7 great ways to encourage kids’ writing
by: The GreatSchools Editorial Team | Updated: December 7, 2023
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It’s natural for young children to bubble over with ideas, schemes, and jokes. Unfortunately, capturing those ideas on paper does not always come as easily. Here’s how you can help your child get in the flow and learn to enjoy writing.
Help your reluctant writer at home
If your child struggles with writing, practicing at home will help, but you don’t want to make it seem like another school chore. The answer is to sneak writing into play — and vice versa.
As Joseph Pearce says in The Magical Child , “The child can never learn to play without the parent playing with the child. Play … is a huge creative potential built within the child, which never develops unless it is stimulated by the adult model, the parent.”
Remember that your role as a home writing coach is to have fun and to honor your child’s imagination. You don’t have to be the drill sergeant in charge of spelling. In fact, research shows us that in the long run, it’s far more important to encourage the communication of ideas than to hamper a child’s style for the sake of correct spelling.
Here are three key lessons from research that help back up the ideas shared here. “ Three lessons from the science on how to teach writing ,” a 2014 meta-analysis in The Hechinger Report , provides suggestions based on hundreds of studies. First, they advise trying to encourage all kids to write for 15 minutes a day, with extra time beyond that being even more helpful for maximizing writing skills. Poland raised their PISA scores after they implemented a rule requiring kids to spend four hours reading and writing each week.
“Write on a computer” is the second lesson. Why? Using software with spelling and grammar correction relieves kids from these distracting and demoralizing burdens, allowing them to focus on the substance of what they are trying to communicate. The third and final tip, “Grammar instruction doesn’t work” backs up the second lesson. According to the report, six different studies showed that writing quality deteriorates when kids are taught traditional grammar rules. Their essay grades drop below those of students spared the tedium of memorizing the functions of irregular verbs, conjugations, indirect objects, future perfect tense, and the like.
The root of the word “communication” is “to commune” — in other words, to coax the ideas in your child’s brain down through the paper and up into your brain. You can help by:
- Saying, “Let’s play a game.” There’s no need to mention “writing game” if your child is a reluctant writer
- Choosing subjects your child loves, like brontosauruses or monster movies or soccer or TV shows.
- Talking through ideas, asking questions, and listening carefully to answers.
- Making drawings, notes, and story maps together, if your child can’t remember ideas.
- Taking dictation or having your child use a computer.
- Praising honestly and liberally.
- Keeping games short.
- Sharing the work! Post written work on the wall or refrigerator, or sending it to family members and friends. Writing is meant to be shared.
- Quitting if it isn’t fun for your child or for you.
Try these writing games for grades K-2
Eat your words.
The reluctant writer of any age often needs to return to the word level. Make it fun by baking dinner rolls or cookies in the shape of words that mean something to your child. For example, if your child loves comic books, bend purchased dough into “Pow!” or “Shazam!” If it’s their birthday, bake their wish, like “Gameboy II.” (And if all this is too messy, use PlayDough or craft clay for words — but don’t eat it.)
Pretend you are stranded on an island somewhere in your apartment, house, garage, or local park. You need to write “Help!” so you will be rescued by planes that are searching for you. You don’t have a pencil or paper (and if you did, the writing would be too tiny to be read from the air). Tie towels around your head and take water (it’s hot on the island). You and your child must survey your surroundings and invent non-pencil ways to write HELP! If you’re in the bathroom, you might make giant letters out of toilet paper (and hope there’s no wind). If you’re in the garage, you might find paint and brushes. If you’re in the park, you can always write with your toe in the sand box. Suggest as little as possible, unless your child needs prompting. This game allows the child who balks at writing to experience the power of a single word when it is used for a reason. And if your child’s imagination is fertile, don’t stop at the first idea. Find as many ways as possible in each room or location.
Flying messages
You’ll need a ball or Frisbee, some tape, and paper cut into six 1-1/2 – 2″- wide strips the long way. Both you and your child should write three commands, one on each strip of paper, that tell the other person to do something physical. For example, you might write, “Hop on your left foot six times” or “Squeak like a mouse.” Try not to see each other’s commands. Go outside and stand as far apart as your child can toss the ball or Frisbee. You start the game by taping your first strip to the ball or Frisbee. Toss it to your child. They read the message and follow the instructions. Then they tape their first strip to the ball or Frisbee and return a flying message. If you don’t have a place to play outside or the weather won’t cooperate, you can stuff the message in a sock, ball it up, and toss it inside. (Hint: Don’t play this game on a day when you’re pooped.) In school, a child with learning problems may not connect why ideas in their head need to land on paper and be read. But when messages fly through the air, affect the other person’s behavior (and especially make them look silly), writing makes sense to the child.
Try these writing games for grades 3-5
Fortunately/unfortunately.
The writer Remy Charlip wrote a classic children’s book called Fortunately , in which one good event happens, followed by its unfortunate opposite. The book opens with, “Fortunately one day, Ned got a letter that said, ‘Please Come to a Surprise Party.’ But unfortunately the party was in Florida and he was in New York.” You do not need the book to play this game, but it’s more fun if you first read it together. (If your local public library doesn’t have the book, they can find it for you through interlibrary loan.) Each person playing the game receives one sheet of paper. Write in large letters at the top of a sheet of paper “Fortunately.” On the reverse side, write “Unfortunately.” Talk with your child about a trip they have always wanted to take. To Disney World? Across the United States by bicycle? To the moon? Help your child think of a first sentence about the trip, starting with something like “Fortunately, we won the lottery. Our whole family decided to buy bicycles and ride across the United States. Mother quit her job.” Write the “Fortunately” sentences. Then pass each paper to the other player. Turn it over and write the “Unfortunately” part. For example, “Unfortunately, it rained every day, and our bicycles rusted.” If your child wants to play more, you can either make new Fortunately/Unfortunately sheets or you can draw a line under the first part and continue the story. Number each part on the front and back, so you can read the finished stories out loud more easily. Remember, this is not the time to fuss about spelling. If it’s easier for your child with LD, let them dictate to you. Your role is to help your reluctant writer communicate their ideas to the world.
A day in the life
Photographer Rick Smolan has published a series of books called A Day in the Life… showing 24 hours in the life of an astronaut, a country, a state. Now it’s your child’s turn to create a similar book. Buy your child a disposable camera or let your child use your phone. Page through one of the Smolan books and explain the concept. Then talk about documenting one day in your child’s life (or the pet’s or sister’s or friend’s or whomever your child wants). Start the day by photographing your child asleep just before you wake them. Then let your child take a photo every hour of the entire day. (A timer set to an hour will help you remember.) Finish by taking a last shot of your child, asleep. Print the photos and paste each one on a piece of construction paper. Help your child write the details that explain each picture — why your child picked the subject, why it is important to their day, and who was nearby but not shown. Make a title page by writing “A Day in the Life of [your child],” with the date of the photographs. Punch three holes in the left margin and tie the pages together with yarn or dental floss. Keep the book forever, and show it to everyone. Talking about your child’s ideas is a crucial part of writing. It helps your reluctant writer capture those elusive details that sometimes scramble in their brain.
Family time capsule
Start by gathering a shoebox, paper and writing tools, and an envelope for each person in the family. Tell the family that you will be making a Family Time Capsule, to be opened in one or five or 10 years (or for whatever length of time you and the family vote for). It is to be a record of who you were, who you are today, and who you want to be. Have each member of the family write a private letter, telling the world about their life. Where were you born? How old are you today? What do you look like? What are your favorite activities? Foods? Books? Movies? Colors? Vacations? What’s going on in the world today? Where do you want to be in one or five or 10 years? If you have pets in the family, have the children write letters for the pets and take pawprints. When each person is finished, seal the letter in the envelope and write the person’s name and date on it. Then add more items to the Family Time Capsule, like baby and current photos, tapes of children singing and talking, postcards from vacations, and drawings. Also include the front page of today’s newspaper. Have everyone help seal the box with tape. Then write on the outside “Do NOT open until [date]!” Stash the box somewhere and forget it until Opening Day.
If I ruled the world
Your child has been elected to rule the world. They will need to give an acceptance speech on TV to their adoring subjects, but must supply the text of this speech to the person (you) who types it for the TelePrompTer. Other members of the campaign (i.e., the family) can also help with all steps leading to the final speech — proper costumes for Sibling Subjects, setting up the TV studio, and typing the speech. First, choose the props. What hat or crown should the Ruler of the World wear? What outfit? Does your child have a personal symbol of greatness, such as a favorite stuffed toy, blanket, item of clothing, or sports equipment? Set up the TV studio. You will need something to function as a camera (it can be pretend), lights turned on the Ruler, a microphone-like object, and something to serve as a podium. You can take a video on your phone. Now plan the speech. If your child has trouble with handwriting or sequencing, talk first about their ideas for ruling the world. What needs to be changed in the world? What would make it fun for their subjects to live in his world? Is there anybody your child wants to thank for helping them reach this important position? What are their plans for the future? If your child’s learning difficulties prevent them from handwriting comfortably, you can audiotape the brainstorming, jot down the key ideas, or take dictation. Then enter it into a computer or print by hand. Tape the papers together so that they form one long sheet. Have another child or friend hold up the paper next to the “camera” and let the Ruler deliver their speech. Share the video with family, especially at a gathering if you can, for the rest of your kid’s life.
Make writing a game, not a chore
Writing has many stages before it reaches paper — generating ideas, noticing likenesses, deciding on one main idea, eliminating other ideas, choosing appropriate words, and putting them in an order that readers can follow — and these stages can all be fun!
Your child may not always love to sit down and write. But if they can learn to enjoy the creative process and write for a reason and an audience, half the battle is won. Incorporate writing naturally into play and it need not be a chore for your child or for you. Let those ideas flow into print and sparkle.
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9 Easy Ways to Improve Your Child’s Creative Writing Skills
Creative writing skills boost problem-solving, innovation, and resourcefulness. Helping our kids build these skills is important. Plus, it also gives them an outlet for all their creative ideas. How do you build those skills without making it seem like work?
Here are 9 ways to make creative writing skills fun:
1. Read Often
Books are the best precursor to writing. So get your kids reading! With repeated exposure to words, ideas, and styles, and in books, kids build the ability to mimic and adopt them.
Flood them with exposure to books and watch their skills rise. Yes, it will look a lot like what they’ve read at first. That’s ok! They’re just playing “dress up” with other people’s ideas. They’ll soon start writing like themselves.
Encourage your children to read more than one type of writing. If they gravitate toward non-fiction, maybe try historical fiction. If they only like superhero stories, introduce them to a story with a main character of a different gender or ethnicity.
2. Identify Ways to Practice
Just like anything, improving creative writing skills takes practice. Set your children up for success by making practice easy and fun. This will only help them in future grades when they are required to write book reports .
You can piggy-back creative writing off of other imaginative play and encourage your child to write down episodes of the games he plays. Allow the free flow of ideas – the more creative the better!
Focus on this type of activity can be tricky for kids. It’s important to give kids a dedicated writing space. Fill it with fun paper or a kids’ journal, great pencils, and few distractions.
3. Encourage Your Child to Write
Children are often predisposed to wanting to write. Even before they can form letters correctly, many children will say they are “writing.”
Nurture this desire!
When children feel writing is powerful, and their writing matters, they will want to keep trying. However, they want to start writing is how they should write.
If your child struggles with the physical act of writing, consider helping with that part. You can use talk-to-text features in apps or even agree to be their “scribe.” Then they worry less about the act of writing and pay more attention to the ideas they are forming.
4. Encourage Journaling
Journaling is a great way to encourage creative writing. It gives them a concrete way to see their “progress” writing.
A handful of kids’ journals often come preloaded with prompts and ideas, which helps kids get started. It also helps that journaling is usually a daily activity. By having smaller, but more frequent, writing sessions, it helps children develop a perspective on what writing can be.
Journaling also helps build emotional intelligence. By writing about their feelings, children work through their thoughts and emotions and are better able to recognize and accept them. It gives them the opportunity to talk about difficult things without embarrassment, advice, or recrimination.
5. Use “Feeling” Words
Another benefit of building creative writing skills is children learn to use powerful words to draw in their readers.
You can encourage this development by helping them give their character’s feelings. When writers allow their characters to feel, they make them more relatable and interesting. But since the feelings of the characters don’t necessarily come to mind for kids, direct suggestion may help. Help them get there by asking questions about the characters. Why was the hero doing that? What was she thinking? How was she feeling?
Additionally, use inclusive language to make readers feel part of the story as it evolves. Educate children on the diversity of readers and encourage them to introduce characters that are from different cultures and backgrounds.
6. Use Writing Prompts
Does your kid express an interest in writing only to freeze when they actually try to write? Writing prompts could help your child overcome it.
Writing prompts can be found in many places. Look for interesting signs, funny pictures in advertisements, or even just asking “what if” and “why” questions . You could even play a song to inspire ideas and writing.
The idea is not to make them write about something, but to give them enough of an idea to push past the fear of getting started. Once kids get past the first few sentences and are “in” their story, their ideas will come to the surface.
7. Practice Storytelling
The reason why many creative writers write is their love of story. To help your child build creative writing skills, foster that love.
The key is to focus on telling a great story, not the writing. Let your child’s imagination run free as he piece together details that can complete a tale.
You can build stories together, with each person telling a few lines of the story before passing it along to the next. Or you can “get stuck” telling your story and need their help figuring out what happens next.
Whatever twists and turns in the plot happen are magical because it shows your child is learning they are driving the story. They get to create.
8. Play Games
A robust vocabulary is another important creative writing skill. To help your child build their vocabulary, try playing word games.
Word games are great because they put the emphasis on the game, not the vocabulary learning. The competitive aspect increases their intrinsic motivation to learn the words. The games themselves are great family activities.
If your child isn’t competitive, there are plenty of team-oriented options. You could also try magnetic poetry, other game-like world builders, or even a cool journal for kids where they write down fun words they’ve heard.
9. Provide Inspiration
The best inspiration for kids to write comes from loving the work of other writers. When your child has a book or series they love, keep it going! Encouraging their love of reading – and their love of story – will help them internalize the way their favorite authors write.
Reading to your children helps too. Because you can read higher-level books while your child listens, it allows them to focus on the story. It also gives you a chance to have conversations about meaning, characters, and plot.
As children read, they build vocabulary and understanding of how good stories develop. They will eventually be able to incorporate these ideas into their creative writing.
Creative writing is sometimes seen as a hobby- something to enjoy, but not to be taken too seriously. But building creative writing skills positively impacts children because they learn to express themselves, they practice writing about emotions, and they practice making their writing compelling to their readers.
Whichever strategies you use to help your child improve their creative writing styles, make sure you keep it light-hearted. When it is fun, they’ll want to keep trying, and that’s where the growth happens.
About the Author:
Alexandra Eidens is the founder of Big Life Journal, an engaging resource to help kids develop a resilient growth mindset so they can face life’s challenges with confidence.
Read more about writing and why it’s important to teach your kids cursive writing .
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Creative Writing for Kids: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Story
Creative writing can be a real positive force for children’s lives and development, but how does a child get started with creative writing? There are many ways, but it can often be helpful to have a structure to work from, so we’ve outlined some simple steps on how your child can write a story and enjoy themselves in the process! As they brainstorm, a lot of ideas will come to mind, so we recommend they take notes throughout the process.
What is creative writing?
Creative writing is an expressive form of writing that allows children to explore their thoughts, ideas, and emotions in an imaginative way. Unlike academic or factual writing , creative writing encourages children to use their imagination to invent characters , settings , and plots , fostering a love for storytelling and self-expression.
In creative writing, children have the freedom to write stories , poems , letters , and even scripts for their own movies. It's an opportunity for them to unleash their creativity, experiment with language, and develop their unique voice as writers. Through creative writing, children learn to think critically, problem-solve, and communicate effectively, all while having fun and exploring their creativity.
Encouraging creative writing at home or as part of homeschooling not only helps children develop their writing skills but also nurtures their imagination and confidence.
Getting started
Your child may not be quite ready to start, and that’s normal - writing can be challenging!
Instead of jumping straight in, ease your child into it with activities like free writing. This will allow them to explore any topic without pressure, acting as a way to boost your child’s imagination before they start writing stories .
If your child is a reluctant writer, you can try different methods that don’t actively require them to put pen to paper, but are linked to creativity and storytelling. These include drawing , picking out new children’s books from the local library, telling stories out loud, or dedicating time to read your child’s favorite books as a family. Generally, reading lays the foundation for your child to be able to create their own stories, improving their narrative writing skills by exposing them to different techniques, genres, and styles.
When all else fails, encourage your child to read more. The more that your child reads, the easier it will be for them to start writing.
Step 1: Character development
Creating a character is a great starting point for your child to write their own story.
This character can be whatever your child wants them to be. They can be a human, an animal, a mystical creature, or something completely made-up! Once they have a general idea of what they want this character to be, they can brainstorm different plot points, which will further inform the characters traits, behaviours, and role in the story.
Here are some questions your child should be able to answer about their character:
- What is going on in this character’s life?
- Do they have a problem that they need to fix?
- Who are they interacting with in this story?
- How do they feel about other characters, and about the issue at hand?
A story normally relies on one character to be the hero, and on another to be the villain. The villain is typically portrayed as a negative character who introduces a problem (the antagonist), and the hero is a positive character who solves the problems (the protagonist). Once your child creates their main character, they should establish their role within the story. Are they writing from the perspective of the hero, or would they prefer to give the villain of the story a voice?
From there, they can create side characters! These are typically parents, siblings, and friends of the main character, but can also be total strangers. If your child is stuck on how to build their first character, they can use writing prompts to make it a little easier. Try this prompt:
Prompt: Create a character that is half dog, and half elephant and call it a Doggophant! What does a Doggophant like to eat?
Step 2: Setting and genre
The next step in your child’s creative writing process is to choose where it takes place . They should also decide the genre of their story, as some settings won’t work for some specific genres (for example, a sunny beach wouldn’t pair well with a moody mystery).
This story’s setting could be a real location, such as London, Paris, or New York, or a fictional location, like an enchanted forest or an underwater kingdom.
A helpful way to start brainstorming is to ask your child about places they’ve been to, seen on TV, or read about in stories. This is a chance for them to imagine how their story would look like in different settings, and will help them decide on the genre they’d like to go for too.
Prompt (continued): Where does a Doggophant usually live? Is it a magical Night Zoo?
