks that you’re this big, tough guy, but really you’re struggling on the inside. In a monologue, talk about your struggles and the judgement, you face every day.
• Write about something that brings you great joy in your life.
• Jerome the chameleon hates people staring at him, so he always camouflages. One day he sees a human and wants her to adopt him. But she never sees him. From that moment, Jerome doesn’t want to hide away anymore.
• It’s the 1930s and you are making your first debut as a circus clown. However on the first night of the circus opening things end very badly.
• Sarah can move objects with her mind, but her power is super weak. Until she connects with a group of girls from another high school. Together their bond forms the greatest power that anyone has seen.
• In the future, there has been a serious drop in the human population. After viruses, war and human nature have killed the majority of Earth’s population. Now humans are considered an endangered species.
• How was the first-ever newspaper or media company started? Your main character in this story is the first-ever reporter.
• Your little sister is always bugging you to play with her dolls, but you’re too old to play with dolls. Until one day you actually become a doll. Your parents think you ran away, but really you are in your sister’s bedroom on a shelf with all the other dolls.
• After years of horrific weather conditions and natural disasters, humans have learned to adapt to the various environmental changes.
• Not everything is rainbows and cotton candy on the planet of unicorns. Something deadly lurks underground.
• On a bus ride to an important college interview, your character goes through many self-doubts.
• An alpha wolf is kicked out of his pack for playing around with humans. Will he ever become alpha again?
• It has always been you and you mom. Until one day your mom introduces you to a lady and tells you that they are getting married.
• Mysterious symbols are appearing all over town. It is up to your main character to decipher the code and find out the meaning of these symbols.
• It’s the year 2,075 and scientists have discovered a way to make humans immortal. But only the rich and important people are offered this treatment.
• Write a monologue scene from the point of view of one of the ugly step-sisters in Cinderella. The scene can be set right after Cinderella’s wedding.
• During a football game, the ball falls into the forest behind your school. When you go to find the ball, you discover small fairy-like creatures in the forest. No-one believes you when you try telling them, but you know the truth.
• Your main character hasn’t seen their father in over 10 years. Suddenly out of the blue their father turns up asking for a place to stay.
• For centuries humans have evolved. From apes to modern-day men and women. This evolution has not stopped. In the year, 2200, some humans have special abilities or superpowers, such as mind-reading powers or the ability to fly. This has caused great destruction on Earth.
• After a huge argument, you learn your parents are getting a divorce. Your mom wants you to stay with her, while your dad wants you to come with him. What will you do?
• Write a short story about a magpie with a stealing problem. No matter what this magpie does he/she just can’t help stealing shiny things.
• Dragons are at war with humans. While foraging for food near the mountains you find a small ice dragon that helps hunt for food. Together you end the war between dragons and humans.
• Scientists invent a teleportation machine which allows people to travel all over the world within a few seconds. However, the machine goes bust and starts sending people into different dimensions.
• Complete the following story starter: The music stops, everyone turns around and they see…
• After the death of your uncle, you inherit his magical sword. When held in a fighting position, the sword turns you into a legendary superhero, called the crimson knight.
• A family camping trip gets dangerous when a pack of wolves start circling your tents in the middle of the night.
• Cats and dogs rule the world and humans are their pets.
• Little Red Riding meets the wolf in the forest. Instead of being scared of him, they become close friends.
• It’s Halloween night and you just finished carving a pumpkin with your parents. Later that night when you are alone in the house, the pumpkins start talking to you with the mouth you carved on them.
• After years of getting all the attention from your parents. Your parents bring home a baby boy and now it seems like no-one even notices you anymore. It’s all about your baby brother now.
• Known as the Floral Slayer, there is a serial killer on the loose. They are going around town destroying all flowers in public places, people’s gardens and front yards. Why are they doing this and who can stop them?
• When the world is about to end, a superhero and supervillain must work together to save it.
• A poem dedicated to your mother.
• Going to Paris on holiday.
• Dedication poem to your favourite celebrity.
• The creepy shadows in your room remind you of… 
• What is life like on a fluffy white cloud?
• Being on stage with everyone looking at you.
• Can you think of some common stereotypes that people have of women? Why are these stereotypes wrong? For example, some people think women should stay at home and not work – do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Think about something your mom is always saying and write down how you can help out.
• You’re on the beach collecting seashells. You then hear a calm whisper from one of the seashells. It whispers, “Come, find me…” What do you do next?
• We all heard the legend of mermaids and the loch ness monster. But can you write your own legend about a mysterious sea creature? 
• Write a limerick about the summer sun.
• Write one journal entry into your nature journal about the great outdoors. 
• Your favourite celebrity is about to give a talk on violence against pets. Can you help them by writing a powerful speech for their talk?
• Your new pet dog has superpowers! Create a comic strip about this super dog’s adventures. Who’s the villain? What are its powers?
• Write a short story which must include the following items: Vanilla Ice-Cream, Jam Sandwiches and a monkey. 
• You are the manager of your favourite football team. Create a game plan on how they can win their next game.
• Crystal was one of the most powerful witches of all-time. She defeated many evil warlocks and villains. But now she’s locked up in a mental institution. Is she really a witch or is she just crazy?
• After reading a forbidden book, the most horrific and disgusting creatures from hell crossover to Earth.
• A boy helps out an old lady, in return, he is given magical powers. Instead of using his powers for good, he uses it to destroy the world.
• Scientists accidentally create a vaccine which gives humans super strength, along with other traits.
• A hurricane destroyed a whole city. Write a story about a search and rescue dog.
• You find out that your cat is actually the king of a secret kingdom of cats.

• Write a short story including the following elements: An elephant, a balloon, pyjamas and a watermelon.

• How do rabbits celebrate a holiday like Easter?