Step 3: Structure and plot
Before starting to plan the plot, your child should understand the basic structure of a story . All good stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
The beginning serves as a way to introduce characters, set the scene, and show the "calm before the storm”. This happens before a conflict is introduced.
The middle of a story is where most of the action takes place. This is where your child should introduce the main problem, and the main character’s journey of trying to solve it.
Finally, the ending or conclusion of the story is where, normally, the conflict is resolved. This can change depending on how your child wants to end their story!
Prompt (continued): Doggophants love when people visit the Night Zoo, but a new character named Lord Nulth is trying to steal all of the creativity in the Zoo! Does Lord Nulth sound like a nice person? Why would he want to steal creativity? How will Doggophant and other animals stop him?
Step 4: Begin Writing
Now that all the planning is done, let’s get writing!
As your child starts to write, they’ll probably make changes and come up with new story ideas— this is normal and an integral part of the creative process.
It’s important that you offer your support throughout this process, especially if your child is a reluctant writer. While giving them space to concentrate, you can check-in every once in a while, offering help if they encounter any hurdles. Your role mirrors that of a writing prompt, providing your child with initial ideas and nudging them to develop their story further. This collaborative approach ensures their story unfolds organically, making the blank page a canvas for unlimited story possibilities!
Step 5: Keep Going!
One of the best things about creative writing is that it enables children to express themselves and grow in confidence with every story they craft. It pushes children to believe in the phrase "I can", as they embark on different writing exercises without the fear of failing or being held by the “what if’s”. As your child starts their journey through the exciting world of writing, it’s important to guide them in the right direction. Encourage them to not overthink and just write whatever comes to mind at first.
To keep the momentum, you can even set different goals, like writing different descriptions, drawing their main character, or brainstorming different story endings before writing the full story. For reluctant writers, setting small, attainable targets can make the process less overwhelming and more exciting. Avoid setting strict word counts or time limits, as these can add pressure and take the fun out of the writing experience.
It’s important to remember that progress isn’t linear, and that every child is unique. If they need to, you can allow your child to build their story gradually, creating a more fluid project that enables them to work when inspiration strikes. Once they finish their first story, you’ll probably see a change in their attitude, and a new motivation to write a different piece.
Creative writing can be a rewarding experience for you and your child. Make sure you give them positive encouragement, and to soak in the experience of reading the story once it has been completed. They’ll have created something one-of-a-kind, and it will give you an exciting look into their imagination!
Step 6: Try Night Zookeeper
Still having trouble getting your child motivated to write? You should try Night Zookeeper !
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We cover all styles of writing, and boost children’s writing skills using an array of different activities, including writing lessons, short story prompts, and challenges.
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Creative writing techniques for kids: a step-by-step guide to writing a story
The way literacy is taught in primary schools has changed radically in the last couple of decades; when I was at school in the 80s we copied from blackboards, had whole hours of handwriting practice and sweated over spellings without any formal teaching of phonics whatsoever. While I think the more structured approach to literacy teaching we see in classrooms today makes learning more fun and accessible, my one worry is that there’s little time left for writing creatively.
When I was at school I adored writing stories – even stories with chapters and illustrations. I know my author brother did too – we found some of his old stories a few years back, and I felt so pleased he’d had the time to write these endless pages of action, adventure, characterisation and twisting plotlines.
As a primary teacher I ensured I would have a week each term when, during literacy sessions, we would focus solely on creating stories. I wasn’t deviating from the curriculum – far from it. During this week children would be consolidating their learning of phonics and be ‘writing for purpose’, considering carefully the aspects of story and who their audience might be.
It may very well be that your children write stories at home regardless of whether they’re required to for school, because most children have a seemingly natural urge to want to do so from time to time. This is just a little guidance on how you can support them and encourage a more structured approach to their story writing.
Plot planning
Firstly, ask your child where the story is going to take place . It could be somewhere fictional or real, it could be a planet, a country, a town or a house – anywhere!
Then, ask when the story is taking place – now? In the future? In the past?
Finally ask what they think is going to happen . Remember that this doesn’t have to be accurate and they don’t have to stick to what they say; many of the best writers say that their plots develop organically as they write. If they do have a firm idea of where they want to go with the plot, though, they can create an outline by completing a story planner, which could look something like this:
- And finally….
Download a FREE Creative Writing toolkit!
- KS1 & KS2 workbooks
- Bursting with fill-in prompt sheets and inspiring ideas
- Story structure tips, style guides and editing suggestions
Characterisation
Ask your child who is going to be in the story. How do they want their readers to feel about each character? Again, they may want to jot some ideas down. You could make a table for them to help them organise their thoughts, with these headings:
- Name of character
- Relationship to other characters
- What he/she looks like
Story language
Ask your child to think of some fabulous words to use in their story writing . They might be long words or simple ones, or they might be great descriptive words or words that help create pace and tension. Encourage them to jot these down and refer to the list as they write their story.
Story starters
All writers know that you’ve got to capture the attention of your readers right from the start; you want to make them desperate to read on. Ask your child to think of some good story openers that’ll entice people to find out more. Here are a few examples:
First sentences that are mysterious… Molly had no sense of the day that lay ahead.
Story starters that use language tricks like alliteration… It was damp, dark and dreadfully dusty when Molly entered the house.
Story openers that create tension… Molly could hear her heart beating faster than ever before. Could this really be happening?
Stories that go straight into dialogue… “But I don’t want to go to school, Mummy,” groaned Molly.
Encourage your child to look at some of the books they like to read and see how they begin in order to offer inspiration.
Get writing!
Once they’ve got all of these ideas in place, they can start writing. They could do a draft in the first instance and then a neat, polished version later. They may wish to write in short chapters, use illustrations, or make their own book to write in – let them use their imagination and creativity when it comes to presentation, and make sure you show how much you value the end product by keeping it to read again with the other books in your house.
If your child finds writing a story a little daunting, start with something small from our list of 9 fun writing projects to do with your children .
We also recommend the free art and creative writing challenges on the Night Zookeeper website ; your child will be contributing to a co-created animated television show.
You could also try a great story-making app and get your child writing fiction on their tablet!
Plus, find out how to support storytelling skills for children in EYFS , KS1 , KS2 and KS3 to get them thinking about story elements, plot and character development.
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- FREE articles & expert information
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10 Ways Kids Can Learn Creative Writing
It’s not like these parents are pushing their kids into creative writing. Far from it. Their kid is writing stories at nighttime, under the covers with flashlight, and filling notebooks with pages of words which they call their “book.” Their kid is practically begging them to teach them how to write creatively, but the parents often don’t know what to do.
This is where I come in.
Over the years I’ve perfected an email I send to these parents, and now, for the first time, I’m sharing the contents of that email online.
Here are the 10 best things you can do to teach creative writing to kids:
1. Subscribe them to kid’s writing magazines
Even better, many of these magazines accept submissions from children. I can’t emphasize how important this is. The most important thing for a writer, of any age, is to feel like they have an audience. And you, Mom or Dad, are a good audience, but if they could publish what they’ve written between the pages of a magazine they love, you will give them a thrill and a confidence boost they will never forget.
Even if they don’t publish in a magazine, it gives them something to aspire to. It makes them realize that other kids are publishing in magazines, which makes them feel like writing is something alive and vibrant, not something dead on a page.
These are 4 magazines of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction published by Cricket media:
- LADYBUG, ages 3-6
- SPIDER, ages 6-9
- CRICKET, ages 9-14
- CICADA, ages 14 and up
Highlights is another good one, for kids up to age 12, and you can check out their submission policies.
Humpty Dumpty (ages 2 – 6)
Jack and Jill (ages 6 – 12)
Creative Kids is written ENTIRELY by other kids, kids from all over the world, so this is a great one to read and to submit to. It’s a little bit older, though, aiming at ages 8 – 16.
Stone Soup , a bi-monthly magazine, is another one written entirely by kids. They have a long list of guidelines for how children under 14 can send them work.
2. Set Up A Special Place to Write
A place is one of the most important things to a writer. I myself only write in two places: at my desk or at the coffeeshop. Place is a trigger that tells my brain it’s time to write, and if you set aside a special place for your child, it will encourage them to write more regularly.
They don’t need a desk. Try a corner and put some pillows and a blanket in it, and add a sign on the wall that says, “[Child’s Name]’s Writing Nook.”
Or set up a small table in their fort, or in the garage. Anything they can call their own.
Also, buy them a few notebooks of different shapes and sizes. A big one with lines for when they’re feeling ambitious, and a small one for jotting little notes (I like Moleskins).
Buy them (or let them buy) a special pencil or pen. It’ll make a big difference when they have all their own materials.
3. Check out Local Writing Workshops
Many cities have creative writing seminars for children. Check your local listings. See if your library has one, and if they don’t, ask if they could start one.
A great one is called 826 National , set up by Dave Eggers. The stores are themed wildly, with pirate or astronaut gear, and they have regular creative writing lessons taught for accomplished writers (I know a lot of creative writing graduate students getting their MFAs and Ph.D.s who taught at 826).
4. Don’t Praise the Wrong Way
It’s natural your child wants you to read their work. And of course you’ll listen to them read, or read it yourself. But how you praise their work makes all the difference.
The biggest mistake parents make is to praise in general terms.
- “I loved your story.”
- “That was so wonderful!”
- “You’re very talented.”
That is the worst thing you can do to your children’s writing.
Let me tell you what will happen: they will become addicted to the praise and seek that rather than the reward of creative work. They will also be disappointed by general praise because it seems like you didn’t read their story at all, and you’re praising them as a person rather than the work itself.
When you praise their story, praise specific elements:
- “I love the way that dragon was both fierce and kind.”
- “The witch was so scary!”
- “I could really picture the dog, with his sharp teeth and dirty fur.”
And ask them questions:
- “Why did you have the jewel in the cupboard?”
- “Was the old man in the story inspired by grandpa?”
- “What happens next?”
They should take my children’s book course!
- Taught by a children’s book editor
- Practice quizzes, bonus PDFs, and writing exercises
5. Connect them with a Writing Mentor
So find some living breathing writers! Someone you know must write for magazines or newspapers or be a fiction writer or write a regular blog. Have your child draw up a list of questions and interview this writer. It will thrill them.
Now, maybe the mentoring will be pretty low key — maybe they’ll ask them one question once a year — but the point is that it will get your child excited about writing!
6. Encourage Reading
I mean have them read multiple books a day.
When I was nine or ten, I remember going to the library with my mother, checking out eighteen books (that was the limit), and reading eleven books that day.
Yeah, that’s right. I read eleven books in a day .
Eleven is still my record.
Now true, they were small books. But that’s beside the point. The point is that I read until my eyes went blurry. I only took breaks to go to the bathroom and to eat. I was a maniac. I probably spent ten hours reading that day.
Of all the formative experiences in my life, I think that was the one I look back at and say, “I became a writer that day.”
Because you don’t become a writer by writing. You become a writer by reading. Writing always happens after the reading. If you feed your child’s desire to read, they will have the foundation and creativity that will feed their writing.
Since so many of my best emotional experiences came from books, I wanted to become a writer.
One last very very very important tip: The only way to have them become a reader is to limit screen time.
If you have the television on, if they are on their phone or playing videos games, they will never become a reader. Have strict limits on screen time, and they will explore reading and love it.
7. Self-Publish Your Child’s Story or Book
One of the best things that ever happened to me was that my father was my teacher in 5th grade. He was an elementary school teacher, and for one of his activities, he had the entire class write fiction stories. Then he self-published them all in a hardback book.
I still have that book. My story is about flying a bi-plane into space with my best friend to stop a laser from shooting and destroying earth.
It might be the best story I’ve ever written.
Try to replicate that in your kid’s school. Ask your kids teacher whether a day can be designated when students can read their stories out loud in front of their class. Then suggest taking those stories and compiling them in a book. Self-publishing is very easy these days. If you send a file to anyone, they should be able to print it without too much cost. Or you could go to Fed-Ex and get a bound copy for even cheaper.
By having your child read their story in front of their peers, they are getting an audience even closer to them than publishing in a magazine. Their peers can tell them what they think of the story, can praise them for how good of a storyteller they are. They will really feel like a writer.
8. Supply them with Writing Prompts
But if they get in a funk, give them some writing prompts for kids .
9. Send them to Writing Camp
If you’re more excited than your kid about creative writing, then sending them to a camp sounds like torture. But if they cheer when you suggest it, by all means send them.
Google to find Writing Camps in your area. I live in Orange County, and found one in Los Angeles.
For a national organization, check out Writopia . They have workshops for kids aged 6 to 18.
If you have a daughter, send them to Writegirl .
10. Buy them Writing Board Games
But I have a confession: I own a lot of them.
Not only that, but I’ve used them to teach kids how to write before, too. They’re awesome.
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10 comments
I just shared this on Twitter. I have a five-year-old son who’s just starting to pay attention to his journal where he never did before. Pictures mostly but some words….this is a great list of ways to encourage kids to write. I especially like your suggestion to be very specific with praise when you’re pointing out how much you enjoy the child’s writing. I have my son subscribed to National Geographic for Kids but had no idea that writing magazines even existed for kids like the ones you mentioned above. I’ll have to check them out.
Will I start writing creatively.
awesome i liked it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is great! A Friend sent me the link for your article coz i asked her about how to help my child start creative writing. I love all your tips and i think they are gonna be very helpful not just for kids but for any age beginner writer as well. Thanks for sharing!
Do you have any advise and where publish short stories in Spanish?
Thank you for sharing this valuable tips with us!
Thank you for this helpful post. We are based in India and like most of the world are homebound for the foreseeable future. Do you have any recommendations for online creative writing courses? I have two children aged 8 and 10 who have a lot of time on their hands and would like to try one.
Loved the great tips especially about the praise and the limit screen time. Look forward to trying these with my 11 year old daughter. Thank you.
Hi yes I am taking Creative Writing classes in Delhi both offline & online.
This article was super! Such wonderful tips. Thank you 🙂
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A Step‑by‑Step Guide to Helping Your Child Write a Story
Story writing helps kids learn to put their thoughts into order and use written language to communicate their ideas. Your child can enjoy the fun online story writing factory and create their own story books in Reading Eggs. Free trial
Taking those first steps towards writing a story can be both a fun and challenging activity for your child. By planning and writing a story, children learn to put their thoughts in order and use written language to communicate their ideas in a variety of ways.
Finding ideas and inspiration for writing a story can be tricky for both children and adults alike. Helping your child structure their story from beginning to end is a great way to make the writing process a whole lot easier.
Step 1: Think of an idea
A good place to start is by reading a book together. Stop and ask your child to make predictions about how the story might end. Your child's alternative ending may become great material for a new and original story. You can also write stories based on real‑life experiences, such as your child's first day of school, an adventure in the park or losing their first tooth.
Step 2: Create a character and a setting
Ask your child to create a character and a setting. Will their main character be a child, an adult or an animal? Will the story be set in the local park, a different country or outer space? Let your child's imagination run wild!
Step 3: The Beginning
All good children's stories have a beginning, middle and an end. Ask your child to expand on their original story idea and set the opening scene. What's special or different about their main character? Maybe it's a cat who enjoys taking baths, a superhero who can't fly or a princess who lives in a cave!
Step 4: The Conflict
A story with no conflict can be rather dull. Help your child understand the concept of conflict in a story by revisiting some of their favorite books. Explain to them when a conflict arises and encourage them to create one for their own story. They can even introduce a new character to shake things up!
Step 5: The Turning Point
The turning point is usually in the middle of the story and helps to make a story more interesting. It can be a eureka moment, a time where a character discovers a hidden superpower or a surprise that throws the whole story into a spin. Ask your child to think of something that the reader would least expect. It doesn't always have to make sense – this is your child's time to unleash their imagination!
Step 6: The Resolution
A good story doesn't finish without a final resolution. Ask your child how the conflict in their story pans out. Challenge them to link the conflict with the turning point to create a meaningful resolution.
Step 7: The End
A satisfying ending is the perfect way to finish a story. What happened to the characters once their conflict became resolved? Were they able to finally achieve something, or did they learn an important lesson as a result?
Let your child write their own stories online!
Reading Eggs includes hundreds of self‑paced reading lessons, fun games, and multiple learning areas, including the Story Factory. Your child will love the step‑by‑step guide to writing their own story books, as well as the weekly story writing competition.
For more tips and ideas, check out our other articles:
How to Improve Writing Skills for Children
How to Develop Creative Writing Skills in Kids
10 Ways to Help Improve Your Child's Writing Skills .
Homemade Story Books are a great way to nurture their creativity and you'll end up with a wonderful keepsake to treasure. Encouraging your child to make their own books has many educational and emotional benefits.
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My Child Hates Writing: 27 Tips to Help Reluctant Writers
Your child hates writing. They’re not alone. Helping students learn to write can be an uphill battle. Some students resist all forms of writing.
Does this resonate? If so, here are 27 writing teaching tips to help you and your reluctant writer.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.
Table of Contents
What do you do when your child hates writing, 1. don’t allow fear to drive your teaching, 2. focus on the objective of writing, 3. ask, ‘why does my child hate writing’, 4. understand the complexity of writing, 5. remove barriers to writing, 7. stop the name calling, 8. isolate academic skills from others, 9. check fine motor skills, 10. consider visual processing deficits, 12. zone of proximal development, 17. use narration, 18. scribe for your child, 20. slowly hand over the reins, 21. less is more for resistant writers, 22. use engaging topics, 23. relationship first always, 24. identify learning gatekeepers, 25. try grammarly, 26. back off of neurodivergent students, 27. strengthen working memory, resources for moms of struggling learners.
The following are 27 effective strategies to help when your student hates writing. Let’s dive in.
When your child hates writing, your default response can be fear-based. If we’re honest, our frustration stems because our kids aren’t meeting the academic expectations of others.
I’m no exception and have fallen into this trap way too many times. When it comes to helping your student learn to write, let me encourage you.
Even if your child hates writing, i t’s going to be ok. Please don’t push your reluctant writer out of fear. It doesn’t work.
Trying to shove our square pegs into round holes does NOT create round pegs. It creates broken squares. We’ve got to s top fighting against our kids’ wiring and work with it.
So, what should you do when your child hates writing? How do you get that reluctant writer to pick up a pencil? To answer that, let’s talk about the ultimate objective of writing.
When you have a child who hates writing, it’s important to think about the goal of a writing assignment.
- Is the end goal of that writing assignment to see handwritten symbols (letters) on a page?
If the answer is yes, then we’re talking about the physical act of handwriting or penmanship. That’s a worthwhile skill. No doubt. But is penmanship the real goal?
As I’ve mentioned a million times before, when kids resist learning, there ‘s a reason. While many adults tend to favor the belief that kids are just lazy, there is often much more to it. Friend, reluctant writers hate writing for a reason. It’s our job to help them find the reason. Then we can help them fill in the gaps so that they can move forward.
Writing is a complex process that requires the integration of multiple skills, many of which are executive functioning skills . Specifically, a writer has to:
- Working memory
- Note that this skill does not always happen automatically .
- Structure ideas in a way that an audience can understand.
- Search the memory bank to retrieve the proper sounds that make up those words and ideas.
- Associate letter sounds with images of letter symbols.
- Transpose letter symbols onto paper by coordinating the tiny muscles in the eyes, hands, and fingers.
Processing Language
Language processing and handwriting skills take years to fully develop. In Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Auditory Processing Disorder , these developmental skills can take longer to develop.
Unfortunately, children are often expected to complete writing activities before developmentally appropriate.
Creative Writing: The Kiss of Death
As an example, let’s take a peek at the one writing assignment most American kids (and adults) have faced.
Open your writing journals and write about what you did last summer.
Yep. I’m talking about that dreaded creative writing assignment. For some kids, creative writing is the nail in the writing coffin.
- Some kids are not as naturally imaginative and are more literal in their thinking.
- The ability to hold information in their heads long enough to process it ).
- Many children struggle with l anguage processing issues which make articulating and organizing their thoughts difficult.
These kids may stare at that sheet of paper in horror. For support related to creative writing, consider these creative writing tips .
APD vs ADHD: Auditory Processing or Inattention?
When given tools based on individualized needs, reluctant writers can take their next step in the writing process. The bottom line is that if we want to motivate kids to write, we’ve got to make writing as accessible as possible.
When your child hates writing, you need to remove writing barriers.
6. Give Reluctant Writers a Purpose
I believe that God has created every child with gifts, passions, and purpose. Every. Single. Child. We must instill in our kids a vision for themselves that they cannot yet see . An effective teacher inspires greatness in their students. We must make writing (communicating) an inherently valuable activity for children who hate writing. And we do this by giving reluctant writers a purpose.
Choose Your Words Carefully
When trying to motivate a child to write, your approach can make all the difference. For the child who hates writing, that may sound like this.
You, my friend, have a valuable message that needs to be communicated to the world. We may not know what that message is right now, but I know God has a plan to use you to change the world.
We must instill in our kids a vision for themselves that they cannot yet see .
Within our culture and the church, we often label children based on outward behavior.
He’s just being lazy. He can hold a pencil just fine.
When children resist learning, calling them lazy doesn’t solve the problem. It certainly doesn’t motivate or encourage. This is especially true when teaching Autistic kids, those with ADHD, and other learning challenges.
Neurodivergent children receive an exponential number of negative messages throughout their daily lives which leads to Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria . When I’m struggling, the last thing I need is for someone to call me lazy. The messages we send to kids (whether verbalized or not) are the ones they take with them into adulthood.
No matter what the subject area, when your kid is struggling, ask yourself this question:
What’s going on behind the behavior?
When teaching a new skill to an unmotivated student, do not combine multiple skills at once . That may push them beyond their capacity to achieve success. You don’t want that. Isolate writing from other barrier skills. For some that may mean removing the physical act of writing.
Think about it this way. Students (and adults) may have difficulty writing simply because they must integrate multiple skills at once.
Perhaps your student is struggling with fine motor skills that make the act of writing extremely difficult. If this is the case, you may want to consider whether or not they have dysgraphia.
Dysgraphia is a brain-based learning disability with some of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty with forming letters on a page
- Spelling challenges
- Challenges staying within the lines on paper
In general, for beginning writers, the physical act of writing is a new skill. This means writing is not a fluent process. Work on fine motor skills and writing in isolation. As an example, try these prewriting practice patterns as a way to “write” without the stress of “writing”.
45 Best Fine Motor Activities for Kids with PDF
For example, a resistant writer could be struggling with eye-tracking or other visual processing challenges. The tiny eye movements involved in reading and writing are essential to the ease with which kids learn.
When those tiny movements aren’t fluent, the brain expends the extra energy that’s needed to learn.
Always focus on the learning objective and get a private Occupational Therapy evaluation if you’re concerned about fine motor or eye-tracking problems.
Related Post:
Homeschooling ADHD: 29 Tips to Save Your Sanity!
11. Adjust Expectations
When motivating a reluctant writer, homeschool moms, and teachers must use caution with their expectations.
Don’t look to benchmarks, the kid up the street, or even the curriculum to determine what your child should accomplish . Focus on your child. What’s their next minimal viable step to move forward? That’s where you start.
Look to Personal Trainers
For example, when an adult decides to get in shape, they often hire a trainer. During their first session, a good trainer doesn’t walk up to an out-of-shape client and tell her to lift the 100-lb barbell.
A good trainer doesn’t look around to see what barbell everyone else is lifting. Their objective is to support and push just far enough so that the client sees the possibility of success.
A personal trainer looks at the client before them and determines their ability. Only then do they choose the appropriate weight for their client.
Make decisions and goals based on the unique student in front of you.
When you teach writing, think about the zone of proximal development . Very Well Mind describes the Zone of Proximal Development this way.
The range of abilities that an individual can perform with assistance but cannot yet perform independently.
Ask yourself:
- How far can I push THIS child based on what I know of THIS child?
Help your child move forward no matter how small the step.
Learn more about the value of a clutter-free design for ADHD brains.
Visual Discrimination and Learning: Less is More
13. Start with Oral Communication
Start by having your child discuss the concept you want them to write about .
- Ask questions and engage in a dialogue.
- Take notes for your child so that they are free to process ideas.
Provide A Specific Model
If your child struggles with oral communication or has an Auditory Processing Disorder , model a sentence out loud. For example, imagine your student gives you a blank stare when you ask,
What was the story about?
You can then model an example aloud.
The Three Little Pigs is about 3 pigs who had to survive on their own after their parents died.
14. Use Visuals
The human brain receives the most information through the sense of sight. When teaching a student how to write, use visuals.
In the above example, speak your model sentence aloud. Additionally, provide your reluctant writer with a visual. You can do that easily by writing out the model sentence for the child to see.
Offer Visual Graphic Organizers
When working with a resistant writer, be sure to use visual organizers. These are also called graphic organizers. Graphic organizers help visually organize information. When students resist writing, a visual organizer can help take the writing process one step at a time.
15. Writing Prompts
If you’ve eliminated possible fine motor, eye tracking, or language-based issues, provide your resistant writer explicit instruction . For example,
- Writing prompts
- Sentence starters
- Journal Prompts for Kids
- Brainstorming sessions
By offering just a few concrete questions, your resistant writer doesn’t have to stress about what to write. This reduces anxiety and opens access to higher regions of the brain.
Example Writing Prompts
There’s nothing complex about creating writing prompts. Writing prompts can be simple questions or ideas to get your student started.
Some example writing prompts include:
- Who were you with when you did this?
- If you could enjoy that activity again, would you want to change it in some way?
- In what way?
- How do you say it?
Homeschooling An ADHD Brain?
Grab FREE ADHD Homeschool Teaching Tips Cheat Sheets!
16. Stop Pushing for More
When successfully motivating your struggling writer to take the next step in the writing process, take note. Please accept what your child offers. During that first successful writing session, don’t push for more. Start small and allow your child the writing win.
Continue with Genuine Questions & Conversation
As previously stated, engage your child in dialogue throughout the process as needed. For example, if your child has written anything, show genuine interest.
Take what they’ve written to ask questions. This stimulates dialogue, and deeper thinking, and promotes crucial language development that will serve your child in other areas.
Many homeschoolers utilize the art of narration. Narration is a strategy that starts with communication through oral language and conversation, the foundation of reading and writing. Find the starting point. Most often, that will be through oral language communication first.
How to Help a Struggling Reader: The Mother of All Guides
If your child is struggling with pencil and paper, move on to this step. Listen to your child and write down what they say. Friend, if your kid hates to write, scribe for your child in freedom. No one is cheating!
By doing this, you’re a llowing them to enter into the world of writing as communication. Y ou’re equipping your child with the support they need to grow as a communicator.
Don’t worry about the naysayers in your head who are telling you that you’re coddling or enabling your child. That doesn’t help anyone.
Remove pen and paper if it will help your child become a communicator.
Is Penmanship Still Important?
100% yes! These suggestions do not negate the importance of the act of writing. Kids need to work on handwriting skills and other fine motor skills for a variety of reasons. Using a pencil to paper supports the connection of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
Additionally, writing increases the retention of new information and is an immediate form of communication.
Isolate Penmanship Until Fluency Develops
As with other academic areas, when a student is struggling, isolate skills. Work on penmanship in isolation until it becomes more fluent. Then combine skills piece by piece.
Bottom line. If the physical act of writing is a brick wall, remove it. Additionally, some children do better with cursive as opposed to print. This cursive alphabet chart printable may be a helpful tool.
19. Model the Writing Process Step by Step
Additionally, offer explicit instruction to your student by modeling the writing process one step at a time. Here are some scaffolding ideas to explicitly model the writing and editing process.
5 Scaffolding Strategies for Reluctant Writers
- Have your child sit next to you while they share their ideas aloud.
- If your child needs to move while articulating their thoughts , take notes while they verbally process their “rough draft.”
- The next day, have them sit next to you while they read their own words aloud.
- Then ask for one or two more details that they “see” in their mind.
- Have them watch as you model proper grammar, sentence structure, and spelling.
- Brainstorm new vocabulary words to add to their writing.
- Once this process becomes more fluent, have your child choose one sentence to copy as handwriting practice.
When this becomes easier, slowly transition responsibilities over to your child at his or her pace.
- Have your child narrate their story or summary into a dictation device such as an iPhone.
- Then have your child take on the role of the scribe by writing (or typing) a few sentences.
- (You pick up where they left off.)
- Continue with these scaffolding supports and slowly build upon your child’s capacity.
Ultimately, the goal is to watch your child slowly take ownership of communicating through the written word. And I promise you this will yield far greater results than trying to force your child to do that which they are not ready to do.
When you start to panic that your reluctant writer is not writing enough, take a deep breath. Learning for the long haul is often served well by “ Less is More. “
Unfortunately, our educational and parenting climate favors FORCING kids to do what adults say. Because of this, many parents and teachers have lost one of the most powerful learning tools.
Intrinsic motivation. Take advantage of your child’s intrinsic motivation. Offer them engaging topics to write about.
Better yet, ask them what they would like to write about. Use their interests to drive the writing process. This is the gateway to learning to write. Once they’re more comfortable writing, encourage them to write about academic topics.
We have an incredible ability to influence our children. The words we choose with our kids can make or break their spirits. When kids have the undivided attention of a supportive adult, confidence builds.
Struggling Students Need Relationship
Investing in our relationships with our kids, by honoring their unique needs, interests, and wiring can change everything. Internal motivation to communicate grows as grown-ups take the time to listen.
Peer-to-Peer Writing Community
Reach out to other homeschool families to create peer-to-peer writing fun. Check out these ideas for a boys writing club .
As the process of articulating thoughts and ideas becomes a safe experience, our kids are more likely to take their next step.
Imagine if Annie Sullivan decided the only way for Helen Keller to communicate was through oral language or handwritten words. Give your child the keys that will unlock the writing door.
To help students grow as learners, we must be willing to check preconceived expectations at the door . Often traditional models of education prevent our children from learning.
When kids consistently struggle with an area of academics, it’s important to look behind the behavior to help them move forward. What gatekeepers are standing in front of your child’s ability to become a writer?
- The physical act of penmanship?
- Combining multiple skills at once?
- Overwhelming anxiety?
- Language processing?
- Working memory?
Find the real problem and your child will be better equipped to move forward.
If you have an older student who needs independence to build confidence, try a writing tool like Grammarly. Grammarly is a great tool to help your older student catch those grammar mistakes.
According to Grammarly, 89% of students saw marked improvements in their grades when using Grammarly.
I’ve been using Grammarly for my blog writing and have been impressed. For reference, English grammar is my favorite subject to teach (so that’s saying something).
Neurodivergent students are often wired for independence. Think of ADHD, Autism , and other kids who don’t like being told what to do.
Rather than labeling them as stubborn, oppositional, or demand-avoidant , a perspective shift is in order. Every child is designed differently for a reason. That “stubborn” nature is an independent spirit.
Use that as the gift it is. Autistic kids and those with ADHD often need agency and autonomy to thrive in what they do.
Back off and let them write about whatever it is that inspires them.
Again, it’s essential to scribe for neurodivergent students with penmanship challenges. Scribing allows them to process thoughts and ideas more freely without the fine motor skill barrier.
Additionally, neurodivergent students (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia) also struggle with executive functioning skills .
A common executive function weakness neurodivergent kids navigate relates to poor working memory. Working memory is the brain’s ability to hold onto and manipulate information long enough to act on it.
For example, answer this math question without writing it down. Strengthening working memory is critical for all learning.
Example of Working Memory
8 + (2 * 5) – 6 =
To answer this math question, you’d have to process the following pieces of information.
- What is the order of operations ?
- Maybe you’d then say, “PEDMAS. P lease E xcuse M y D ear A unt S ally.”
- “2 * 5 = 10”
- Then you may think, “Ok. What’s next?”
- 8 + 10 = 18
- 18 – 6 = 12
- “Final answer is 12.”
In this example, your brain had to hold on to and work through a minimum of six steps and processes before answering. This is an example of working memory, the executive function skill that’s often weak in the ADHD brain.
Role Reversal: Improve Writing and Working Memory
Specific to teaching a reluctant writer, you can work on working memory skills while strengthening communication skills through role reversal.
Using this writing strategy, you’ll be the one communicating an idea aloud while your student is the scribe.
Dictate a simple story to your student while they write your words. Start slowly based on your student’s unique needs. Consider the following:
- Emotional capacity and anxiety level
- Fine motor skill
- Spelling (don’t worry about it)
- Start with a sentence, then a paragraph, slowly increasing as your student progresses
As a bonus, your student is safely practicing handwriting skills. However, if this is not within their zone of proximal development, don’t use this idea.
Bonus Dictation Idea for Reluctant Writers
Here’s an idea. After your child scribes their story idea (or any sentence or idea), repeat it back to them as their dictation content. The important part is that you’re flexible and make the process fun and emotionally safe for your child.
Always focus on the goal. What’s the next tiny step in the writing process for this student?
When Your Child Hates to Write
When kids struggle in any area academically, emotionally, physically, or behaviorally, our hearts hurt. What’s my number one recommendation when your child is struggling? Take back the power and learn alongside them. Gather as much information as possible. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box for your reluctant writer.
Using Speech-to-Text Tutorial
How to help your child use Speech-to-Text to support them as writers.
To help you in your journey, here are 3 homeschool parent workshops to equip you. I presented these at the NCHE Summit For Teaching Exceptional Children.
- Huh? How Speech & Language Processing Impact: Reading, Writing & Relationships
- Homeschooling The Distracted Child: How to Harness the Genius of Your Child’s ADHD Brain
- Homeschooling The Unregulated Child: Sensory Systems & Self-Regulation in Your Home & Homeschool
Each one is inexpensive because every mom needs to be equipped to help her child. Sign up and when you do, circle back to me with questions.
Related Posts:
33 Best Rhyming Picture Books for Kindergarten & More
Orton-Gillingham and All About Reading: Help Your Struggling Reader!
The Best Homeschool Language Arts for Dyslexia & ADHD
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons: Why It Works!
Does your child struggle to remember?
What they’ve read? Multi-step directions? What you asked them to do 5 min ago?
If so, take the Homeschool Teacher Training to help!
- Auditory Processing vs Language Processing
- How they impact literacy, communication & behavior
- What you can do to change the trajectory of your child’s future by addressing underlying issues!
13 thoughts on “My Child Hates Writing: 27 Tips to Help Reluctant Writers”
This is so helpful! We are just starting homeschool this year, and I’m so grateful for all the great resources!
So happy to hear this, Sarah!! You are going to do an amazing job! You’ve got this!! 🙂
As someone who has always loved to write, it baffles me when I hear people groan about a writing assignment. But I’ve learned that it’s just not fun for everyone, especially when they have to write about a topic that just doesn’t interest them. These are really good tips to help combat that lack of interest so they can at least get through each assignment and hopefully learn something in the process.
You are so blessed to have this longing and passion built-in you! That is amazing. The goal is to allow our kids to become passionate communicators. If there are barriers to the physical act of writing, we must equip them with what they need to grow the intrinsic desire. Can’t wait to check out your books and blogs site. I am a book lover myself!!! English grammar is my absolute favorite thing to teach as a matter of fact. Although, grammar is only one part of effective writing as I know you understand quite well. Excited to connect, Laura! 🙂
Wow you are so helpful and this is so timely for me. You are very insightful and this will definitely help my daughter! We have been having a very hard time with our writing exercises and we both have become very distressed in the process. Thank you ! (sigh of relief!!)
Just noticed my spelling errors 🙄 and I am talking about writing….geez
Ha! I didn’t notice any errors. And who cares?!! We’re just people, right? Have a great day! 🙂
Arielle, I’m so glad to hear that these homeschool writing tips are helpful for you and your sweet girl! You’ll have to let me know which tips you try and how it goes. Praying you have a much better homeschool writing day! 🙂
As I am planning my new homeschool year, I am happy to have stumbled across this site. I am using this to help reassure me and to find the resources for my planning. It is so good to know others understand and to learn more from them. We are an ASD/ADHD, and more, family and I sooooooooo needed this website! Thank you for being you!
Megan! You’re the sweetest ever! Thank you for that encouragement. I do hope to help moms homeschooling children with Autism and ADHD so I appreciate you more than you know! Keep me posted on your homeschool journey!
Is Grammarly a text book?
No. Grammarly is an online tool that helps correct grammatical, spelling, and other writing errors. Here’s my referral link for more info. I like it because it can help struggling students start to identify their common grammar errors and thus, learn to fix them in the moment. 🙂 https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=224026&u=2543299&m=26748&urllink=&afftrack=
Wow! Thank you so much for this valuable resource. Your work is greatly appreciated.