• Complete the following story starter: The moon’s light reflected on the ocean. Maisie sat with her toes deep in the sand, thinking about her future. What would happen next? Now that everyone knows her secret.
• Complete the following story starter: Soon I will be powerful enough to beat them all!
• Write a story including the following elements: A lobster, two pairs of socks and a party balloon.
• Use a good memory from your life as inspiration for your next story.
• Use a bad memory from your life as inspiration for your next story.
• Complete the following story starter: The nightmares never ended for Clara.
• Write a story including the following elements: Your favourite celebrity, a hobby you enjoy doing and your dream holiday destination.
• Rewrite your favourite fairytale .
• Rewrite the lyrics of your favourite song. But this time make it all about food!
• Write a scary story about an evil prince who collects bugs.
• Write a short biography of a beautiful lady who ages 10 years in one day.
• Describe to your friend a brainy rockstar who hates school.
• Describe a day in the life of an old owl who tries to get into the Guinness Book of World.
• Write a rhyming story about an old movie star who collects bugs.
• Make up a conversation you might have with a nerdy alien who lives on a faraway planet.
• Describe the personality of a self-conscious fox who wants to win a dance contest.
• Write a short biography of an evil dragon who won a million pounds.
• Write a funny story about an ugly knight who tries to get into the Guinness Book of World.
• Make up a conversation you might have with a self-conscious ogre who discovers they have superpowers.
• Write a travel log for a devious dentist who is lost on an island.
• Describe the appearance of a smelly alien who gets lost in the Amazon rainforest.
• Write a detective story about a million-year-old zombie who is always getting into trouble with their parents.
• Describe to your friend a devious pirate who discovers a talking frog.
• Write a rhyming story about a smelly prince who has to save the world.
• Describe a very unusual day for a nerdy witch who has to save the world.
• Write a scary story about a million-year-old cat who ages 10 years in one day.
• Write a scary story about a nerdy rockstar who is lost on an island.
• Write a travel log for a devious dog who rides a giant snail to school.
• Write a story including the following elements: A magical pencil, a dog and a mischievous eraser.
• Complete the following story starter: Darren sat on the bus watching the rain pour down.

Free 150 Writing Prompts For Kids PDF

Now it times to Download your free printable writing prompts for kids PDF ! This printable pdf contains 150 writing prompts for kids, which you can print-out and use as inspiration for your next story! For more fun writing prompts, take a look at our dedicated writing prompts section .

This collection of writing prompts for kids are great for both young writers and experienced writers. We guarantee that you’ll feel more inspired and ready to beat writer’s block with these creative writing prompts. Share your writing prompts and tips in the comments below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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50 creative writing prompts for kids

Writing prompts for kids of all ages and unique ways you can help inspire your young author.

Getting lost in a great story is a thrilling way for kids to pass the time—especially if the story is in their own minds.

Making up stories or simply recording their thoughts in a journal builds learners’ self-awareness, self-esteem, creativity, and writing skills. Creative writing can also lay the groundwork for a lifelong habit that can help them process their emotions and observations about the world.

Here’s a quick overview of why creative writing is important for kids, age-appropriate writing prompts, and fun writing classes your kids can try. 

Why it’s so important to get kids writing creatively

Writing is an amazing outlet for creativity. When kids are allowed to write what they’re passionate about , they learn to associate learning with fun and happiness. In contrast, kids who “have” to read or write what they’re told, regardless of if they’re interested in the topic, can become completely disinterested in recreational reading and writing.

A study from the United Kingdom shows that while kids are largely leaning towards writing on screens instead of using pen and paper, the types of writing they do are surprisingly varied. Children and young people enjoy writing stories and poems, song lyrics, reviews of products they’re interested in, and diary entries.

Nearly 62% of kids stated they wrote social media content every month, highlighting the usefulness of online platforms for encouraging writing and reading in the home .

Kids of all ages can also benefit from 1-on-1 writing tutoring , especially if they’ve lost their love of writing and need to re-engage their curiosity. Take a look at our prompts below as a great way to jump-start the imagination and latch on to something your young learner is passionate about. 

You can also take ideas from your family’s favorite books or a beloved character from another media format, such as TV or movies.

25 writing prompts for young kids 

Write a story about a character who has a secret power—but no one knows about it.

Imagine a city that existed long ago but has now been destroyed. What did it look like? Who lived there? How did it all end?

Write a story about a planet that hasn’t been discovered yet.

Imagine you’re a mermaid. Describe your under-the-sea home. Who are your friends? What does your house look like?

What if your pet could talk? What would you two discuss?

Create a daily schedule for a person who is as small as a snail.

If you had to choose one of the following biomes to live in, which would you choose, and why: desert, rainforest, deep sea, arctic, mountains, or tropics?

If you could become invisible, where would you go first? What would you do there?

Why do you think your parents chose your name? Does it suit you? Why or why not?

Imagine you live on a deserted island, and there’s a big storm coming.

What is your earliest memory?

What would you do if you found a magic compass on the sidewalk that showed you how to get to wherever you wanted to go in under 3 minutes?

If you were the ruler of a kingdom, what would its laws be? Write a constitution for your society.

What would life be like if you were your favorite animal?

Is sweet or salty better? Write persuasively to defend your choice as if you had the chance to win a million dollars for making the best argument.

Write a step-by-step guide to being you.

Imagine you were the ONE person alive in the age of the dinosaurs. How would you spend your time?

Would you rather always be hot or always be cold? Decide, then write a story where the character is always too hot or always too cold. What are they going to do about it?

If there were a secret passageway in your house, where would you find it, and where would it lead?

If an alien landed in your backyard, what would happen?

What will life be like in the year 3000?

Are you most like an ocean, a gust of wind, a fire, or a tree? Why?

Write a letter to your current self from the future.

Imagine you lived in the mall.

Write a poem about one of your family members.

Find the perfect writing class for your young scribe. They’ll connect with passionate teachers and peers to kickstart their creativity. 

25 writing prompts for big kids and teens

In the movie of your life, who would you cast to play you, your family members, and your friends?

Write a scientific essay about your pet. Use language that is objective rather than subjective.

Write an itinerary for your dream vacation.

Write a story from the perspective of your favorite Star Wars character.

Write a letter to your younger self.

Would you rather have farts people can see or burp glitter? Defend your choice.

Create an original superhero—like Spider-Man or Batman.

If you became president, what’s the first thing you’d do?

What was life like for your great-great-grandparent at your age?

What would your life be like if you lived underground? Describe a typical day from the moment you wake up to when you get to sleep.

Imagine you’re a star athlete in your favorite sport. Describe a day in your life.

You’re living in ancient Egypt. Describe a day in your life.

Rewrite a classic fairy tale like Little Red Riding Hood, but set it in modern times.

Describe a day in your life to an alien from another planet. Remember, they don’t know ANYTHING about Earth!

Imagine you live inside your favorite video game—and you have to figure out how to get back to real life.

Invent a new sport. Describe the rules, equipment needed, and traditions surrounding games.

If you had a robot as a friend, what would you do together? What conflicts might arise?

Imagine you were in the zoo like an animal, and no one thought that was weird at all.

Write a letter to yourself in the future. Describe what life is like today—what technology do you use? Who are your friends? What are your favorite things to do?

Write a story where the characters can only ask questions.

Write a song that you’d perform if you got a record deal.

What would happen in the first episode of your favorite TV show with you as a starring character?

Write a text conversation between you and a ghost that lives in your attic.

Think of yourself as a character in a book. In the book's story, you're living your normal life until, one day, everything changes. What is your normal life like? How do you interact with the people in your life? What changes? How do you respond?

Write a story that will scare your readers.

Another fun way to inspire your growing author is with online writing workshops and clubs . Giving them practical opportunities to study and practice creative writing is a great way to support their passion. 

Resources for developing kids' creative writing skills

Help your children develop multiple crucial writing skills with Outschool’s live online classes, like: 

Writing persuasively

Creative writing skills for different age groups

Getting writing coaching and tutoring

Mastering essay writing

Constructing a five-paragraph essay

Writing poetry

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) classes

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365 Fun and Creative Writing Prompts For Kids – One Writing Prompt For Children For Each Day Of The Year

Creative writing prompts for kids stimulate innovative minds and imaginations. Anyone who loves to write, not just fiction authors, experiences times when they can’t write a thing. Writing prompts help children, and adults overcome writer’s block. Teachers use interesting writing prompts to stimulate students’ thoughts in various ways, for example, when writing scholastic essays, stories, and “imagine that” scenarios; it inspires imagination and critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovative ideas, and is fun.

We created a list of creative writing prompts for kids to improve different writing styles and multiple topics that will resonate with a child in elementary school to a teen in high school; we’ve also included kids writing prompts for preschool-aged children. With 365 ideas, there is a writing prompt for kids for each day of the year, enough to create writing ideas and resources teachers can use throughout the school year in class or distance learning.

Table of Contents

If you could… writing prompts for kids, creative writing prompts that focus on friends, writing prompts for kids focusing on family, creative writing prompts focusing on the person, social-emotional writing prompts for kids, would you rather… writing prompts for kids, what would you do if… creative writing prompts for kids, argumentative writing prompts for kids, descriptive writing prompts for kids, persuasive writing prompts for kids, write a story writing prompts for kids, mystery writing prompts for kids, write a letter/ email creative writing prompts for kids, point of view creative writing prompts for kids, animal themed writing prompts for kids, house/dream house themed writing prompts for kids, funny writing prompts for elementary school adventures, journal prompts for middle school, historical writing prompts for kids, math writing prompts for children, science essay writing prompts for kids, journal prompts for kids in high school, digital and social media-themed practice writing prompts for kids, children’s story writing prompts bonus for leap year:, great writing prompts for children and students to encourage awesome writing ideas.

One way to get a child’s creative juices flowing is to empower them!

If you could design the school uniform, what would it look like? What colors and fabric would you use? Would the clothing pieces be the same for boys and girls or different?

If you could change the school education system, how would you change it?

If you could go to any country in the world, where would you go?

If you could change places with someone for a year, who would it be and why?

If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be?

If you could organize a field trip for the class, where would you go?

If you could travel back in time to ask someone a question, who would it be, and what is the question?

If you could talk to a wild animal, what would you talk about?

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose, and how will it live in your home?

If you could only wear one set of clothes for a whole year, what would it be and why?

If you could pick a vegetable or fruit, what would you be, and what would it be like?

If you could live in a submarine and breathe underwater, where would you explore, and what would you find?

If you could meet one of the ten most famous writers of all time, what would you ask them?

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do? Consider that whatever you do has consequences, and you could stay invisible forever.

If you could change something in your past that would affect someone’s future, what would it be?

If you could drive any vehicle in the world, real or imaginative, what would it be?

If you could replace something you broke or something stolen, what would it be, and who does it belong to?

If you could read minds, name one person whose mind you don’t want to read and why.

If you could read five people’s minds and whatever you see or hear appear on the news the next day, inside whose minds would you be and why?

Fun Writing Prompts For Children To Write About Family And Friendships

What do you like about your best friend?

How would you describe your best friend in a few sentences?

If you could go on an adventure with your best friend, what would it be?

How would you react if you discovered your best friend is royalty?

How would you make your enemy your best friend?

What would you do if you visited your best friend’s house and found out your friend had turned into a snail?

Would you rather have a best friend or no enemies?

How many friends would you like to have and why?

What is the nicest thing you can do for your best friend?

How would your best friend describe you?

What kind of birthday party would you plan for a friend who has never had a birthday party?

List three things you never want your best friend to say. What will happen if they do say it?

Creative writing prompts about family are familiar topics kids can associate with. Whether they like or dislike the current situation or family members, there is always something to write about your family.

You woke up in the morning as a parent, and your parents are the children. Describe your day.

If money, time, or obligations weren’t a factor, describe the perfect family summer vacation.

Parents should be more lenient with rules. Do you agree or not?

Would you rather be your parents’ only child or have nine siblings?

What advice would you give parents on rewarding and chastising their kids?

Should one or both parents help with your homework? If so, how much and what kind of help should they offer?

Do you want your parents to ask you, “How was school today? Or do you prefer them not to? Explain why.

Would you rather eat dinner with your family at the table or in your room watching TV? Explain the benefits of both options and conclude why you prefer one to the other.

Your mom left her journal on the kitchen table. Would you read it or not? Explain why.

If you were a parent, what would you never allow your child to do?

If you had kids, how would you discipline them?

If you were the ruler of the world of parents and teachers, what would you insist they do at the beginning of every day?

What are two things your parents do or say that you hope you will do or say to your children one day?

If your family were superheroes, what special skills would each member have?

What is the most embarrassing moment in your life concerning your parents or sibling?

What is your earliest childhood memory that made you laugh or cry?

If each member in the family was a food, what would they be and why?

What is the best gift your parents gave you? A gift can be anything you treasure; it doesn’t have to be a tangible gift.

If you could organize a camping trip for the family, where would you go and what would you do?

Would you rather text siblings and parents or talk to them face to face?

What would happen if you took a parent to the class, and the parent behaved at school the way you do at home?

Name two books you would recommend parents to read and give your reasons.

Your family is going away for an exciting weekend. Each person can take only one item, and you must decide what they take.

Writing Prompts For Children’s Self-Discovery And Expressing Emotions And Feelings

What is the funniest thing you’ve ever done?

How would you describe yourself?

If you could look back from the future, what advice would you give yourself today?

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?

Who is your favorite person in the universe?

Which animal is your favorite and why?

If you could do anything in the future, what would it be?

If you couldn’t talk, how would you communicate?