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Helping young children develop strong writing skills, on this page, why is writing important, what can you do, ideas for parents: how to help your child become a stronger writer.
Note: This article was adapted from two articles written by the U.S. Department of Education and was compiled by Colorín Colorado.
Writing is an important part of our daily lives. It is, however, a difficult skill to learn and master. By getting a head start with some simple activities, you can help your child begin to develop her writing skills at an early age. By doing so you will be contributing to her future success as a student and as an adult while teaching her how to express herself.
In this article, we provide some reasons that writing is an important skill for people of all ages, as well as a list of suggestions that will help your child become a stronger writer.
Writing is practical. Every day, we need to write in order to complete our tasks, whether we are filling out a form at the doctor's office or writing an important letter. These tasks require us to write clearly, and organize information effectively.
Writing is an important element of a student's education. Whether students are writing by hand or on the computer, many assignments and exams require students to write short answers or longer essays as a way of assessing what they have learned. As students get older, they will be expected to show more sophisticated writing skills, and to complete more sophisticated tasks through their writing. In addition, many colleges and universities require students to write essays as part of their admissions application.
Writing can be an important element of an employee's job. Employees in many kinds of jobs are required to write on a daily basis. Perhaps they are taking phone messages and doing administrative work, or writing research reports and newspaper articles. Whatever the task, their ability to do their job well may depend on their ability to write. Many job applicants also must submit a resumé and a letter of application when applying to a new job.
Writing is an important form of communication. Writing letters and emails is a common way of keeping in touch with our friends, relatives, and professional colleagues. Writing is frequently the final stage in communication when we want to leave no room for doubt, which is why we write and sign contracts, leases, and treaties when we make important decisions.
Writing can be an important outlet. Many people find writing to be therapeutic, and a helpful way to express feelings that cannot be expressed so easily by speaking.
It's important to remember that writing can be as difficult a subject to teach and assess as it is to learn. Many students have trouble writing with clarity, coherence, and organization, and this can discourage them from writing if they feel frustrated.
That's where parent involvement can make a big difference. Encouraging your child to develop strong writing skills at a young age, and to become a better writer as she gets older, can have a lifelong positive impact on her writing, and may make writing an easier and more enjoyable process for her
To get you started, the Department of Education offers a number of ideas of things you can do help your child become a stronger writer. While many of these ideas apply to younger children, they can be adapted for older children as well. To learn more about ways to support your children if they continue to struggle with writing in middle and high school, read Tips for Parents of Struggling Adolescent Writers .
What You Need
- Pencils, crayons, or markers
- Yarn or ribbon
- Writing paper or notebook
- Cardboard or heavy paper
- Construction paper
- Safety scissors
Before getting started
Provide a place It's important for your child to have a good place to write, such as a desk or table with a smooth, flat surface. It's also crucial to have good lighting.
Provide the materials Provide plenty of paper (lined and unlined) and things to write with, including pencils, pens, and crayons.
Brainstorm Talk with your child as much as possible about her ideas and impressions, and encourage her to describe people and events to you.
Activities for young children
Encourage the child to draw and to discuss her drawings Ask your child questions about her drawings such as: "What is the boy doing?" "Does the house look like ours?" "Can you tell a story about this picture?" Show an interest in, and ask questions about, the things your child says, draws, and may try to write.
Ask your child to tell you simple stories as you write them down Copy the story as your child tells it, without making changes. Ask her to clarify anything you don't understand.
Encourage your child to write her name Practice writing her name with her, and point out the letters in her name when you see them in other places (on signs, in stores, etc.). She may start by only writing the first few letters of her name, but soon the rest will follow.
Use games There are numerous games and puzzles that help children with spelling while increasing their vocabulary. Some of these may include crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams, and cryptograms designed especially for children. Flash cards are fun to use too, and they're easy to make at home.
Turn your child's writing into books Paste her drawings and writings on pieces of construction paper. For each book, make a cover out of heavier paper or cardboard, and add special art, a title, and her name as author. Punch holes in the pages and cover, and bind the book together with yarn or ribbon.
Day-to-Day Activities
Make sure your child sees you writing She will learn about writing by watching you write. Talk with her about your writing so that she begins to understand why writing is important and the many ways it can be used.
Encourage your child to write, even if she's scribbling Give your child opportunities to practice writing by helping her sign birthday cards, write stories, and make lists.
As your child gets older, write together Have your child help you with the writing you do, including writing letters, shopping lists, and messages.
Suggest note-taking Encourage your child to take notes on trips or outings, and to describe what she saw. This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a car trip, or other events that lend themselves to note-taking.
Encourage copying If your child likes a particular song, suggest that she learn the words by writing them down. Also encourage copying favorite poems or quotations from books and plays.
Encourage your child to read her stories out loud As your child gets older, ask her to share her stories with you. Listen carefully without interrupting, and give her positive feedback about her ideas and her writing!
Hang a family message board in the kitchen Offer to write notes there for your child. Be sure that she finds notes left there for her.
Help your child write letters and emails to relatives and friends These may include thank you notes or just a special note to say hello. Be sure to send your child a letter or card once in awhile too so that she is reminded of how special it is to get a letter in the mail. Consider finding a pen pal for your child.
Encourage keeping a journal This is excellent writing practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings. Encourage your child to write about things that happen at home and school, about people she likes or dislikes and why, and about things she wants to remember and do. If she wants to share the journal with you, read the entries and discuss them together.
Things to remember
Allow time Help your child spend time thinking about a writing project or exercise. Good writers often spend a lot of time thinking, preparing, and researching before starting to write. Your child may dawdle, sharpen a pencil, get papers ready, or look up the spelling of a word. Be patient — this may all be part of her preparation.
Respond to your child's writing Respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in writing. Make it clear that you are interested in what the writing conveys, which means focusing on "what" the child has written rather than "how" it was written. It's usually wise to ignore minor errors, particularly at the stage when your child is just getting ideas together.
Praise your child's writing Take a positive approach and find good things to say about your child's writing. Is it accurate? Descriptive? Original? Creative? Thoughtful? Interesting?
Avoid writing for your child Don't write a paper for your child that will be turned in as her work, and don't rewrite your child's work. Meeting a writing deadline, taking responsibility for the finished product, and feeling ownership of it are also important parts of the writing process.
Help your child with her writing as she gets older Ask your child questions that will help her clarify the details of her stories and assignments as they get longer, and help her organize her thoughts. Talk about the objective of what she is writing.
Provide your child with spelling help when she's ready for it When your child is just learning how to read and write, she may try different ways to write and spell. Our job is to encourage our children's writing so they will enjoy putting their thoughts and ideas on paper. At first, your child may begin to write words the way that she hears them. For example, she might write "haf" instead of "have", "frn" instead of "friend", and "Frd" instead of "Fred." This actually is a positive step in developing her phonemic awareness. Keep practicing with her, and model the correct spelling of words when you write. As your child gets older and begins to ask more questions about letters and spelling, provide her with the help she needs.
Practice, practice, practice Writing well takes lots of practice, so make sure your child doesn't get discouraged too easily. It's not easy! Give her plenty of opportunities to practice so that she has the opportunity to improve.
Read together Reading and writing support each other. The more your child does of each, the better she will be at both. Reading can also stimulate your child to write about her own family or school life. If your child has a particular favorite story or author, ask her why she thinks that story or that person's writing is special.
As you read and write more with your child, you will be building an important foundation, and taking steps that will help your child to become a better reader, writer, and student. Your efforts now will make a difference — and it may be just the difference that your child needs to succeed!
U.S. Department of Education. Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Archived Information. "Help Your Child Learn to Write Well." http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Writing/index.html.
U.S. Department of Education. Parent Section: Helping Your Child Become a Reader. "Write On!" http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/reader/part5.html#write.
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Tatiana Del Carpio replied on Thu, 2010-01-21 11:02 Permalink
Love the site..I wish I worked with children...seems like a lot of fun when one has this kind of tips.
Asha replied on Fri, 2012-07-13 05:04 Permalink
Really it is super for a mother like me. It help me a lot by giving good idea to improve my child.
sumit bhat replied on Wed, 2012-08-01 08:00 Permalink
really, i liked the article. i hope the parents should read it and act it.
jojo replied on Fri, 2012-11-16 06:37 Permalink
wooow very useful thanks
jessica replied on Wed, 2012-12-12 22:42 Permalink
really liked that article. going to start use these tips right away. great help!
ailyn replied on Mon, 2012-12-31 03:52 Permalink
do you have book of this? can you share the book?
Melinda replied on Fri, 2013-09-13 08:25 Permalink
This is very useful i will try this. Im not very good with englsh and writing you should see my hand writing it is terrible i tell my son to write better than me and he says well you are helping me to learn.Im just doing what you are doing.What should i do ?
Eleena replied on Tue, 2013-10-08 18:38 Permalink
Thank you for the tips. I would never have known. A real eye opener for parents.
rvrameshkumar@y... replied on Wed, 2013-11-06 23:59 Permalink
I teach communicative English to engineering students but i came to understand that they lack writing skills. Hope your suggestions would help me. looking forward for more tips.
Nasser replied on Tue, 2013-11-26 13:59 Permalink
it is very useful
Maria replied on Fri, 2014-02-07 00:58 Permalink
Thanks for the ideas but quick question how can I help my son detailing in writing? Writing more..please anyone HELP!
tom murden replied on Wed, 2014-04-09 11:03 Permalink
Joe replied on Tue, 2014-05-13 19:16 Permalink
I found useful tips here, which cover most practical ideas. Strategies like these are gems! Thank you!
karen replied on Fri, 2015-03-13 18:42 Permalink
i whant to learn how to writ for my test on tuseday I'm in 3rd grade
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22 Writing Activities To Help Kids Hone Their Writing Skills
Written by Maria Kampen
- Prodigy English
- Fun writing activities
- Creative writing activities
- Academic writing activities
- At-home writing activities
- Daily writing activities
- Simple writing prompts for kids
- How writing activities can bring reluctant writers out of their shells
- Try some other educational activities
When kids start writing, they’re unlocking a whole new world of imagination to explore. It’s a great way for them to be creative, express themselves and practice key reading and writing skills.
But as most kids — and adults — will tell you, writing is hard! It can be intimidating to put pen to paper for the first time, and sometimes the challenge of a blank page seems like too much to overcome.
Writing shouldn’t be scary for kids. These 22 fun writing activities can help them:
- Use their imagination
- Think up new stories and ideas
- Share their writing with friends and family
Use them in your classroom or at home to get kids excited about writing!
Writing is supposed to be fun! Use these activities to help kids stretch their imagination and record their thoughts on paper in a fun, low-stress environment.
1. Try online ELA games like Prodigy English
Great for: Grades 1 to 6
Online games are a great way to engage students in the learning process — and Prodigy English is bringing the power of game-based learning to language and reading skill practice!
As students build and create, they’re always practicing key reading and language skills that help them write clearly and effectively. Every correct answer gives players more energy to gather resources, complete daily tasks and earn Wishcoins.
Plus, you can send questions about the topics you want them to practice and collect insights about their learning.
2. Poetry scavenger hunt
Great for: Middle and high school students
Words are all around us, so encourage your students to take inspiration from the real-life writing they see every day. Have students collect printed words and phrases from the world around them, including:
- Magazine ads
- Graphic novels
- Newspaper headlines
- Social media captions
Students can collect and arrange their words on a piece of paper to make a unique piece of poetry. Encourage them to find a key idea and expand on it in creative ways, then have students share their work with the class.
3. Create your own comic strip
Great for: Grades 4 to 10
Students learn in all sorts of ways. For visual learners, creating a comic strip to accompany their story can help them express themselves in a visual medium.
Give students a set number of panels and challenge them to come up with a quick story — just a few sentences. Then, they can illustrate their scene in the style of comic books.
Remind students the point isn’t to be the best artist — it’s to write a story that’s short and exciting.
4. Create your own Madlib
Great for: Elementary and middle school students
Give students vocabulary practice and help them write a silly story at the same time!
Fill a sheet with the outline of the story, then remove key words like:
For younger students, add a word bank to get them started. As students fill in words, they’ll craft a unique story filled with unexpected twists and turns.
Once students start getting in the habit of writing, these creative writing activities can pull new ideas out of their heads and encourage them to experiment with different genres.
5. Acrostics
Great for: Grades 3 to 8
Acrostic poems are a great way to introduce your students to poetry! Start with a meaningful word or name and use it as a theme for the poem.
Writing the word vertically, students can go down the letters and write a short word or phrase that starts with each letter. Acrostic poems help students write within a structure and theme, so it’s easier for them to get started.
6. A letter to your future self
Great for: Middle school and high school
Where do your students see themselves in a year? Five years? Ten years?
A letter to their future selves is a great way for students to explore their own story, and brainstorm what they want to achieve. Not only can students practice their letter-writing skills, they can use their imaginations to develop a growth mindset .
For extra nostalgia, store the letters for students and mail them out once the right amount of time has passed.
7. Write a “Choose your own adventure” story
Great for: Grades 5 and up
Whether it’s a fairy tale, detective story or drama, chances are you’ve had a student tell you they don’t know how their story is supposed to end.
A “Choose-your-own-adventure” story lets students brainstorm different storylines and endings. Once they’re done, encourage them to share their stories with the class so their peers can go on the adventure too.
8. Write a fake advertisement
Great for: Grades 6 and up
Good writing doesn’t just happen in books — it’s all around us!
Whether students are writing advertisements on their own or as part of a project-based learning assignment , this activity helps them build key media literacy skills and practice their snappy storytelling.
Have students make up a new product and advertisement, or encourage them to re-imagine an ad for something they love. It’s also a great way to bring media literacy and interdisciplinary learning to your classroom.
9. Make a story map
Great for: Grades 2 to 8
Not every student is going to be comfortable putting pen to paper right away. Story maps can help students brainstorm details like plot, characters and setting in a way that makes sense for visual learners.
Have students use charts to set out the beginning, middle and end of their stories. Mind maps can also help them plot out details about their characters or setting.
Encourage students to present their story map as a finished product or use it to start writing!
Writing isn’t all fairy tales and short stories — it’s also an important part of learning in middle school, high school and college. Use these academic writing activities to help students understand proper essay structure, grammar and more.
10. Story chains
Great for: Grades 4 to 8
Stories are better when they’re enjoyed with friends and classmates. And story chains encourage every student to get involved!
Put students in small groups of three to six. Give each student a blank piece of paper and have them write the beginning of a story. Then, pass it to the next student in the group so they can write what happens next.
For extra educational value, have students work together to summarize a story from your lesson or an important historical event.
11. Persuasive essays
Sometimes writing is about more than just telling a story. It’s about convincing your readers of your point of view.
Have older students practice their debate skills with persuasive essays. Start with a prompt, then let students make their case. Some of our favorite prompts for this writing assignment include:
- 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 and why?
- Do you think you’re born with your personality traits, or do you gain them as you grow up?
Most importantly, make sure students back up their opinions with solid facts and arguments that convince readers to care.
12. Solve a real-world problem
Great for: Grade 6 and up
Climate change, litter, bullying, bad cafeteria food — no matter what students pick, there are lots of real-world problems for them to solve.
Challenge students with a writing assignment that addresses a problem they see in their world. How would they fix it? Whether it’s a short paragraph or a longer essay, encourage them to find something they’re passionate about. After all, that’s where good writing comes from!
13. Vocabulary challenge
Great for: Elementary school students
Vocabulary challenges combine vocabulary strategies with student writing to make your next language arts lesson plan even more engaging.
Give students a new word (or two or three). Once you’re done practicing it and they know what it means, challenge them to use it in a story as creatively as possible.
14. Teach citations
Great for: Grades 1 to 12
Footnotes, endnotes and bibliographies are the least exciting part of writing, but they’re essential skills. As students write more complex research papers, they need to know how to give credit where credit is due. Thankfully, there are lots of online resources to help!
The Purdue Online Writing Lab offers teachers and students resources for all stages of the writing process, including citations. To practice, students can write an annotated bibliography as part of a project-based learning assignment or the first step in writing a longer research paper.
Writing isn’t just something happening in the classroom. These at-home writing ideas can help you support your child as they experiment with prose and poetry.
15. Write letters to a pen pal
Great for: Grades 3 and up
Everyone likes getting mail! Got a friend with kids in a different part of the country, or far-away family members? A pen pal can be a great way for kids to build friendships and practice their writing skills at the same time.
16. Bring a home object to life
“It’s as big as a mountain!”
“That’s the fluffiest thing I’ve ever felt!”
The ways kids describe things can crack us up sometimes. Full of wonder and hyperbole, it’s the perfect spark for creative writing, too.
Encourage kids to practice their figurative language skills with a description of something in your home. Let them pack as much alliteration and exaggeration into the description as they can, then do a dramatic reading out loud.
17. Write reading reactions
If you want to boost reading comprehension and writing skills at the same time, this is the perfect activity. After your child is done reading, encourage them to write a few sentences about what they just read.
Did they like it? What do they think happens next? Which character was their favorite and why? Learning how to express opinions in writing is a valuable skill.
18. Document family stories
Great for: Grades 4 and up
Every family has a unique story, including yours. Make memories with your child when you share stories about important family events or your childhood.
Kids can even interview grandparents, aunts and uncles to record their memories. When you’re done, store them in a shared space so everyone can go back and reminisce.
Writing is a muscle, and you have to flex it every day to get stronger. Use these daily writing activities to make writing part of your everyday routine.
19. Journaling
Great for: Everyone
Sometimes, you’ve just gotta write it out.
Whether you’re trying to make sense of life or just need a place to organize your thoughts, journaling is a great way to unwind, practice mindfulness and build social emotional skills .
All kids need to get started is a notebook and a pen. Let them know you’re not going to read it, but they’re welcome to come to you if there’s something they want to talk about.
20. Blog about your interests
Great for: High school and up
Everyone’s passionate about something. Whatever your students love, encourage them to share it with the world! Blogging is an accessible and fun way to express themselves, nerd out about the things that bring them joy and share their opinions with the world.
Sites like WordPress and Wix offer free website builders to help students get started. This is a great way for kids to build computer skills and digital literacy .
21. Free writing
Write, write, write and don’t stop. That’s the premise behind free writing, a writing practice that can help unlock creativity, discover new ideas and take the pressure out of a blank page.