What is the one thing you are truly good at?

What is your happiest memory?

What kindness would you want people to do for you that you will also do for others?

What is your favorite activity in spring, summer, winter, and fall?

What chore do you like the least to do? Would you rather do that chore or eat a grasshopper?

Describe an event that changed your life.

Describe three skills you are good at and three skills you would like to improve or have.

What is your favorite place in the world? What is your least favorite place?

What is the one thing you can’t do but wish you could?

Life at school is busy, and teachers have to teach students many things in a short time. A writing prompt for children is one way to strengthen social-emotional learning; instead of silence, kids write about their emotions. Creative writing prompts for kids help students express and discuss these vital concepts.

How do you feel about yourself and your abilities? Do you believe in your abilities? If not, how can you improve?

Are you self-confident? What gives you self-confidence? If you don’t feel self-confident, what can you do to become more confident?

What should you do, and what should you avoid doing when you are angry or upset?

How do you cope with stress? What can you do to relax and feel peaceful again?

Describe a situation where you had to make a tough choice, and you made the right choice.

What would you do if you were at the mall and you saw someone stealing something?

A new student came to school. Will you introduce yourself, ignore them, or make fun of them? Describe your actions.

How would you empathize with a student feeling sad?

It’s not always easy to ask for help. Discuss ways to ask for help and the advantages of asking and giving support.

What does responsibility mean to you?

Tell about an incident where you were kind to someone and when someone was kind to you.

What scares you? How can you overcome your fear?

How do you feel about a change in your life? Do you like it or do you prefer things to stay the same?

Interesting Writing Prompts For Children’s Creative Thinking Process – Would You Rather…What Would You …

“Would you rather” questions are fun and creative writing prompts for kids. These writing prompts offer choices that will make a child laugh or contemplate the best option; it may even change their outlook on some things in life.

Would you rather live on Mars or under the sea?

Would you rather be a frog or a rat?

Would you rather be a king or queen of a kingdom or a president of a country?

Would you rather write stories or poetry for the rest of your life?

Would you rather be a movie star or an astronaut?

Would you rather survive a shipwreck or a plane crash?

Would you rather live underground or in the sky?

Would you rather go without food or sleep?

Would you rather skip a grade and repeat the next grade for two years or go back to first grade for a year?

Would you rather travel back in time or into the future with a time machine that goes only in one direction?

Would you rather be a pet at home or a bird in the sky?

Would you rather be a newborn baby or a grandparent?

Would you rather have winter with snow or summer with flowers?

Would you rather be your parents or your grandparents?

Would you rather be four hands or four feet?

Would you rather go on an adventure in the desert or the ocean?

Would you rather communicate in 10 different languages and help a nation or be able to speak to animals and help prevent the extinction of an animal?

Would you rather pay someone to do your chores or get paid to do theirs?

Much the same as the previous section, except a little bit more open-ended by design. Use these prompts to drag out some entertaining, interesting stories from your students.

What would you do if you woke up one morning and you discovered you were on Mars?

What would you do if you woke up one morning and you had shrunk to the size of an ant?

What would you do if you were the school principal?

What would you do if you woke one morning and you were exploring Antarctica?

What would you wake up one morning and you are the house pet?

What would you do if you try to throw the ball forward, but it goes backward?

What would you do if you came to school but no one recognized you?

What would you do if you woke up in a strange land where no one looks like you or speaks your language?

What would you do if the character in a book jumped out into your world?

What would you do if a famous inventor from the past sat next to you in class? Who would you like the person to be?

What would you do if your favorite superhero came to visit?

What would you do if your handwriting became invisible and you had to write a test?

What would you do if all your favorite movie characters came to your school at once?

What would you do if you found someone living in your attic?

What would you do if you woke up on a boat on an island?

What would you do if the kids became adults overnight and your teacher became a child?

Outline Description Kids’ Writing Prompts To Inspire Imaginations And Critical Thinking For Articles And Essays

Kids must know what they believe about the topic before they can write their arguments. Argumentative writing tries to convince the reader that the writer’s ideas are valid and want to change someone’s opinion. The writer presents both sides of the argument and then forms their opinion based on the facts.

How does history help our future?

At what age should a child get a smartphone, and why?

Which cartoon character is an excellent example to follow and why?

Which celebrity is a fantastic role model for kids and why?

What is the best way to communicate?

What is better, reading books online, printed books, or audiobooks?

Why is it essential to go to school? If you disagree, what would you recommend as an alternative to education?

All sports should be banned at school. Explain why you agree or disagree with the statement.

Should or shouldn’t the school have a dress code?

Kids should be able to use social media supervised or unsupervised. Why?

Kids should go camping or hiking with family regularly.

Creative writing prompts for kids stimulate kids to write more engaging and creatively. Do you agree or not, and why? If you disagree, what alternatives do you suggest?

Writing is old-fashioned and will be obsolete soon. If you agree, explain the alternatives. If you disagree, describe the uses for writing in the future.

Reading and writing are essential even with modern technology.

A child won’t have to learn to write if they can verbally communicate. True or false. Explain.

Descriptive writing aims to describe a place, thing, or event so that the reader forms a picture in their mind. Details are essential, and consider all five senses when describing something. The reader should be able to visualize and experience what the writer describes.

Describe a life without electronics – no smartphones, tablets, laptops…

Describe a hole in the garden. What would happen if you fell to the bottom of the earth?

Describe A Day in the Life of your parents when they were your age.

Describe what it would be like to be a pretend character in a sibling’s favorite video game.

Describe what an eagle sees when flying over your favorite place.

Imagine a time machine that takes you back or forward in time. Describe what school, education, or lack thereof, would be like in that era.

Describe what it would be like to be a pair of shoes, any footwear a parent wears.

Describe the perfect classroom setup and decor for an elementary, middle school, or high school student.

Describe your favorite food to someone who has never tasted it.

Describe your favorite color to someone who cannot see.

Describe the worst place on earth you never want to go to.

Pretend you’re a king or a queen; describe your kingdom.

Persuasive writing helps students think about important topics and allows them to persuade others to their way of thinking. The goal is to have the reader agree with the writer’s opinion. Persuasive writing is often used to convince someone to buy an item.

Which is best, to be popular at school, top in your class, or the best in sports?

As a child, I should be allowed to know…

The best way to commute to school is…

Which is more critical for earth’s survival, the sun or the moon?

Everyone should journal daily because…

Video games influence a person’s behavior negatively and should be banned.

Computers are making kids less creative and lazy to think.

Modern music today is not of the same quality as the music was 100 years ago.

Boys or girls should only play certain sports.

Social media creates fake relationships and opinions.

Persuade your parent about a skill you need for the future.

Persuade your principal that the school should introduce a particular sport or exercise not currently available at the school.

All children should have a pet. Explain why and how the child will benefit.

A child should be allowed to practice the same privileges as a parent.

A child should have the freedom to choose if he or she wants to go to school or not.

Lying is never good, not even a white lie.

Story Prompts To Inspire Poems And Fiction Writing Romance, Fantasy, And Mysterious Adventures

Using your imagination to write a story is fun and stimulates creative writing. These story starters help younger kids be innovative when writing stories.

Write a story about a supposedly extinct animal found alive outside in your backyard.

Write a story about your favorite day as the president of…

Write a story about a strange land you discovered.

Write a story about visiting and exploring Mars.

Write a story about spending a day with a robot, a dog, and a cow.

Write a story about discovering a broken time machine that doesn’t use electricity.

Write a story about you invented something that changed the working world.

Write another chapter of your favorite book.

Write another ending to your favorite movie.

Write a story where the chief character faces their greatest fear. What do they do when?

Write a story where you wake up in a bully’s home, and they wake up in your home.

Write a story about a lost city deep in a mine.

Write a story about going to school on another planet in September.

Write a story about an invention that cured all diseases.

Write a story about discovering a gratitude journal in the attic.

Write a story about a kid who gave back to the community.

Write a story about a cartoon character knocking at your bedroom window with an eraser.

Write a story using these words in the narrative: “Send the menu, it is blue” or “The spoon has lots.”

Write a story about a child growing up among wild animals or dinosaurs.

Everyone likes a good mystery, especially if you are the one that solves it! The five essentials for a mystery are the characters, the plot, the setting, the problem, and the solution.

You are particularly bored, so you page through your mom’s recipe book. You come across a recipe that has really nothing to do with food or cookies. What happens next?

Your dad has a new job, and he doesn’t want to take about it. You follow him to work and discover he goes to a red door in a wall. You…

The local pizza owner calls you, the local detective, to solve a mystery. The cook makes the pizza, but when it reaches the customer, some toppings are missing. It only happens to pizzas made for younger kids.

One day, you and your best friend were walking in the woods when you heard someone calling for help.

Something or someone is hiding in the barn. You go to investigate and find a kid who can’t remember anything and a talking dog. You must help them get back home.

A kid in school asks you to write this amazing story, but after the first interview, the child disappears.

You go to school, as usual, only to find out it is two weeks later, the principal is missing, and you were the last person who saw him.

Someone is stealing the library books and leaving your name written in strange handwriting in its place. The principal gives you the weekend to prove your innocence.

A kid waves to you and beckons you to follow on your bike. He leads you down the wrong road to an abandoned mine and disappears into the mine.

Lost in the woods, you see a wolf lurking behind a tree as Red Riding Hood walks past. You know it is a fairy tale, but what are you doing there?

The school replaced the janitor with a basic robot. The way the teachers and principal ignore the robot makes you wonder if there is more to the robot than meets the eye.

You come home from school, and the basement door is open. You hear a humming sound, and you go downstairs to investigate. A man climbs out of a time machine. “Just in time, I was looking for you,” he says to you.

Your family returns from a vacation in a foreign country. The airport official tells your dad your country no longer exists; it has disappeared under the sea as Atlantis did.

You find journal pages scattered in the backyard. When you read a page, it refers to a family secret.

A letter or email comprises unique elements. A person usually writes a letter or email to someone for a specific reason and expects the person to respond.

Write a letter to your parents telling them why you are glad they are your parents.

Write a letter to your teacher explaining why all students should read your favorite book.

Write a letter to a new kid in class telling them what to expect at school.

Write a letter to a new kid who moved in, telling them about your favorite place in town.

Write a letter to a celebrity explaining why they should visit your town for the holidays.

Write a letter to your favorite cartoon character telling them why you should be in their next cartoon story.

Write a letter to your superhero telling them why spending the summer vacation with your family is a good idea.

Write a letter to your favorite pet.

Write a letter to a person who can help you develop a skill you aren’t good at.

Write a letter to yourself from a teacher.

Write a letter to someone from outer space explaining to them what a tree is.

Write a letter to the music teacher explaining why the school should create a unique band, the instruments they should play, who should be in the band, and the type of music.

Write a letter to a season explaining why it is better than the other seasons.

Write a letter to the mayor persuading him/her about something the town needs.

Write a letter to the principal explaining why all kids at school must move from classroom to classroom on skateboards or rollerblades.

Write a letter to the prom king or queen explaining why they should wear a similar outfit to the school’s mascot to the prom.

We all have our perspectives, but when we place ourselves in the other person’s shoes, we see the situation from their perspective. If we do that more often, there would be fewer misunderstandings in the world.

You are called to the principal’s office because of an incident. Tell it from the principal’s point of view.

Describe your town from an outer space point of view.

You argued with a parent. Explain what happened from their point of view.

Someone tore two pages out of your favorite book. Explain the reason from their point of view.

Rewrite a fairy tale from the villain’s perspective, being sympathetic towards the villain.

Your sibling suggests a movie genre you hate. Explain from their perspective why watching the movie with them is more important than watching your favorite TV show.

Children’s Writing Prompts With Fun Animals And Dream House Themes

Kids like animals and pets. Animals play important roles in stories and their lives. Most kids can easily associate with an animal or a pet. Animal-themed writing prompts are creative writing ideas that young children and older kids can write about; even those who think they aren’t creative will surprise themselves.

Write a conversation between a cat and a dog.

Write a conversation a parent has with a hamster, frog, or skunk.

If you could invent a new pet, describe what it would look like, its favorite food, what superpower it has, and how you would take care of it.

If you were the pet and your pet you, what would you want them to do for you?

What is your favorite animal, and which is your least favorite? Explain why.

What would the world be like if lions and deer and wolves and lambs were friends?

If you were a fish, what fish would you like to be?

If you were a wild animal or bird, describe your habitat, food, favorite season, and three interesting facts or something unique to that animal.

Write a letter to your teacher persuading them you can bring a wild animal to school.

What animal is the best pet in the universe?

Describe the best day with your pet. If you don’t have a pet, write about a dream pet.

If you were a bird that could fly anywhere, where would you go, and how long will it take?

Would you rather be a crocodile or a tiger?

Describe three animals, birds, fish, or insects that start with the letter b. Which one would you like as a pet?