Give students a five-minute timer and challenge them to write continuously, without worrying about formatting, spelling or grammar. They can write about whatever they want, but there’s only one rule: don’t stop.
22. Answer daily writing prompts
Make time to exercise your brain with daily writing prompts! At the start of the day or as a quick brain break , set aside time for students to respond to a quick daily writing prompt.
Students should have a dedicated journal or binder to make it a seamless part of your lessons. Whether or not you choose to read their writing is up to you, but it’s important to build good daily habits.
A blank page can be a scary sight for a student who doesn’t know what to write about.
Use writing prompts to:
- Kickstart a student’s imagination
- Start your lesson with a fun writing activity
- Give students a topic to debate in writing
Some of our favorite simple writing prompts include:
- Write a story about a wooden door, a can of soda and a blue shoe.
- If you met a monster looking for new friends, what would you do?
- What’s your favorite season? What makes it the best?
- If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
- Describe your dream birthday cake.
- Write a story about being cold without using the word “cold.”
- If you could decorate your bedroom any way you wanted, what would it look like?
- Is it better to have lots of friends or just a few really good friends?
- Write a story in 10 words or less.
- Write a story about the best surprise you’ve ever received.
For more writing prompts you can use in and out of the classroom, check out our full list of 225 writing prompts for kids .
Writing activities can bring reluctant writers out of their shells
Writing is hard and can be intimidating for a lot of students.
But even the quietest and most reluctant students have lots of stories to tell! You just have to encourage them to get their words out.
Writing activities help remove some of the pressure and give students:
- A fun way to approach writing
- A starting point for their stories
- Chances to share their writing with students
No two stories are the same, just like your students. Every story can start in a different way, and that’s the beauty of writing prompts.
Whether it’s writing activities or math problems, there are lots of ways to get reluctant learners excited about your lessons with educational activities.
Here are some of our favorites:
- 37 Quick & Easy Brain Breaks for Kids
- 30 Virtual School Activities Students & Educators Love
- 27 Best Educational Games for Kids to Play Sorted by Subject
- 15 Geometry Activities to Engage Students Across Grade Levels
- 36 Fun Word Games for Kids To Help with Vocabulary & Literacy
- 15 Fun, Free & Effective Multiplication Games For Your Classroom
- 20 Exciting Math Games for Kids to Skyrocket New Math Skills On-The-Go
- 21 Classroom Games to Boost Teacher Effectiveness and Student Learning
- 25 Social Emotional Learning Activities & How They Promote Student Well-Being
Which ones can you use in your next lesson?
Prodigy English is a brand-new game-based learning platform helping students build key math skills. As students explore and build a world of their very own, they’ll answer curriculum-aligned reading and language questions that help build essential skills and encourage a love of learning.
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57 Fun Creative Writing Prompts for Kids
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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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300 Fun Writing Prompts for Kids: Story Starters, Journal Prompts & Ideas
Are you a parent or teacher? Here are 300 fun and creative writing prompts for kids to spark the imagination of young writers everywhere. Use these kids writing ideas as journaling prompts, story starters or just for fun!
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It’s never too early to start writing, and so we’ve created this fun list of 300 creative kids writing prompts for teacher and parents to use.
You’ll love these fun ideas for kids writing prompts to use as creative sparks to get young imaginations writing in no time!
These are perfect to use as kids journal writing prompts, as short story writing prompts, or just for exercises to help students and children of all ages tap into their creativity. Maybe your kids will write an essay, maybe a poem, or maybe even a whole book!
Whether you are a teacher or parent looking to inspire your kids to write, or maybe even an adult who would like to practice writing with a more playful and young-hearted approach, I hope you find these creative writing prompts inspiring!
Buy the Printable Cards! We will always have this list of 300 kids writing prompts available for free, but I’m very excited to now also offer an ad-free printable version of these prompts in my online Etsy shop. Thank you for your support!
The Ultimate List of 300 Fun & Creative Writing Prompts for Kids
#1. Imagine a giant box is delivered to your front doorstep with your name on it. What’s inside and what happens when you open it?
#2. Write a short story about what it might be like if you woke up one morning with a mermaid tail.
#3. Which is better, winter or summer? Write about the reasons why you think winter or summer is better.
#4. Write about what would it be like if you had an alligator as a pet.
#5. If you had $1,000, what would you buy and why?
#6. Write a story using these 5 words: apple, train, elephant, paper, banjo
#7. What do you want be when you grow up and why?
#8. Who is your favorite person on the planet? What do you like most about that person?
#9. If you could have any secret super power, what would you want it to be and why?
#10. Write about 3 places you would like to travel someday. What do these three places have in common?
#11. Write about a time you felt really happy. What happened? What made you feel happy?
#12. Imagine what would happen if someone shrunk you down to be only 1″ tall. How would your life change?
#13. If you were in charge of the whole world, what would you do to make the world a happier place?
#14. Write a story about what it would be like to climb to the very top of the highest mountain in the world.
#15. If you were in charge of planning the school lunch menu, what foods would you serve each day?
#16. What are some of your favorite animals? What do you like about them?
#17. Imagine that dogs take over the world. What do they make the humans do?
#18. Write a story about flying to outer space and discovering a new planet.
#19. You are a mad scientist and have invented a new vegetable. What is it called? What does it look like? What does it taste like? Most importantly: Is it safe to eat?
#20. You go to school one morning to discover your best friend has been turned into a frog by an evil witch! How do you help your friend?
#21. Describe what it is like when trees lose all of their leaves in the autumn season.
#22. Write about your favorite sport and why you like it so much.
#23. Imagine what it might be like to live on a boat all the time and write about it.
#24. If you had one wish, what would it be?
#25. Write about what you might do if you have the super power to become invisible.
#26. You are walking through the forest when one of the trees starts talking to you. What does it say? What do you do?
#27. The weather forecast is calling for a blizzard in the middle of the summer. What do you do?
#28. What types of transportation will people have in the future?
#29. What were some of your favorite toys when you very little? Do you still enjoy playing with them?
#30. What would a day in your life be like if you were a movie star?
#31. Imagine you’ve invented a time machine! What year do you travel to?
#32. What are your favorite things to do over summer vacation?
#33. What is your favorite holiday and why?
#34. If you could meet any fictional character from a book, who would it be?
#35. You are writing a travel guide for kids visiting your city. What places do you think they should visit?
#36. What is a food you hate? Write about it!
#37. Imagine what it would be like if there was no electricity. What would be different in your daily routine?
#38. You are building a new city! What types of things do you think your city needs? How will you convince people to move to your new city?
#39. What is your favorite movie? Write your review of the movie and why you think people should watch it.
#40. Imagine you get a magic sweater for your birthday. What happens when you wear the sweater? What do you do with these new found magical powers?
#41. You are the security guard at the zoo and someone has stolen a rhinoceros! How do you track down the thief?
#42. You have been invited to have lunch with the queen. What foods do you eat and what topics do you and the queen discuss?
#43. If you could design a school uniform, what types of clothes would you suggest? What colors would they be?
#44. Imagine you are a reporter interviewing a celebrity about their life. What questions do you ask?
#45. You are running a lemonade stand. Describe the steps for how you make lemonade and the types of customers you see during the day.
#46. Write a story about being the ruler of an underwater world.
#47. Write an acrostic poem for the word “treehouse”.
#48. You decide to grow a sunflower, but the sunflower grows so tall it reaches up to the sky! Write about what happens when you decide to climb to the top. What do you discover?
#49. Imagine you look out the window and it is raining popsicles from the sky! Write a story about the experience.
#50. If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why?
#51. If you were on a spaceship, what would you be most excited about seeing?
#52. Do you have any pets at home? Write an essay about how you take care of your pets. If you do not have a pet, what type of pet might you like?
#53. Imagine you are opening a store that only sells items which are blue. What types of items do you sell?
#54. Have you ever lost something that is important to you? Were you able to find it?
#55. Write a story about a kid who is moving to a new school. How do you think they might feel?
#56. Rewrite the ending of your favorite fairy tale. For example, what would have happened if Cinderella never went to the ball?
#57. Have you ever forgotten to do your homework? What happened?
#58. Do you have a favorite song? Write about the type of music you like to listen to.
#59. Imagine your parents wake you up one morning to tell you they will take you to do anything you want to do for the whole day – you don’t even have to go to school or do your chores. What would you choose to do and why?
#60. Do you like amusement parks? What are some of your favorite rides?
#61. Write a story using these three words: detective, piano, and pizza.
#62. Have you ever been to the beach? Write about your favorite things to do. If you have never been to the beach, what would you like to do the first time you visit?
#63. Is there a favorite tv show you like to watch? Write about your favorite character and why they are your favorite.
#64. Write a poem using onomatopoeia , where the words you use are pronounced similar to the sound they make. For example, buzz, bark, sizzle, slam and pop.
#65. Have you ever had to stand in line to wait a long time for something? What did you do while you waited? How did you feel while waiting? How did you feel once the wait was over?
#66. Is it a good idea to keep ALL secrets a secret? Write about examples of when it is okay to spill a secret – and when it isn’t.
#67. Is there something you are good at doing? Write about your best strengths.
#68. What historical time period and location would you go back to live in if you could? Write about it!
#69. Write about 5 things you can do that are important for you to stay healthy and safe.
#70. Do you think thunderstorms are scary? Why or why not?
#71. What would you most like to learn over the next year? Think about things that interest you or questions you might have about the world and make a list!
#72. You are going on a trip to a jungle safari! What items do you pack in your suitcase?
#73. Imagine you are sitting at home one day and you hear someone shrieking in the living room they see a mouse in the house! Write a story about what might happen next.
#74. You are writing a letter to someone who is having a hard time making new friends at school. What do you write? What advice do you give them?
#75. Imagine you just met a magician – but their beloved rabbit who they pull out of a hat for all the tricks has been kidnapped! How do you help find the rabbit?
#76. Do you hear what I hear? Set a timer for 5 minutes and write about all of the sounds you hear in those 5 minutes.
#77. Imagine you go to get a haircut and they accidentally shave your head! How do you feel about that and what would you do?
#78. Do you find it easy to talk to people you don’t know? What are some ways you can start up a conversation with someone you have never met before?
#79. Are there any chores you have to do at home? What are they? What do you like – and not like – about each one?
#80. Open up a random book to any page. Write for 5 minutes about the first word you read.
#81. Pretend you are a writer for your city’s newspaper. Who would you like to interview for a news story and why?
#82. There are many fictional characters who live in unusual houses, such as the old woman who lived in a shoe. What kind of unusual house would you like to live in? Write about what it would be like to live in an unusual house!
#83. Write a list of 10 things you can do to practice kindness to others.
#84. Is there a homework subject you dread? Why do you not like getting homework in that subject?
#85. What is your favorite month of the year? Write about why you like it and some of your favorite things to do during that month.
#86. Imagine you are planning a surprise birthday party for someone. How do you keep it a surprise?
#87. Pretend you walked outside to find a sleeping dragon in the grass! Why is the dragon there? Is it a friendly dragon? What do you do? Write about it!
#88. What are you grateful for today and why?
#89. You were on your way to a very important event when you fell into a puddle. Now what?
#90. Have you ever watched a movie and didn’t like how it ended? Write what you think should happen instead.
#91. Can you answer this riddle from Alice in Wonderland ? How is a raven like a writing desk?
#92. Imagine you are the captain of a pirate ship. Write a diary entry for what your day was like.
#93. If you could start any type of business, what kind of business would you start? What types of products or services would you provide?
#94. Write a sequel to one of your favorite fairy tales. For example, what was Goldilocks’s next adventure after she left the bears?
#95. What is something you are afraid of? What helps you to feel less afraid of something? What would you say to a friend who feels scared to help them feel less afraid?
#96. Write a letter to your future self in 20 years.
#97. In addition to basic survival needs such as food, water, air and shelter, what are 3 things you would you need to be happy?
#98. If you could invent a robot of any type who could do anything you imagine, what types of things would you would have the robot to do?
#99. Which do like better? Apples or Oranges? How are they alike? How are they different?
#100. Why did the chicken cross the road? You are a detective and are assigned to the case. How do solve the mystery?
#101. Write instructions for how to make your favorite snack. Be sure you add your favorite tips and suggestions for how to select the best ingredients!
#102. Imagine you borrowed a friend’s favorite lucky pencil to help you pass a math test – but then it snapped in half! How will you ever tell the news to your friend?
#103. Look around the current room you are sitting in and choose 3 random objects that are nearby. Now write a story or poem that includes those three items!
#104. Write a letter to the author of a book you recently read and tell them what you liked most about the book.
#105. Ernest Hemingway is famous for writing a six word story. Can you write a story in just 6 words?
#106. What do you think will be the future for cell phones? Will people still use them in 25 years or will something else take its place?
#107. Do you want to go to college? Why or why not?
#108. Write a story or poem about a kitten who wanders off and gets lost. How does the kitten find its way home?
#109. Currently, it is required by law that kids go to school. Do you think this is a good or bad idea?
#110. If you could invent a new board game, what would it be called? How is it played? What are the rules? What makes it fun to play? Write about it!
#111. Imagine you come home to discover your entire bedroom is covered in ketchup! What on earth happened? What is your reaction? How do you clean everything up?
#112. What is something you learned today?
#113. Would you rather have a goldfish or shark as a pet?
#114. From A-Z: make a list of something for every letter of the alphabet.
#115. Have you ever gone fishing? If you have, did you like it? Why or why not? If you haven’t, do you think you might want to?
#116. What is one of the most important things you do each and every day?
#117. Write a story about Gretchen the Grouch, a girl who is always angry! Will she ever be happy? Why is she so grumpy all of the time?
#118. How do you feel when someone takes something of yours without asking? What is a good way to deal with it when that happens?
#119. Write a poem that starts with the word “if”.
#120. Write a story about a family of rabbits who live in the woods. What are some of the challenges they face?
#121. What clothes do you think are the most comfortable? What kind of clothes do you like to wear the most? What clothes do you NOT like to wear?
#122. Imagine there are no grocery stores and you must get your own food. What are some of the ways you find food? What types of things do you eat?
#123. What are 3 things you can do that are good for the environment?
#124. If you could meet any famous person today, who would you want to meet and why? What questions might you ask them?
#125. A tongue twister is a quick poem where many of the words start with the same letter and are similar in sound. For example, “Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers.” Try writing your own with this fun kids writing prompt!
#126. What is the first thing you think of when you hear or see the word green?
#127. A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and achievements. What do you think makes someone a hero? Who are some of your heroes?
#128. What did you do during summer vacation last year? What do you want to do for summer vacation this year?
#129. Write a story about a super hero dog who saves the day! Who does the dog help and why?
#130. Would you rather live somewhere that is always cold, or somewhere that is always hot? Write about which one you would rather choose.
#131. Have you ever volunteered to help a charity? If so, write about the experience! If not, what are some charities you think you might like to volunteer for?
#132. What does the word courage mean to you?
#133. What makes you unique? What are some things about you that make you an individual?
#134. Have you ever been to a museum? What is your favorite thing to look at on display?
#135. What can you do to set a good example for others to be kind?
#136. A Tall Tale is a story that exaggerates something that actually happened. Write a tall tale about something that recently happened to you.
#137. What is one of your favorite toys that you think you might still want to have and play with when you are 22 years old?
#138. Oh no! Everyone around you is sick with a nasty cold! Write a silly poem about how you try to avoid catching their germs!
#139. Personification is when a non-living object takes on human characteristics. Write a story where you personify a common electronic gadget in your house, such as the Television or toaster.
#140. Write a poem using similes, which is when you say an object is like something else. Here is an example of a simile: “Her eyes were as blue as the sky.”
#141. Have you ever read a book written by Dr. Suess? Write your own “Suess-style” story, complete with rhymes and made up words.
#142. Do you have any siblings? Think about what it might mean to be a good brother or sister and write about it!
#143. Make a list of questions to interview your parents or grandparents about what it was like when they were growing up as a kid. Then, ask them the questions and write about their answers!
#144. You are in charge of writing a new radio show just for kids! What topics will you talk about? What music do you play?
#145. What do you usually eat for breakfast every day? What, in your opinion, is the greatest breakfast food ever created? What makes it so great?
#146. Write a 12 line poem where every line is about a different month of the year.
#147. What is something you look forward to doing the most when you are an adult?
Use these prompts in your classroom! Get the ad-free printable version of these prompts to inspire your students to write! Thank you for your support!
#148. Do you like to try new things? What is something new you have tried recently or would like to try?
#149. Imagine what it might be like to be alive in Egypt when the pyramids were built. Write about what it was like.
#150. A credo is a statement of personal beliefs. Try writing your own credo for things that you believe in and feel are important.
#151. The circus has come to town but they have no place to perform! How do you help the ringmaster find a place to put on a show?
#152. Do you like to act? What are some of your favorite actors or actresses? What do you think makes someone a good actor or actress?
#153. “Practice makes perfect” is a popular saying. What is something you like to practice so you can become better at it? A sport? A musical instrument? A special skill? Do you like to practice?
#154. Write about what it might be like to be water drops freezing and turning into ice.
#155. Do you think it is important to keep your room clean? What do you like about having a clean room?
#156. Imagine your parents are sending you away for a two week summer camp trip. Would you be excited? Why or why not?
#157. What are you currently learning about in history class? Write a fictional story about someone from the past you are learning about.
#158. Many wars have been fought in the past. Instead of going to war, what do you think countries could do to resolve their differences peacefully?
#159. Every year over 8 billion plastic bottles and cans are thrown away. What are some things you can do to help encourage your family and friends to recycle?
#160. Imagine if you were the principal of the school. What might you do differently? What things would you do that are the same? Write about it!
#161. Pretend that one day you are at your neighbor’s house and you notice a strange noise coming from the basement. You go downstairs to investigate to see a large machine running with many lights and buttons. Why is it there?
#162. Write an essay that starts with the line, “Tomorrow, I hope…”
#163. If you could give one thing to every child in the world, what would you want to give them?
#164. Do you have a piggy bank at home? How do you earn money to add to your savings?
#165. What qualities make a house a home? What are 3 things you think every house should have?
#166. Would you rather go scuba diving or rock climbing? Write about which one you think you would like to do more and why.
#167. Do you think it is a good idea for kids to write a daily journal? What are some of the benefits of writing every day?