If you could spend a day in the jungle with an animal, what would it be and what would you do?

One day, while swimming in the river, a fish swam toward me and…

Everyone knows the lion is the king of the jungle, but describe another animal (actual or fictitious) that you think should be king of the jungle.

Tell a story about why the ostrich stuck its head in the sand.

If you were trapped in a cage with a circus animal, what would happen?

Describe your dream house and which room would be your favorite.

Explain how you would get an elephant into your house.

Would you try to discover what is in a locked room in your house?

If you hear a sound in the attic that sounds like a call for help, what would you do?

If you had to remove one room from the house, which room would it be and why? Would you replace it with something else?

You sneak into the kitchen for a piece of birthday cake, but in its place is a plate of broccoli. What happened?

How would you build a shelter if shipwrecked on an island?

If you had all the money in the world, how would you decorate your dream house?

If you could build three things for three kids, a doll’s house, a treehouse, and a hideaway. What would it look like, and who are the kids you build it for?

Describe your dream house living in a strange land.

Journal Prompts For Elementary School And Middle School Learners

Children in elementary school have a unique sense of humor stimulated by the absurd. Creative writing prompts that make them laugh could also help them improve their writing skills.

A lobster is your substitute teacher; tell the story about what happens next.

You walk in the park and see two cows in a tree; what are they doing?

Someone replaced your favorite lunch with the most disgusting lunch, which they dare you to eat. Describe the food, and will you eat it?

It’s the national opposite day, and you have to say everything as an opposite. Describe your least favorite food.

Your teacher walks into the classroom with feathers like a duck and the head of a chimpanzee. You may not laugh; if you do, you will be sent to the principal’s office. What do you do to avoid laughing?

You wake up one morning, and your room is upside down. Your bed is on the ceiling. What will you do?

You wake up one morning with ears and a tail like a donkey. What happens next?

You walk in the woods, and a skunk sees you and invites you to a party. What happens next?

The teacher welcomes a new student into the class. Every time you look at the new student, they make a funny animal noise. Describe the noise and what happens next.

You are the only one that can smell outer space. Describe the smell to your best friend.

The teacher announces that you are going to learn new communication skills using your toes. Explain how it works.

Suppose you were a plant in your mom’s garden that could talk. Describe A Day in the plant’s life.

Write a thank-you letter to your best friend who gave you a piece of gum that smelled like trash and tasted like Brussel sprouts.

A gratitude journal or a journal writing prompt can be a statement or question that inspires the student to write about something. Middle school students practice their writing skills, and creative writing prompts for kids are excellent starting points.

You were traveling through a mountain pass in the 19th century. Something or someone is coming fast from the opposite direction. What happens next?

Write a story about a student who ran away and returns ten years later to find the hometown deserted except for one person. What happened, and who is that person?

What is your favorite hobby, and why?

If you lived underwater, what games would you play with friends?

A strange sound wakes you up one morning…

Describe your dream vacation with your best friend.

If you could climb any mountain in the world, who would you take with you and why?

If you received a large sum of money, what would you do with it?

If you could help someone from the past, who would it be, and how would you help them?

Would you rather be your favorite food or your least favorite?

You are an astronaut. Where would you go, and what happens on the way to your destination?

Elementary Writing Prompts For Scholastic Curriculum

One way to learn history is to write about it. Teachers can use history writing prompts to help students understand historical facts in a fun way.

If you could spend a day at the playground with one person from the past, who would it be, and what would you do?

If you could ask Abraham Lincoln one question, what would it be, and what do you think would be his answer?

If you could change any part of history, what would it be and why?

A famous historical figure from the past visits your parents. What happens next?

Describe A Day in the Life of children living during the early settlement years in the US.

Imagine you discovered gold in the California gold rush; what happens next?

Someone steals the Declaration of Independence, and you have to find it. Where will you look, and who stole it?

You are one of the daring riders during the Pony Express; describe your day.

If you had a visitor from outer space, how would you explain the Bill of Rights?

Write a mock interview with a child who joined their parent in an archaeology expedition in Egypt.

If you could interview anyone from the first century, who would it be, and what will you talk about?

Math writing prompts can help a child work through a math problem in a more relaxed way. How students explain their understanding of a word problem or new concept shows teachers where kids need help.

Rephrase this word problem in your words.

What mistakes did you make while solving this problem?

Explain the process steps to solve this kind of problem.

What is your favorite part of math class?

What is the most challenging part of math class?

Give an everyday example using math.

Describe a world without math.

What is true, and what is not true in this statement? How do you know what is true?

How would you explain this concept to a fellow student?

Write a word problem using these concepts.

Make notes during the lesson and then explain how the new math concept connects with previously learned concepts.

Tell me everything you know about…?

Explain two different ways to solve this math problem. Which is the most efficient way?

Change a value in this problem and explain how it changes the problem and solution.

How are these graphs or solutions similar or different?

Scientific experiments are fun, but writing about science could be as much fun. Science is part of our daily lives and our future; creative writing about science could make kids more aware of the practical application of science. It may even stimulate a child to explore a STEM-related career.

If you could choose any STEM career, what would you choose? How would you go about achieving your goal?

Choose a hobby or interest you like and explain how science is involved.

Is there a future on Mars? Should we colonize Mars, and if so, would you like to live on Mars?

Describe what your life would be like if the telephone was never invented.

Name a scientist from this century you admire. Explain what you admire and what you can learn from that person.

Your best friend hates science. How would you convince them science is fun and essential to our future?

If you could invent something, would you rather invent something to help planet Earth or improve space travel?

Are all inventions good for humanity? Explain your answer with an example of an invention.

How do you think science is going to change the world in the next 30 years?

Volcanoes erupt differently. Explain what causes some volcanoes to erupt with slow lava flow and others with explosive smoke and ashes.

The Earth has forgotten how to make fossil fuels. Write a step-by-step instruction guide to help Earth.

Write about A Day in the Life of an ant.

Create a list of ideas and at least five ways how kids and teachers can recycle.

Children’s Writing Prompts For Older Kids’ Creativity And Inspiration

Being a teenager can be challenging. Journaling is one way to help kids cope, strengthen critical thinking, and encourage them to reflect on their experiences in high school and life. A writing prompt that resonates with a teenager can motivate, inspire, and help the student write about what matters to them.

What is the nicest thing you can say to someone? Who in your life would you like to give that compliment to?

I agree curfew is essential because… Discuss the statement from your perspective and a parent’s perspective and conclude whether you agree or disagree.