#168. Do you like watching fireworks or are they too noisy? Write about a time when you saw fireworks in the sky.
#169. Oh no! Your friend has turned into a statue! How did this happen? What do you do? Does your friend ever turn back into a person again?
#170. If you could be any movie character, who would you be and why?
#171. A mysterious message appears in code on your computer screen. What could it mean?
#172. If you could go to work with one of your parents for a day, what do you think the day would be like? What types of things do your parents do at work all day long?
#173. Imagine you are the President and you are creating a new national holiday. What is your holiday about? How is it celebrated? What day of the year do you celebrate? Write about it!
#174. You won a never-ending lifetime supply of spaghetti noodles! What will you do with all of these noodles?
#175. Would you rather be a bunny rabbit or a hawk? Why did you choose the one you chose?
#176. Your teacher has been acting mysterious lately. After school one day, you notice a weird green light shining through underneath the door of your classroom. What do you do? What is happening with your teacher?
#177. Write an article about tips for how kids can be more organized and study well for tests.
#178. Look at any product in your house and read the ingredients labels. Research what each ingredient is. Do you think these ingredients are good or bad for people?
#179. If you were a doctor, what do you think would be the most important part of your job every day?
#180. The school librarian needs your help! A truck just arrived with 2,000 books and she can’t fit all the books onto the shelves! What do you do? How do you find a place to put all these books?
#181. Do you think it would be fun to plant a garden? What types of plants would you want to grow? Write about your garden ideas.
#182. What is a sport or activity you would like to try playing for the first time?
#183. Do you think kids should be allowed to do the same things as adults? What things do you think kids should be able to do that only grown-ups can?
#184. Imagine you and your parents switch places for a day. Your parents are the kids and you are now in charge! What would you do?
#185. Write a get-well letter to someone who has been sick. What can you say to make them feel better?
#186. If you could visit any planet in the solar system, which planet would you like to visit the most and why? Write about what it might be like.
#187. Have you ever been to a farm? What did you like about it? If you haven’t been to a farm, do you think you might like to visit one? Why or why not?
#188. The mayor of the city has a big problem and needs your help! What is the problem and how will you solve it?
#189. Pretend your little sister ate carrots for dinner and the next morning woke up with rabbit ears! How did this happen? What do you do? Will she be a rabbit forever?
#190. Imagine you wake up in the morning to find out you get to relive any day of your life again for the whole day. What day would you want to experience again and why?
#191. Do you think you might like to be a firefighter? Why or why not?
#192. You are a lawyer and your client has been accused of stealing a car. How do you convince the jury your client is innocent?
#193. Think of the four elements: fire, air, earth, and water. Which of these four elements do you like the best?
#194. What would you do if you could be invisible for a whole day? Do you think you would enjoy it or be glad to be back to normal the next day? Write about it!
#195. Imagine you are a meteorologist and people are starting to get angry that your weather predictions are always wrong. What do you do?
#196. If you could create any law, what would it be? Why do you think the law is an important one to have?
#197. You are going incognito and need to hide to your identity so you aren’t recognized or discovered while you walk through the city. What type of disguise do you wear?
#198. Write a persuasive letter to your parents explaining why you should get a new pet. Make sure you provide a convincing argument they won’t be able to refuse!
#199. Your friend wants to do something dangerous. What should you do?
#200. How do you think the world would be different if there were no oceans?
#201. What do you do when someone disagrees with your opinions? Is there a better way to handle conflicting opinions?
#202. What do you think you as a kid could do to help encourage more people to read?
#203. Do you have a good luck charm? What makes this item lucky? When do you use it? How do you use it?
#204. What is at the end of a rainbow? Imagine you follow a rainbow to the end. What do you discover? Is it a pot of gold, or something else?
Use these prompts in your classroom! Get the ad-free printable version of these prompts to inspire your students to write! Thank you for your support!
#205. What do you think the consequences should be for someone who is caught cheating on a test at school?
#206. Imagine you are riding your bike one day when you encounter an older kid who wants to steal your bike. What do you do?
#207. You are the lead singer and star of a famous rock and roll band, but there is one problem – your drummer is jealous of your fame! How do you solve this situation?
#208. If you could help a group of kids in any part of the world, what kids would you want to help the most and why? What are some things you think would help these kids?
#209. Everyone knows the house on the end of the street is haunted. What are some of the strange things that happen there? Why is the house haunted?
#210. You notice at school one day there is a door to a secret passage next to the janitor’s closet and decide to explore. Where does it lead? Why is it there? Do you go alone or bring a friend along?
#211. A bucket list is a list of things you want to accomplish in your lifetime. What are 5 things on your bucket list?
#212. Imagine the perfect treehouse or clubhouse for you and all of your friends as a place to hang out. Describe what it is like inside.
#213. Do you get bored easily? Make a list of things you can do whenever you feel like you are bored and there is nothing fun to do!
#214. Now vs. Then: Think about how today is different from one year ago. How have you changed? What things in your life are different?
#215. Write your autobiography about your life.
#216. It’s a heat wave! What do you do when the weather is hot? What are some of your favorite ways to stay cool?
#217. What are three important safety tips every kid should know to stay safe?
#218. What genre of books do you like to read the most? Write about the characteristics of the genre and list some of your favorite books as examples.
#219. Holiday Traditions: How does your family celebrate the different holidays and events? What are some traditions you do each and every year?
#220. Imagine one day in science class a science experiment goes terribly wrong and now you and all of your classmates have superpowers! What are your superpowers and what do you do with them?
#221. Who is favorite teacher? Why are they your favorite?
#222. You are baking a cake, but you accidentally put salt in the cake instead of sugar. Nobody will eat it! How do you feel? What will you do next time?
#223. Do you think it is important to have good table manners? What do you think some good manners to practice might be?
#224. Many schools no longer teach cursive handwriting. Do you think this is a good or bad thing? Do you know how to write cursive handwriting? Would you like to learn if you haven’t?
#225. If you were the owner of a theme park, what types of rides and attractions would have? Describe what they would be like and why people would want to visit your park.
#226. Your parents give you $100 to spend at the grocery store. What do you buy and why?
#227. Some people who are alive today grew up without computers or video games. What would you do if you didn’t have a computer or video games? How would life be different?
#228. You walk into your living room and discover there is a giant elephant standing there. How did the elephant get there? What do you do about it? How do you explain the elephant in the living room to your parents?
#229. Have you ever had a weird dream? What happened in the dream? What do you think it means?
#230. Do you like to draw or paint? Write a story inspired by a painting, doodle, or sketch.
#231. You are being sent on a mission to outer space to live in a space station for 5 years. What supplies do you pack and why?
#232. What is the scariest creature alive on earth? Describe in detail what makes it so horrifying.
#233. What do you think your pet might say if they could talk to you?
#234. Imagine your school is putting on a talent show. What act will you perform? What other acts will be in the show?
#235. If you could breathe under water, what would you do?
#236. What time of day do you think school should start? Write a convincing argument on why or why not the time of day school starts should change.
#237. If you were to start your own YouTube video channel, what would the videos on your channel be about?
#238. Do you like to cook? What are some things you like to make and eat?
#239. Your school is having a field day and you are in charge of planning the activities and games. What types of activities and games would you plan for the event?
#240. If you had a remote control drone that takes video of everything it sees from the sky and you could take it anywhere, what would you film? For example, the inside of a volcano or soar it over the plains of Africa.
#241. The Bermuda Triangle is an area of the ocean where many ships and planes have gone missing. Why do you think this could be? Write a story about what it might be like to travel there.
#242. There are 7 great wonders of the world – which one do you think is the most wonderful?
#243. If you could speak any foreign language fluently, which one would you like to speak and why?
#244. You are inventing a new flavor of ice cream! What is the new flavor called and what ingredients do you need to make it?
#245. Would you rather go to a baseball game or read a good book? What reasons do you have for your choice?
#246. You walk outside to get your mail and your mailbox starts talking to you! What does your mailbox have to say?
#247. Imagine you are a famous person. What are you most famous for? What is it like to be famous?
#248. What do you think would be the most fun job in the world to have? Give examples of why you think it would be a fun job to have.
#249. Write a poem about an object that is shiny and dazzling.
#250. Do you like to watch the Olympics? Why or why not? If yes, what is your favorite Olympic sport?
#251. What kind of car do you want to drive when you are older? Do you think learning to drive will be easy or hard?
#252. What do you think would make for a great gift to give someone on their birthday?
#253. Describe a time when you needed help and someone helped you. What did they help you with and how did it make you feel?
#254. If you could be any type of fruit or vegetable, what would you be and why?
Love these prompts? Get the ad-free printable version of these prompts to use at home or in the classroom!
#255. Do you think it is more important to have a good imagination or have all the facts proven?
#256. Do you have a favorite aunt, uncle, or another relative? Write a story about their life and why you like to be with them.
#257. Think of a time you laughed really, really hard. What was so funny? Why were you laughing? Write about it!
#258. Write a poem about an emotion. For example: happy, sad, angry, embarrassed, guilty.
#259. Do you ever have a hard time falling asleep? What are some things that help you feel sleepy?
#260. If you could drive a car, where would you drive and why?
#261. Imagine you are trading places with your friend for a day. What will it be like to be at their house? What will your friend think while they are at your house? Write about it!
#262. If you could break a world record, what would it be? What do you think would be necessary to be able to break the world record?
#263. Imagine you live in Colonial times. What would it be like to grow up as a kid in Colonial America?
#264. You are building a new city. What is the name of your city? What is the weather like? What buildings will you build?
#265. What do you think it would be like to work as a sailor on big ship in the ocean each day?
#266. Imagine you are the teacher for the day. What types of activities do you make the students in the class do?
#267. How would you feel if your parents told you that you would be getting a new baby brother or sister? Write about it!
#268. Do you know any good jokes? What are some of your favorite jokes? What makes them funny? Do you think you could write your own?
#269. Imagine you are floating down a river on a raft. What types of things can you see from the river that you normally wouldn’t see from the land?
#270. You want to start a new hobby collecting something. What kinds of things would you collect and why?
#271. Your mom announces she is having a yard sale. Would you let her sell any of your things? Why or why not?
#272. Imagine you walk out your front door one morning and it is raining popcorn! What do you do?
#273. You are camping in the woods one night and hear a scary noise. What do you do? What might be the cause?
#274. What do you think might make kids really happy to go to school? What are some things you think schools should do so that it could be more fun?
#275. Today’s lunch at the cafeteria was unusually horrible. You are a detective on the case to investigate. What do you think is the cause?
#276. If you had a tree that grows money, what would you do?
#277. What would you do if you had a unicorn as a pet?
#278. Would you rather go to the zoo or go to the aviary? Which one would you pick and why?
#279. What are some safety tips you should follow when riding a bike?
#280. You are designing the cover of a magazine. What are some of the headlines on the cover?
#281. Are you afraid of the dark? Why or why not?
#282. If you could learn to play any type of musical instrument, which one would you like to learn how to play and why?
#283. Imagine you are playing a sport that involves a ball, such as soccer, baseball or kickball. What would it be like if the ball could talk?
#284. You come home to discover a friendly alien has been living in your closet. What do you do? Why is there an alien in your closet?
#285. Is there something you are afraid of that you wish you weren’t afraid of? Write about it.
#286. Write about the best party you’ve ever been to. What made the day fun and special?
#287. What makes you feel loved and cared about? What are some ways people can show you that they love and care about you?
#288. There is a kite flying competition coming up and you are going to design your own kite. What will your kite look like? What colors will it be? Will it have any certain shape?
#289. You are given the challenge to drop an egg on the floor – without it breaking! What are some things you might try to make sure the egg won’t break?
#290. What are some of the things you can do every day to stay healthy?
#291. Do you think grown-ups are boring? Why do you think they are so boring all of the time? What is something fun that boring grown-ups could do instead of being so boring?
#292. Write a lyrical poem or song about what kids do while they are at school all day long.
#293. What are the first things you like to do when you are done with school each day? What are some of the activities you like when you are not at school?
#294. Imagine dinosaurs were still alive today. How do you think our lives would be different?
#295. Would you rather visit a volcano or a desert? Which one would you choose and why?
#296. Is there a sound you think is annoying? What types of sounds drive you crazy? Write about them!
#297. What do you think it would be like to be the size of an ant for a day? What types of things would you do?
#298. Imagine one of your stuffed animals comes to life and starts talking to you. What types of things will you talk about? What will you do?
#299. What makes you feel happiest? Write about the things in life that make you feel happy!
#300. Imagine there is no gravity. What kind of things would you do you for fun? How would some of the things you already do for fun be different?
Buy the Printable Cards! We will always have this list of 300 kids writing prompts available for free, but I’m very excited to now also offer an ad-free printable version of these prompts in my online Etsy shop. Thank you for your support!
Parents and teachers, I hope you enjoyed these 300 writing prompts for kids and that you will use them to inspire your children’s creative imaginations.
These prompts of course can be used in a number of different ways and can be adapted for a variety of different styles of writing !
What do you think? Do you think these are good conversation and story starters for kids? Do you have any ideas for writing prompts you would like to share?
And of course, if you’d like to make it super fun and easy to use these prompts at home or in your classroom, be sure to get our ad-free printable version of these kids writing prompt cards now available in my Etsy shop.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on different creative writing ideas and topics for kids to write about! Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.
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How to Teach Creative Writing | 7 Steps to Get Students Wordsmithing
“I don’t have any ideas!”
“I can’t think of anything!”
While we see creative writing as a world of limitless imagination, our students often see an overwhelming desert of “no idea.”
But when you teach creative writing effectively, you’ll notice that every student is brimming over with ideas that just have to get out.
So what does teaching creative writing effectively look like?
We’ve outlined a seven-step method that will scaffold your students through each phase of the creative process from idea generation through to final edits.
7. Create inspiring and original prompts
Use the following formats to generate prompts that get students inspired:
- personal memories (“Write about a person who taught you an important lesson”)
- imaginative scenarios
- prompts based on a familiar mentor text (e.g. “Write an alternative ending to your favorite book”). These are especially useful for giving struggling students an easy starting point.
- lead-in sentences (“I looked in the mirror and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Somehow overnight I…”).
- fascinating or thought-provoking images with a directive (“Who do you think lives in this mountain cabin? Tell their story”).
Don’t have the time or stuck for ideas? Check out our list of 100 student writing prompts
6. unpack the prompts together.
Explicitly teach your students how to dig deeper into the prompt for engaging and original ideas.
Probing questions are an effective strategy for digging into a prompt. Take this one for example:
“I looked in the mirror and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Somehow overnight I…”
Ask “What questions need answering here?” The first thing students will want to know is:
What happened overnight?
No doubt they’ll be able to come up with plenty of zany answers to that question, but there’s another one they could ask to make things much more interesting:
Who might “I” be?
In this way, you subtly push students to go beyond the obvious and into more original and thoughtful territory. It’s even more useful with a deep prompt:
“Write a story where the main character starts to question something they’ve always believed.”
Here students could ask:
- What sorts of beliefs do people take for granted?
- What might make us question those beliefs?
- What happens when we question something we’ve always thought is true?
- How do we feel when we discover that something isn’t true?
Try splitting students into groups, having each group come up with probing questions for a prompt, and then discussing potential “answers” to these questions as a class.
The most important lesson at this point should be that good ideas take time to generate. So don’t rush this step!
5. Warm-up for writing
A quick warm-up activity will:
- allow students to see what their discussed ideas look like on paper
- help fix the “I don’t know how to start” problem
- warm up writing muscles quite literally (especially important for young learners who are still developing handwriting and fine motor skills).
Freewriting is a particularly effective warm-up. Give students 5–10 minutes to “dump” all their ideas for a prompt onto the page for without worrying about structure, spelling, or grammar.
After about five minutes you’ll notice them starting to get into the groove, and when you call time, they’ll have a better idea of what captures their interest.
Did you know? The Story Factory in Reading Eggs allows your students to write and publish their own storybooks using an easy step-by-step guide.
4. Start planning
Now it’s time for students to piece all these raw ideas together and generate a plan. This will synthesize disjointed ideas and give them a roadmap for the writing process.
Note: at this stage your strong writers might be more than ready to get started on a creative piece. If so, let them go for it – use planning for students who are still puzzling things out.
Here are four ideas for planning:
Graphic organisers
A graphic organiser will allow your students to plan out the overall structure of their writing. They’re also particularly useful in “chunking” the writing process, so students don’t see it as one big wall of text.
Storyboards and illustrations
These will engage your artistically-minded students and give greater depth to settings and characters. Just make sure that drawing doesn’t overshadow the writing process.
Voice recordings
If you have students who are hesitant to commit words to paper, tell them to think out loud and record it on their device. Often they’ll be surprised at how well their spoken words translate to the page.
Write a blurb
This takes a bit more explicit teaching, but it gets students to concisely summarize all their main ideas (without giving away spoilers). Look at some blurbs on the back of published books before getting them to write their own. Afterward they could test it out on a friend – based on the blurb, would they borrow it from the library?
3. Produce rough drafts
Warmed up and with a plan at the ready, your students are now ready to start wordsmithing. But before they start on a draft, remind them of what a draft is supposed to be:
- a work in progress.
Remind them that if they wait for the perfect words to come, they’ll end up with blank pages .
Instead, it’s time to take some writing risks and get messy. Encourage this by:
- demonstrating the writing process to students yourself
- taking the focus off spelling and grammar (during the drafting stage)
- providing meaningful and in-depth feedback (using words, not ticks!).
Reading Eggs also gives you access to an ever-expanding collection of over 3,500 online books!
2. share drafts for peer feedback.
Don’t saddle yourself with 30 drafts for marking. Peer assessment is a better (and less exhausting) way to ensure everyone receives the feedback they need.
Why? Because for something as personal as creative writing, feedback often translates better when it’s in the familiar and friendly language that only a peer can produce. Looking at each other’s work will also give students more ideas about how they can improve their own.
Scaffold peer feedback to ensure it’s constructive. The following methods work well:
Student rubrics
A simple rubric allows students to deliver more in-depth feedback than “It was pretty good.” The criteria will depend on what you are ultimately looking for, but students could assess each other’s:
- use of language.
Whatever you opt for, just make sure the language you use in the rubric is student-friendly.
Two positives and a focus area
Have students identify two things their peer did well, and one area that they could focus on further, then turn this into written feedback. Model the process for creating specific comments so you get something more constructive than “It was pretty good.” It helps to use stems such as:
I really liked this character because…
I found this idea interesting because it made me think…
I was a bit confused by…
I wonder why you… Maybe you could… instead.
1. The editing stage
Now that students have a draft and feedback, here’s where we teachers often tell them to “go over it” or “give it some final touches.”
But our students don’t always know how to edit.
Scaffold the process with questions that encourage students to think critically about their writing, such as:
- Are there any parts that would be confusing if I wasn’t there to explain them?
- Are there any parts that seem irrelevant to the rest?
- Which parts am I most uncertain about?
- Does the whole thing flow together, or are there parts that seem out of place?
- Are there places where I could have used a better word?
- Are there any grammatical or spelling errors I notice?
Key to this process is getting students to read their creative writing from start to finish .
Important note: if your students are using a word processor, show them where the spell-check is and how to use it. Sounds obvious, but in the age of autocorrect, many students simply don’t know.
A final word on teaching creative writing
Remember that the best writers write regularly.
Incorporate them into your lessons as often as possible, and soon enough, you’ll have just as much fun marking your students’ creative writing as they do producing it.
Need more help supporting your students’ writing?
Read up on how to get reluctant writers writing , strategies for supporting struggling secondary writers , or check out our huge list of writing prompts for kids .
Watch your students get excited about writing and publishing their own storybooks in the Story Factory
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Improve writing skills for kids
Writing is an activity with many moving parts. A child must bring together vocabulary , grammar and mental processing, and then rely on the physical aspect of handwriting or typing out the words.
That’s why it requires ample practice and extensive exposure to language for kids to develop strong writing skills.
And because young learners can’t just sit down and write the perfect draft, they need to learn the art of revision too.
How important are writing skills?
Writing is intricately linked to critical thinking. It also has implications for performance across all areas of the school curriculum.
Writing is how a child shows what he or she knows and what has been learned.
Students need to be good writers in order to do well on exams, complete homework assignments and eventually compose longer essays and reports.
7 Ways to help kids develop their writing skills
For students to improve their English writing skills, they need to practice as often as possible, learn how to type so they can write quickly on a computer, and be introduced to strategies that will help them develop their skills.
- Encourage reading. Good writers tend to be avid readers and there is a reason for this. The more a child reads, the more they will be exposed to new vocabulary in context and the more words they will learn. Once a word is part of their receptive vocabulary, it is a lot easier for it to make the transition into productive use (to the delight of parents and teachers who want children to “flex their vocabulary muscles” in writing). Reading also exposes kids to different ways of using words and a variety of sentence structures that they can use in their own writing.
- Help them get started. A blank page can be intimidating, even for the seasoned author. Children may do fine once they get started but you often need to help them get the first few words or sentences down. Ask them a thought provoking question, make a list or mind-map of ideas that relate to the topic they are writing about or work with them to organize an outline they can turn into a draft. Taking away the stigma of writing the perfect sentence is also key. Once they have some text to work with, it can always be re-shaped and revised. The trick is to encourage free writing from the start, in order to record whatever thoughts come to mind. They can always worry about revisions later.
- Teach working in drafts. Brainstorming, putting ideas down on paper, ensuring the language and thoughts flow and revising for typos and errors are all different steps in the process of writing. Children need to understand that a perfect sentence doesn’t just come out of nowhere, it develops through a back and forth process as the writer writes, reviews and revises his or her text. This is one reason it’s helpful for kids to write on a computer. It saves erasing and allows children to make multiple attempts at getting their thoughts down, until they find the phrasing they want. Writing on the computer also make it more efficient to reorganize longer pieces of writing, to help information flow better.
- Ask parents to help outside of school. Kids learn to write through example . Completing an initial draft alone is sometimes important, particularly if the task requires sharing personal thoughts and experiences, but it also helps to have someone else there to review it. Parents can make a huge difference in how their children’s writing skills improve by agreeing to read early drafts. Use the child’s words to suggest optimized phrasing and/or help them pinpoint what they are trying to say through conversation. This makes it easier for the ideas to be written down.
- Allow the use of spell and grammar checks. It’s easy to dismiss technology-use as being lazy, but spelling and grammar feedback can actually be extremely helpful for a child who is learning how to write or trying to improve. This is because sometimes there are multiple suggested corrections that force a child not only to notice the awkward phrasing or misspelled word, but to spend some extra cognitive energy thinking about how to correct it. Computers also provide an opportunity to correct errors without the embarrassment or stigma of multiple eraser marks on a hand-written copy.
- Incentivize free writing at home and school. When children learn to write well they are not just cultivating academic skills, they’re also opening up a new avenue for self-expression. Creative tasks foster positive associations with writing, so children see it not just as an activity for learning and reporting information at school, but a way of getting their thoughts across. It doesn’t matter who reads what they are writing or even what it is about, it’s just a good idea if it becomes a regular activity. Parents might suggest keeping a personal diary with a journal entry a day resulting in a special treat at the end of the week. It’s also important for teachers to encourage any and every opportunity for writing , as the more kids write, the more they will improve and hone their skills.
- Suggest copying activities. Copying or memorizing favorite poems, quotes or any other pieces of written language can help children focus their attention on form, use and meaning and incorporate new structures into productive use. While no parents or teachers would advocate plagiarism, borrowing sentence structures for your own ideas is how children learn to write and improve their writing. They will lift phrasing from everything they read and you can help encourage the process by providing them with specific materials to work with.
Learning difficulties that affect writing
While no two children with dyslexia will have exactly the same symptoms, the dyslexic child often struggles to cultivate reading and writing skills. If they have a hard time learning to read, vocabulary will be effected, which makes writing more difficult. Spelling can also cause interference when it comes to getting ideas on paper. This is another reason why using spell-checkers is important. Try out different teaching strategies as it’s crucial to help these kids before they fall behind in early literacy skills development.
For some children and adults, the act of handwriting is actually physically painful or can cause mental strain. Everything from forming the letters to deciding on the spacing between words requires so much cognitive energy that very little is left over for thinking about the ideas, flow, spelling and/or punctuation in an assignment. It’s almost always advised that kids who have dysgraphia learn to write on a computer using touch-typing. Learn more about helping kids who experience writing difficulties because of dysgraphia .
What else can affect writing skills?
Similar to the handwriting difficulties experienced by children with dysgraphia, dyspraxia has to do with difficulties with fine motor skills. This can make holding a pen or pencil difficult. It also affects planning and organization skills, something that’s essential for children who are learning how to write. Brainstorming ideas in charts and filling out outlines can help these kids. Read more about teaching children with dyspraxia .
Slow processing speed
Kids with slow processing speed will need longer to process writing prompts and may have a particularly hard time getting started on a draft. Parents and teachers can help by going over the task instructions several times, giving children an opportunity to talk about the topic in order to generate ideas, and then allowing them as much time as they need to write. Neatness and spelling may not always be a high priority for these kids as the assignment itself is so mentally taxing they will be exhausted when it comes time to revise. That’s why the shorter the task, the better, to help children with slow processing focus on quality in their writing.
These children may struggle to focus attention on the prompt or see how the idea they are working on relates to the larger text. It can be helpful to give them an opportunity to get up from their seat from time to time and move around the room or stretch. Many kids are successful writing in their heads, that is working out their thoughts before sitting down to record them.
Computers and touch-typing
Kids can start learning how to type at the age of 6 or 7, when their hands fit comfortably on a keyboard. Taking a touch-typing course is a must for the child who is learning to write on a computer. That’s because the process of translating ideas into words and sentences is much smoother without the disruption of visually searching for letters.
Touch-typing speeds up writing, allowing a child to write at the same pace as he or she is thinking. It can be a great way to encourage kids to do more writing outside of school, as it takes less time to write a brief email to a relative or compose a comment on social media.
It helps children who struggle with learning difficulties too. They can avoid handwriting tasks and improve their spelling skills, as muscle memory in the hands automatizes the typing of high frequency words.
Finding the right touch-typing course is key. Touch-type Read and Spell takes a multi-sensory and modular approach that allows each child to work through the program at a pace that is right for him or her. Hearing the words, seeing them on a screen and then learning to type them also improves sound-letter mapping and can help with reading skills.
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Do you have any tips to add? Join the discussion by emailing our team!
We used the Touch-type Read and Spell course to teach my ten-year-old son typing, in order to help him with his writing. He really liked books but was never that keen on the reading bit. He was also quite slow to write by hand. His amazing ideas weren’t making it onto the paper and his teachers couldn’t always see how intelligent and creative he was. TTRS has helped my son show his strengths!
Amy, Parent of a child with dyslexia
For teachers
TTRS is a program designed to support educators in teaching students touch-typing, with additional emphasis on reading and spelling.
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Testimonials and reviews
Maria, Adult learner
Maria used to type with two-fingers, slowly and often inaccurately. Now she types faster, with fewer errors, more competently and professionally. This has boosted her confidence in the workplace tremendously. She now recognises individual sounds in words much better, due to the auditory aspect of the multi-sensory approach in TTRS. Her vocabulary has noticeably improved and she has found she can explain things and express herself more clearly in English after completing the course.
Read more of Maria’s story
Bolton College, Adult Education Program
At Bolton College we offer the TTRS course to self-study adult learners who have returned to education to improve their spelling, increase their familiarity with technology, and use word processors. We find that for many adult learners in our program, the conventional ‘look-cover-spell-check’ approach they were taught at school had a detrimental effect on their learning. In contrast, Touch-type Read and Spell provides a rewarding and positive experience for them when it comes to spelling.
Read more of Bolton College’s story
TTRS has a solution for you
An award-winning, multi-sensory course that teaches typing, reading and spelling
How does TTRS work?
Developed in line with language and education research
Teaches typing using a multi-sensory approach
The course is modular in design and easy to navigate
Includes school and personal interest subjects
Positive feedback and positive reinforcement
Reporting features help you monitor usage and progress
More related articles from Read and Spell:
7 Ways to help a frustrated student
Students who are confused may quickly become frustrated in the classroom if they are pressured to perform. It may be the case that attention or processing difficulties have prevented a learner from understanding a lesson, or that the instructions for a particular assignment are not clear to them.
In some cases motor skills difficulties, such as problems with handwriting, prevent a child from demonstrating their knowledge.
Visual processing disorder and dyslexia
Visual processing disorders can interrupt an individual’s ability to understand and navigate written symbols, which may cause problems with math and learning to read at school. They’re not due to vision problems or any issues with the eyes, but rather with how the brain interprets visual information.
On the other hand, dyslexia is a separate condition that often makes it challenging to break spoken language down into its component parts. This, in turn, complicates reading and spelling. While the two conditions can look similar, they have different causes and thus children and adults who have one and not the other will require a different set of strategies and accommodations.
You may also encounter the term visual dyslexia , which can describe individuals who have dyslexia but are prone to reversing or transposing letters, struggle with locating words on the page, and have a tendency to skip words.
6 Tips for teaching EAL pupils
EAL pupils can come from any first language background – and may even speak more than one first language – which is what gives them their English as an Additional Language status. What they have in common is that they are all receiving their education in a predominantly English-speaking country. Some children are absolute beginners and others are highly advanced in English and may even sound like native speakers.
Depending on their age and background, EAL learners might be literate in their mother tongue – which can give them an edge in developing English literacy skills - or they may not yet have learned to read and write.
Many educators enjoy teaching EAL learners as they often bring new perspectives and approaches to problem solving into the classroom. They can also be challenging, for example if you’re teaching a large class and they require a lot of individual attention, or if they are having trouble adjusting to the new school system.
Experienced educators know though that even with no knowledge of a student’s mother tongue and little experience teaching non-native learners, it’s still possible to give children and young adults access to the resources, strategies, and tools they need to be successful at school.
Typing spelling words
There are many ways to practice a list of spelling words, from making flash cards, to using oral recitation, or just plain writing the words out by hand. Yet one of the most effective and easiest approaches is using a computer or tablet and wireless keyboard. Not only is typing convenient, but it's also a multi-sensory activity that involves kinetic elements which can support learning and retention of letter patterns. That's because typing a word allows muscle memory to encode the spelling as a series of key strokes .
Typing is also a highly accessible solution for students who struggle with fine-motor skills and find it painful to write by hand. It's the preferred approach when dysgraphia is present . Some learners with autism find it effective and it's a great solution for students who struggle with language-based learning difficulties like dyslexia.
Modifications for students with Down syndrome
Some learners with Down syndrome attend special schools where they are taught a specific curriculum and have lesson content and delivery adapted for their needs. Others may learn at home or as part of a co-op.
However, it’s increasingly common for children to enroll in their local education system where they can study alongside non-Down syndrome peers. There are a number of benefits to this, including the ability to enhance a student’s sense of independence, foster stronger ties within the community, and assist a learner in developing social skills. It may also prepare young-adults and teens for volunteer/work opportunities later on, and can generally be more convenient and financially practical for families.
But when a learner with Down syndrome joins a regular class, this also means that certain teaching approaches and exercises may need to be modified in order to ensure the student gets the maximum benefit from his or her studies.
Autism and typing
Many children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) struggle to express themselves in speaking and writing. Communication challenges can range from mild to severe: one child with autism may speak fluently with an impressive vocabulary and another might be completely nonverbal. Some learners say the same word over and over, and others repeat a series of sounds, or the speech of others, a condition known as echolalia .
But experiencing difficulties with speaking does not necessarily mean an autistic child cannot understand, process and use language to represent his or her thoughts, it may just be he or she doesn’t have the ability to express what’s inside . That’s why it can be useful to explore alternative forms of communication , such as typing. Typing can help verbal and nonverbal autistic learners as well as those who struggle to write by hand.
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6 Effective Ways to Improve Writing Skills
Step 1: Cultivate a Reading Habit
Step 2: encourage writing regularly, step 3: focus on vocabulary expansion, step 4: teach grammar and syntax, step 5: practice different types of writing, step 6: create a supportive environment.
Have you ever wondered why some children seem to excel at writing while others struggle to put their thoughts on paper? It’s a common concern among parents and educators alike, especially in a world where communication skills are more important than ever. Finding effective ways to improve writing skills for kids is a goal we all share, but how do we achieve it?
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This blog will cover a structured approach to developing your child’s writing skills . By the end of this guide, your child will be equipped with the tools they need to express themselves more effectively and confidently through writing.
- Start Early:
One of the most effective ways to improve writing skills in kids is to introduce them to the world of reading as early as possible. When children are exposed to reading from a young age, they not only learn new words but also understand how sentences are structured , and stories are built. This early exposure lays a solid foundation for their writing skills.
- Diverse Materials:
To keep their interest alive and kicking, it’s crucial to offer children a variety of reading materials. By diversifying their reading materials, children explore different writing styles, learn new vocabulary, and understand various perspectives. This opens their minds to different ways of expressing thoughts, which is a key component in how to improve writing skills. SplashLearn offers a variety of books for kids to read according to their reading levels :
- Decodable Books
- Leveled Readers
- Bedtime Stories
- Story Books Featuring Fun Characters
Track Your Kid’s Reading Progress:
Talking about what they read is as important as the reading itself. When you discuss a book or any reading material with your child, you encourage them to think critically about the story, the characters, and the message. Ask them questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character did that?”
This engages them in a way that mirrors the writing process. They learn to form opinions and articulate their thoughts, which are essential skills in writing. Engaging in discussions about reading materials is a powerful strategy as it teaches kids to connect with the material on a deeper level and express their insights effectively.
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Encouraging kids to write regularly is a cornerstone in developing writing skills. When children make writing a habit, they improve their ability to express thoughts clearly and become more creative and confident. Here’s how you can support this habit:
- Creative Worksheets
Creative worksheets are a fun and effective way to engage children in writing. These worksheets can include word puzzles , word matching , and sentence completion exercises that make writing enjoyable and reinforce writing skills and strategies. By solving these worksheets, children learn to think creatively, structure sentences, and use new words, all of which are essential components of writing.
Begin here:
- Daily Journal
Maintaining a daily journal offers numerous benefits. It provides a personal space for children to express their thoughts, feelings, and daily experiences. This practice helps develop writing skills and encourages them to reflect on their day, fostering a habit of mindfulness and self-awareness.
- Writing Prompts
Using writing prompts is a fantastic way to stimulate creativity in young writers. Prompts can range from imaginative scenarios to questions about their daily life, encouraging them to think outside the box and explore different writing styles. This exploration is crucial in developing writing skills, allowing children to experiment with their voice, tone, and narrative structures.
- Letters and Emails
In today’s digital age, teaching kids the value of writing to communicate with others is more important than ever. Writing letters and emails to friends and family members not only practices formal and informal tones but also emphasizes the importance of clear communication. It’s a practical application of writing in real-world scenarios, showing children the power and impact of their words.
Expanding a child’s vocabulary is a key factor in ways to improve writing skills for kids. A rich vocabulary allows kids to express themselves more clearly and creatively in their writing. Here are some effective methods to enhance their vocabulary :
- Vocabulary Building Worksheets
Adding vocabulary-building worksheets to your child’s learning routine is an effective method to enhance their word bank. These worksheets can range from matching words with their meanings, filling in blanks with appropriate words to creating sentences with new vocabulary.
- Word of the Day
Implementing a “Word of the Day” strategy is a simple yet powerful way to expand your child’s vocabulary gradually. Each day, introduce a new word, its meaning, and how it can be used in a sentence. Encourage your child to use this new word throughout the day in their conversations or writing.
Reading aloud to children, or having them read aloud to you, offers dual benefits. Firstly, it exposes them to new words in context, which is crucial for understanding usage and nuances. Secondly, reading aloud improves pronunciation and helps in retaining new vocabulary. This interactive activity also allows for immediate explanations of unfamiliar words, enhancing comprehension and the ability to use these new words in writing.
Understanding grammar and syntax is crucial for children to write correctly and effectively. Here’s how you can help lay a solid foundation and improve their skills in this area:
- Basic Grammar
Starting with the basics of grammar is essential. This includes understanding parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation. Teaching basic grammar helps children form correct sentences and express their ideas clearly. By knowing how to construct sentences properly, children can communicate their thoughts more effectively, making their writing not only correct but also more engaging.