How can students improve their communication skills with each other? If you think communication skills aren’t practical, what would you invent for better communication?

Describe an experience that made such an impact on you; it changed you, your attitude, or made you see a situation differently.

Do you have something precious that is always with you? What does it mean to you, and why do you carry it with you?

Describe or imagine entertainment for children that appeals to kids and parents approve.

Education is on trial. You must argue for education or against it. Why is it essential, or is it unnecessary? Present your case before the jury.

What is your ideal job or career? How can you attain your dream job?

What is best for students today, learning online, physical classroom, or a flipped classroom model?

Describe your personality using a season, two colors, and a plant.

What are the pros and cons of peer pressure? If you think there are only pros or only cons, explain why.

Who is the most special person in your life?

Describe a time when you felt isolated. If you’ve never felt like that, explain why.

What is the worst thing, and what is the best thing about the internet?

We should ban drones. Do you agree or disagree?

It is 20 years later and your birthday. Describe the day and how and with whom you celebrate it.

Name three people that influence your life in a good or bad way.

Would you rather have your journal pages published on the internet or have your best friend tell your deepest secret to the kids at school?

Would you rather attend a writer’s conference or an engineering workshop?

If a social media friend would meet you in real life, would they recognize you as the same person as the one on social media?

Why did you share photos on social media?

Have you ever posted or texted something you were sorry you did? What happened next?

If your parents could read all your social media posts and text, what would they say?

What is your favorite social media platform, and why?

If you could improve your least favorite social media platform, how would you do it?

At what age should kids be allowed to be active on social media?

Social media does more harm than good. Discuss the reasons you agree or disagree.

How long can you go without a smartphone? When is a person addicted to their smartphone? Do you think you’re addicted or not?

Describe three types of apps that are helpful and three types that are time wasters.

If you spent as much time on your studies as texting, would your grades improve or not?

If you receive a dollar each time you refrain from texting or posting, how rich would you be?

What is a reasonable amount of time to spend on social media platforms? Discuss it from your perspective, a parent’s perspective, and your teacher’s perspective.

Should tablets and smartphones be banned in school or applied more?

Write a breakup letter to your favorite social media platform and explain why you want to cancel your account.

Motivate five reasons why people shouldn’t be without social media.

Would you rather have your dream summer vacation without social media or stay at home during the summer vacation with social media?

Write a chapter in a book where the characters replace social media platforms like Instagram.

Would you rather have your family or a social media family?

Does social media improve communication skills with real people? Explain how with examples.

Would you rather ban books or social media?

Imagine a social media platform was a diary, and you fall into one of its pages. What happens next?

Write a conversation between the Internet and Social Media.

How is AI related to social media, and what do you think will happen in the future?

Use These Fun Writing Prompts For Pre-School And Kindergarten

Picture writing prompts for kids in kindergarten.

Kindergarten is an excellent place to teach kids that they can write. Creative writing prompts will help kids experience the joy of writing and putting their ideas on paper.

I am happy when I…

Do you like summer or winter better? Why?

What is your favorite toy in the entire world?

I like Kindergarten because…

What is your favorite game you like to play?

What is your favorite room in the house?

Name three things you like and three things you don’t like.

What is the funniest thing you can remember?

Which is your favorite story and why?

When I am a grownup, I will…

If I lived in the biggest tree, I would…

I went fishing at the lake. I cast the line into the lake, and then…

If I could build a robot, it would be able to mentor…

When I went to the aquarium, I saw batman spark…

Once upon a time, there were three kids who started…

AI is going to take over the world. Argue for and against the statement.

Whew! That is a lot of writing prompts! If you have any great additional writing prompts  you think need to be added to this list, leave them in the comments. We can update the list as time goes on.

Retha Groenewald is a professional writer working for FractusLearning. When not working with Fractus, she is web copywriter for the Christian market. Her writing is featured at Christian Web Copywriter and at Writing That Breathes Life.

Excellent prompts!

I agree with every factor that you have pointed out. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts on this.

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100 Writing Prompts for Kids: Ideas and Story Starters to Get Pens Moving Faster Than Ever

Stuck for writing prompts that will inspire your students to fill their pages?

We’ve got you covered. Here are 100 writing prompts that will get heads down and pens moving faster than ever.

• Write about a special bond you have with an animal.
• Describe your dream bedroom. What would be in it and why?
• You’re trapped on a desert island with only the things in your schoolbag. What do you do?
• Your pet is in charge of you for a day. What will they make you do?
• Write about a place that is important to you.
• When I discovered there was treasure buried in the backyard I…
• A friend from another country is going to swap schools with you. Write a letter telling them what to expect.
• The moment I woke up, I knew something wasn’t right…
• Write a letter to your teacher telling them why your favourite/favorite book should be studied in class.
• You get to be your favourite/favorite animal for a day. What do you do?
• Write a story where all your favourite/favorite characters from books and movies meet up. What do they get up to?
• Write an alternative ending for your favourite/favorite book or movie.
• Describe a day in your life if you were famous.
• Write a story where the main character faces their biggest fear.
• I looked out the window and couldn’t believe what I saw…
• You’ve got a magic pen. What can it do and how will you use it?
• Write a story that includes the sentence, “I should have seen this coming.”
• You discover a trapdoor in your house. What lies beneath?
• Describe a mistake you made and what you learned from it.
• Write a speech that tells the whole school why you should be a student leader.
• Write a letter to a younger sibling telling them everything they need to know about being in Grade 4.
• You can choose one new subject or sport to be taught at school. What do you choose and why?
• Homework should be banned. Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
• If you could travel through time, would you go to the past or the future? Explain why.
• Write about a famous person and why you admire them.
• Write about the best gift you’ve ever received. What made it so amazing?
• The dinosaurs are back, and they’re in your street. What happens next?
• If I could visit another planet I would go to…
• You dig the world’s deepest hole. What lies at the bottom?
• You’re the teacher for the day. What will you do in your lesson?
• If I could keep any animal as a pet I would choose… because…
• Your house has a secret and mysterious history. Write a story about what happened before you lived there.
• If I had a superpower it would be…
• The most interesting thing I’ve learned this year is…
• You get to change the school uniform. What would you make everyone wear and why?
• You get transported into the last video game you played. Where are you?
• If you could invent anything, what would it be?
• If I could only eat one food from now on it would be… because…
• You’re a detective working on a big, important case. What is it and how do you solve it?
• If I could have any job in the world it would be…
• Write a story where the main character is hiding a big secret.
• An alien arrives at your house. What happens next?
• You climb to the top of the tallest tree in your neighbourhood/neighborhood. What can you see that you couldn’t see from down below?
• Write a story where a boring, everyday experience gets turned into a big adventure.
• Describe what you look for in a friend.
• Who lives in the clouds and what do they do up there?
• What is your favourite/favorite holiday and why?
• It started out as just an ordinary day, but then…
• Write about a family member who has an interesting story to tell.
• You’re organizing the ultimate birthday for a friend. What have you planned for them?
• You can breathe underwater and swim like a fish. What will you do with your new power?
• Write a story about a lost city.
• What has someone taught you that you will never forget?
• You get sucked into the pages of your favourite/favorite book. What happens when you join the story?
• This year my goal is to…
• Write a thank you letter to a person who has helped you in some way.
• What is your favourite/favorite season and why?
• You work at the zoo and the elephants have broken loose! What will you do?
• “You’ve got the wrong person – it wasn’t me!” Continue this story…
• Write about a time when you felt a strong emotion (e.g. happy, sad, angry, scared). What made you feel this way?
• Write a story where a character discovers something surprising.
• If I could change one thing in the world it would be…
• Describe the oldest person you know.
• Imagine your life on a farm. What would be on it and what would you do?
• Write a story about a journey at sea.
• What is your favourite/favorite room in your house and why?
• You have $1000 to spend. What will you buy?
• You’ve grown wings and now you can fly. Where will you go?
• What is a food you find really disgusting? Explain why it’s so bad.
• Write about a journey to the top of a huge mountain.
• You’re the mayor of a new town, and now you want people to move there. How will you convince them to join you?
• Would you rather live in a cold, snowy place, or a hot and sunny place? Why?
• What would be in your dream playground?
• You’re starting a band. What instruments will you need and what sort of music will you play?
• Write about the best ride you’ve ever been on.
• One thing I am really good at is…
• What is your earliest memory? Describe it in as much detail as you can remember.
• Write about the most fun holiday you’ve been on.
• You’re a wildlife photographer trying to get a photo of a rare animal. What animal is it and how will you find it?
• Write a story where one character must keep an important secret. Will it be discovered?
• “Don’t look down,” I told myself. But then I…
• Write a story where two people meet in an unusual way and become fast friends.
• Write a “quarantine story” set in a single house.
• Write a recommendation of a book or movie for a friend. Why do you think they would enjoy it?
• A mystery chest washes up on the shore after a storm. Write a story about what happens when it’s discovered.
• Turn one of your strangest dreams into a story.
• Write a “how to play” guide for your favourite/favorite sport.
• Write about the most delicious OR the most disgusting meal you can think of. Make sure your reader can imagine what it tastes like!
• Every year a new person is sent to the moon, and now it’s your turn. What happens when you step out of the rocket?
• If you had a superpower, what would it be and why?
• Write a story where a holiday goes horribly wrong.
• I was terrified. Butterflies filled my stomach. But I took a deep breath and finally stepped out onto the stage…
• You’re handed a letter with your name on it. When you open it up you can’t believe your eyes…
• Write a story where someone discovers something surprising about their neighbor.
• You get to create a new holiday that will be celebrated every year. What is it called and what will people do to celebrate on this day?
• Write a story that takes place in a forest.
• There’s an old house at the end of the street hidden behind tall, dark trees. No one has been brave enough to enter, until now…
• Write a story about a snow day.
• You’re the host of a new game show. Write about what happens in the first episode.
• Write a story where someone discovers something they aren’t supposed to know.

Looking for more writing prompts for your class?

Reading Eggs is brimming with thousands of reading and writing activities. Story Factory in Reading Eggs for example, allows students to create their very own story books with illustrations. Once they have written a story, you can print it out to create a real book that is uniquely theirs.

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BEST KIDS WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 106 prompts reset

The witching hour, write a story about a child overhearing something they don’t understand., set your story on the eve of the first day back at school., write about a school trip that takes a turn for the unexpected., write a fable inspired by a relatable life experience (explaining the moral before or after the story, if you’d like)., write a story told from the point of view of an animal..

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Where is your dream house? Write a story based on that.

I'm the last person standing on earth, and..., you just got teleported into a movie what movie is it, and what's your next move.

• What is the holiday that you like the most? Why?

Write about something that made you sad recently.

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• Describe your happiest memory.

You have a choice between the superpowers of invisibility, flight, and teleportation. Which do you choose? Why?

Your teacher has been turned into a pumpkin what do you do to fix this situation, look outside and pick a random person. describe them., finish the sentence: this year, i want this list of things from santa..., finish the sentence: this year, my new year's resolution is..., your friend has crossed over to the dark side what do you do do you join them or do you fight them, if you were in charge of the country, what policy would you change first, if you opened a restaurant, what kind of restaurant would you open, write a story about a day out in the amusement park what do you do, win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

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The best writing prompts for kids

For a child, a couple of pillows can become a magical fort. The very floor beneath them can turn into lava. A cardbox box can become a great voyageur on the choppy seas. The sky is the limit when it comes to the adventures a day might hold — and for that reason, there’s no better time to start writing stories than childhood. If you’re a parent or a teacher looking to help inspire children or students to write, look no further than our list of imaginative writing prompts for kids. Hey, even if you’re an adult simply looking to reconnect with your former sense of childlike wonder or your own history, these writing prompts for kids will be right up your alley.

The creative writing prompts range from ideas that will spark a child’s ability to think outside the box, as well as prompts that will help them self-reflect. Each one is sure to inspire their curiosity and lead to an adventure of the imagination. Not only will these prompts provide fun, but they can also be helpful teaching exercises! Want to help your child practice their grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and sentence structure? Creative writing is the answer.

To get you started, here are our top ten writing prompts for kids.

• Imagine you owned a pet monkey for a day. What would you do with it?
• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
• If you found a time machine, would you use it to travel to the past or future? Why?
• You and your family are going on a trip together. Where do you go? What do you do there?
• Imagine what your parents' lives were like as teenagers. Write a story about it.
• Imagine you and your best friend hanging out ten years from now. What has changed? What hasn't changed?
• Write about your favorite birthday present. Why is it your favorite?
• What is your dream job? Write a story based on that.

If you’re an adult writing for kids, check out this free resource:

• Children’s Books Writing 101: Writing for the Right Age Group (free course) — Our ten day course for writing for young readers, including tips and tricks for publishing and marketing your book if you want to release your work to the world!

Want more help learning how to write a short story for kids? Check out How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest , for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

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