Start here:
- Editing Practice
The importance of self-editing cannot be overstated. Encouraging children to review and edit their writing teaches them to pay attention to detail and critically evaluate their work. This practice not only helps in correcting grammatical errors but also in refining their writing over time. You can start with focused practice, such as looking for and correcting only punctuation errors, and gradually move to more complex aspects like sentence structure and word choice.
Diversifying the types of writing your child practices is key to developing well-rounded writing skills. Here’s how to approach this:
Exposing children to different writing styles and formats includes storytelling , descriptive essays , book reports, and persuasive essays , among others. Each style serves a different purpose and helps children learn to adjust their tone, vocabulary, and structure accordingly. For instance, storytelling encourages creativity and the use of descriptive language, while persuasive writing teaches them to present arguments logically.
- Guided Writing
Structured guidance in writing is important, especially when children are exploring new types of writing. Guided writing involves providing a clear framework or outline for a writing task, which can help children organize their thoughts and focus on the task at hand. This could be as simple as giving them a template for a book report or a step-by-step guide for crafting a story.
Through guided writing, children learn how to structure their work, develop ideas, and link thoughts coherently, which are essential skills for any type of writing.
Constructive feedback is a powerful tool for fostering improvement in writing. When giving feedback, focus on both strengths and areas for improvement. Highlight what they did well to encourage them, and offer specific suggestions on how they can make their writing even better.
For example, if a child writes a story, you might compliment their imaginative plot but suggest they develop their characters more deeply. Feedback should be a balance of encouragement and constructive criticism, helping children understand that writing is a process of continuous learning and growth.
Creating a supportive environment is crucial for children, especially for those who may be struggling with writing. A nurturing atmosphere can significantly enhance their learning experience and contribute to their writing development. Here’s how you can create such an environment:
- Setting Goals: The Importance of Achievable Targets
Setting clear, achievable goals is another essential aspect of creating a supportive environment for children learning to write. When setting goals, it’s important to ensure they are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For a child struggling with writing, this could mean setting a goal to write a short paragraph each day, learning five new vocabulary words a week, or completing a simple story over a month.
- Encouragement: The Power of Positive Reinforcement
When you acknowledge their efforts and progress, no matter how small, you validate their hard work and encourage them to keep trying. Highlighting what they’ve done well before addressing areas for improvement can make them more receptive to feedback and eager to improve. This approach is fundamental as it builds a positive association with the learning process.
- Writing Space: Creating a Conducive Space for Writing
Designating a specific area for writing that is quiet, well-lit, and comfortable can help your child concentrate better and feel more inclined to write. This space doesn’t need to be large or elaborate; a small desk with organized supplies can make a big difference. A dedicated writing space signals to your child that writing is an important activity deserving of its own special place, thereby supporting them in their efforts to improve their writing skills.
- Be a Role Model: Demonstrating the Value of Writing in Everyday Life
By incorporating writing into your daily routine you demonstrate that writing is a valuable skill beyond the classroom. Whether it’s writing a shopping list, sending an email, or jotting down notes for a project, showing your child that writing is a part of everyday life can inspire them to explore writing outside of academic assignments. Being a role model in this way is one of the most effective ways to improve writing skills for kids, as it provides them with a tangible example to emulate.
Conclusion
Improving your child’s writing skills is a journey that involves patience, practice, and support. By following these steps and consistently applying these ways to improve writing skills for kids, you can help your child become a confident and capable writer. Remember, every effort counts in nurturing their growth and love for writing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you help a child who is slow in writing.
To help a child who is slow in writing, encourage them with positive reinforcement, break writing tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and provide them with plenty of time to practice without pressure.
How can I get my 5-year-old to practice writing?
To get your 5-year-old to practice writing, make it fun by using colorful markers, engaging in activities like tracing letters in sand or with finger paints, and praising their efforts to keep them motivated. Incorporating writing into playtime activities can also be very effective.
What causes poor writing skills in students?
Poor writing skills in students can be caused by a lack of reading, insufficient practice, limited vocabulary, and inadequate feedback on their writing. Sometimes, it’s also due to a lack of interest or confidence in their writing abilities.
How can students improve their writing skills?
Ways to improve writing skills for students include reading regularly to enhance their vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure, practicing writing consistently, seeking feedback to learn from mistakes, and engaging in exercises that focus on different aspects of writing, such as grammar, punctuation, and style.
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80 Creative and Fresh Writing Prompts for Students of All Ages (+ Bonus Interactive Tip to Run a Writing Activity in PowerPoint)
Ausbert Generoso
Writing prompts are essential tools for helping students explore their creativity and improve their writing skills, potentially even sparking a love for writing. While there are many instructional methods available, encouraging students to stitch their words together and bring their ideas to life through writing remains superior. Why?
- Writing helps students organize their thoughts clearly. It turns abstract ideas into coherent and structured arguments.
- Regular writing sharpens critical thinking. Crafting essays or stories encourages deeper analysis and problem-solving.
- Writing fuels creativity. Engaging with diverse prompts pushes students to explore new ideas and perspectives.
- Writing builds confidence. Seeing their ideas on paper boosts students’ belief in their own abilities.
- Writing prepares students for the future. Strong writing skills are essential for academic success and professional communication.
As straightforward as it may be, writing prompts need to be directly tailored to students at different levels. Considering their age groups, environment, and how they’re engaged, targeted writing prompts will better connect with their interests and developmental stages.
Fun Writing Prompts
Creative writing prompts, personal writing prompts, imaginative writing prompts, persuasive writing prompts, reflective writing prompts.
- Career-Oriented Writing Prompts
Critical Thinking Writing Prompts
Writing prompts for students in elementary.
- If you could have any superpower for one day, what would it be and why?
- One day, it started raining candy from the sky, and I…
- Imagine your pet could talk. What would they say about their day?
- If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be called and how would people celebrate it?
- You’ve just discovered a hidden treasure map in your backyard. What do you do next?
- Write about a world where kids make all the rules for one week.
- If you could swap places with your teacher for a day, what would you teach?
- If you had a magic backpack that could carry anything, what would you pack for an adventure?
- You’ve just met a friendly alien! What questions would you ask them?
- Describe the best birthday party you could ever have—who’s invited and what do you do?
- The dragon was afraid of flying, so he decided to…
- Imagine you found a door in your room that leads to a magical land. What’s the first thing you see?
- If animals could form their own town, what would it look like? Who’s the mayor?
- You’ve been chosen to design a brand-new theme park. What’s the theme and what rides do you create?
- Every time I sneezed, something strange happened. Suddenly…
- A talking tree asks for your help. What does it need, and how do you help it?
- You’ve just opened a box with mysterious objects inside. Pick one and write a story about it.
- Create a story about a kid who finds out they can jump into books and become part of the story.
- If you could fly anywhere in the world, where would you go first and what would you see?
- One morning, I woke up and realized everything in my house was made of chocolate…
800,000+ educators and professionals use ClassPoint to boost audience engagement right inside PowerPoint.
How to run a Short Answer activity in PowerPoint:
- Create a slide with a writing prompt from this blog as text.
- From the Inknoe ClassPoint tab on your PowerPoint, click on Short Answer to immediately insert a quiz button to your slide.
- Enter slide show mode to get your class code, which your students will use to join your class from their devices.
- Click on the inserted Short Answer quiz button to send the slide to your students’ devices, where they can submit responses back to your PowerPoint real-time.
Writing Prompts for Students in Middle School
- Think about your best friend. What makes them special to you?
- Write about a time when you faced a challenge and how you overcame it.
- If you could travel back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
- The most exciting day I’ve ever had was when…
- What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself in the past year, and how has it changed you?
- What’s something you do that makes you feel proud? Why?
- Imagine your life 10 years from now. Where are you, and what are you doing?
- Write about a time when you had to make a difficult decision. How did it feel, and what did you choose?
- If you could spend a whole day doing anything you wanted, what would it be?
- Write about a moment when you helped someone. How did it make you feel?
- I discovered an old book in the attic. When I opened it, I was transported into…
- Imagine you’re a detective solving a mysterious case in your town. What’s the mystery, and how do you solve it?
- You wake up one day with the ability to talk to animals. What do they say to you?
- Write about a future world where robots and humans live together. How does society work?
- One day, I discovered I had the power to control time. The first thing I did was…
- Imagine you’ve been given the chance to design a new video game. What’s the story, and who’s the main character?
- If you could switch places with any character from your favorite movie or book, who would it be and why?
- You’re the last person on Earth. What do you do first?
- Write about an invention that changes the world. How does it work, and who uses it?
- While hiking in the woods, I found a hidden door in a tree. When I stepped through it…
Writing Prompts for Students in High School
- Do you think school uniforms should be mandatory? Write a persuasive essay on your stance.
- Write about why it’s important to protect the environment. What actions should be taken?
- Convince someone why your favorite book or movie is the best. What makes it stand out?
- Do you believe that social media has a positive or negative impact on society? Support your argument.
- Write a letter to a local government official about a community issue you care about. What solutions do you propose?
- Persuade your reader why a specific hobby or activity should be included in the school curriculum.
- Argue for or against the use of technology in the classroom. What are the benefits or drawbacks?
- Write about why everyone should participate in community service. What are the benefits to individuals and society?
- Should the voting age be lowered? Present your case with compelling reasons.
- Should schools implement more mental health programs? Discuss the potential benefits.
- Reflect on a challenging project or assignment you’ve completed this year. What strategies helped you succeed?
- Write about a time when you had to balance multiple responsibilities, like school, work, and extracurriculars. How did you manage it?
- Think about a recent decision you made about your future (like choosing a college or career path). What influenced your decision?
- Reflect on a class or subject you struggled with and how you improved or overcame the challenge. What did you learn from the experience?
- Write about a moment when you felt proud of your achievements in school or extracurricular activities. What did it mean to you?
- Describe how your goals or interests have changed since you started high school. What events or experiences contributed to this change?
- Reflect on a time when you worked as part of a team on a school project or activity. How did you contribute to the team’s success?
- Write about a mentor or teacher who has had a significant impact on your high school experience. How have they influenced you?
- Reflect on your involvement in a school club or sports team. How has it shaped your personal growth and skills?
- Think about a recent school event or experience that made you see things differently. What did you learn from it?
Writing Prompts for Students in College
Career-focused writing prompts.
- Write about your ideal job and the steps you need to take to achieve it. What skills and experiences are necessary?
- Imagine you’re starting your own business. What is your business idea, and how will you make it successful?
- Reflect on an internship or job experience that influenced your career aspirations. What did you learn from it?
- Write a cover letter for your dream job. Highlight your strengths and explain why you’re the best fit.
- Describe a professional mentor or role model who has impacted your career goals. What lessons have you learned from them?
- Discuss the importance of networking in your chosen field. How do you plan to build and maintain professional connections?
- Write about a career-related challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it. What did this experience teach you?
- Explore the impact of technology on your desired career field. How do you plan to adapt to these changes?
- Imagine you’re giving a TED Talk about your field of interest. What key points would you cover to inspire your audience?
- Reflect on how your college education has prepared you for your future career. What skills or knowledge have been most valuable?
- Analyze a current event or issue that interests you. What are the key perspectives, and what is your stance?
- Discuss the pros and cons of a controversial policy or practice in your field of study. What are the implications?
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a recent technological advancement. How has it impacted society or your area of study?
- Consider the ethical implications of a major decision or trend in your industry. What are the potential consequences?
- Analyze the role of social media in shaping public opinion. How does it influence your field or area of study?
- Debate the impact of global issues, like climate change or economic inequality, on your future career. What are potential solutions?
- Write about a significant cultural or societal change and its effects on your field. How can professionals adapt to these changes?
- Assess the impact of educational reforms on your academic and career goals. What changes would you advocate for?
- Critique a popular theory or belief related to your field of study. What are its strengths and weaknesses?
- Explore the role of interdisciplinary approaches in solving complex problems. How can combining fields enhance solutions?
More question lists for your next presentation
350+ Insanely Funny Trivia Questions from A-Z that Will Make Your ROFL
261 Versatile Hot Seat Questions from Funny to Philosophical
90+ Truth or Dare Questions for Kids to Unleash Laughter in the Classroom
131 Most Hilarious Family Feud Questions and Answers of All Time 😂
150 Fun Fill in the Blank Game Questions Across Different Categories (Free Downloadable Template Available!)
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- How-To Guides
How to Write a Story for Children in 14 Steps
Where do I even start? That’s the overwhelming thought that comes across most aspiring children’s writers when they want to write their own book. It doesn’t matter if you want to write a picture book or a novel – the problem is always the same. The goal of this article is to teach beginners how to write a story for kids, from having a simple idea to publishing your complete story. Let’s get started on writing your first children’s story.
Interested in fantasy stories? You might find our guide on how to write a fantasy novel useful.
- Brainstorm your ideas
- Develop your ideas
- Develop your characters
- Get the setting right
- Plan the ultimate climax
- Plan an awesome ending
- Outline your story
- Write the opening
- Use effective dialogue
- Include sensory elements
- Write the Ending
- Read and edit
- Give your story a title
- Publish your story
So, to summarise…
Planning your story.
Before you even begin writing your story, you need to plan out all the important elements. Carry on reading for our amazing tips on how to plan your story.
Inspiration is everywhere, you just need to know how to find it. Sometimes it takes a short walk or a moment to yourself to find inspiration. Other times you could be talking to your friends or just watching TV when inspiration strikes.
Wherever you find inspiration it is important to keep a note of this moment. We really recommend getting into the habit of carrying a notebook and pen with you wherever you go. This way you won’t forget all those amazing ideas that pop up in your head. You can even call it your ideas book! There is no right or wrong way of structuring your ideas book, but if you need help you could try the following:
- Write a list of words you find funny or interesting
- Draw or describe different characters
- Stick newspaper or magazine headlines you find interesting
- Stick any photos or images you find interesting
- Make note of any dreams you had and remember
Another great idea could be to carry a camera with you when you’re out on a walk or on a day trip and take snaps of anything interesting. Photo or image prompts are brilliant for inspiring the imagination and reminding you of past memories. We recommend you read this post on how to use image prompts to see how you can use your old photos as a source of inspiration.
Photos along with your notebook are the perfect source of inspiration for when you’re ready to sit down and start planning your next story.
Now that you have a book full of ideas, the next part is to pick one or combine a couple of ideas to focus on. Then you can start developing your ideas into brilliant stories.
We all know that every story has a beginning, middle and end. In fact, the most basic structure you might notice in stories is that you have a hero who sets off on an adventure. They face a couple of challenges on the way, overcome them and live happily ever after (of course it’s not always a happy ending for some). Knowing this basic structure we can develop our ideas further using the story jigsaw method:
Each piece of the puzzle is explained below:
- Who: Who is your character?
- Want: What does your character want?
- Why not: Why can’t your character get what they want?
This sounds simple enough! Let’s take a look at an example: Jimmy the fox wanted to enter the spelling bee, but could not find the money to pay for books.
In the above example, Jimmy the fox is the who. His want is to “enter the spelling bee“ and the why not is that he does not have enough money to pay for books. Our simple puzzle of 3 pieces has created a plot for a possible story. However, to make an even more interesting story, you may add several other pieces, such as another who, want and why not. This is explained in more detail in our free story writing pack .
The advanced writer might be interested in adding plot twists to their story to surprise the reader. This could be a surprise ending or a new character entering your story mid-way through and so on.
Hopefully, by now you should have a clear story idea to work on. The next part is to think carefully about the characters you want to include in your story. Characters are one of the most important elements of a story .
Don’t over-complicate this step by including too many characters. We suggest choosing one or two main characters to focus on in your story. When developing your character/s , you might want to think about the following in detail:
- What do they want?
- What are they scared of?
- What bad memories do they have?
- What good memories do they have?
- Have they always been good/bad?
- What are their strengths?
- What are their weaknesses?
- What do they look like? Any unique features?
But why would anyone want to know all these little details about your character? Well… they don’t. You just need to make your characters relatable to your readers. And what makes a character relatable, you ask?
Relatable characters have traits (or features) that an everyday person can understand and believe in. Even if you’re writing a fantasy story about witches and wizards. Your characters may have magical powers, but they could also be kind, come from a poor family, have a bad experience with bullies and so on. These extra pieces of information about a character’s backstory make your character interesting to your readers.
Oh and there’s one more very important thing you need to know about the main characters in stories. And that is…they always change in some way. Your character can start off as someone who is weak and scared of everything. Then by the end, they would overcome their greatest fear and become someone who is brave. This is what makes your story really interesting!
The setting of your story is very important, as this is where everything in your story will happen. You can choose to stick to one setting or move between various settings. Depending on what your story is about, you can choose to set the whole story in someone’s house or even just the school canteen. Or you can go all out on selecting various settings for your story, especially if it’s a story about time-travelling or just normal travelling.
Whatever your setting is remember to explain all the little details so your readers can also imagine being there with the characters. And by little details, we mean even the tiniest detail can make a huge difference. For example, if you chose a bus shelter as one of the key settings in your story, talk about the cracks on the glass or the pieces of litter on the floor. Don’t just stick to the appearance of objects, go further by describing the smell in the air and the sounds you hear. Just think about the five senses, sight, smell, taste, hear and touch for ideas.
The climax of the story is where the actual conflict happens or where your main character’s problems are at their highest point. This is the key moment just before the solution is revealed and normally happens towards the end of the story. To make sure your story has the ultimate climax give your character limited options, so they feel trapped or overwhelmed by recent events. This can then build up to a powerful ending (discussed in the next section).
In the actual climax itself, your main character should use a new skill, piece of information or even friends they made before this point. It is important to remember that without this “new something” your character could never have overcome their problem earlier on in the story. If your readers feel that your main character could have easily overcome their problems at the beginning of the story, then your climax is likely to disappoint your readers
The climax is the perfect place to demonstrate how much your character has grown since the beginning of the story. And to provide a valuable life lesson to your readers. And there are a number of things your character might learn, such as:
- Discovering what they wanted was bad and now changing their want
- Having to sacrifice something important to them to help/save someone else
- Realising the consequences of their past behaviour
It is important to note that the actual climactic scene of your story should feature your character facing their problems alone. Even if your main character received help from other characters throughout the story. The climax must have a moment where only your main character goes ahead and defeats the problem.
Your ending doesn’t need to be very long and drawn out. In fact, it can quickly end after the climax. But that doesn’t mean that you should rush it off without considering your readers. There are a number of ways you can end your story, which include:
- Happy Ending: The conflict ends, and the hero wins and lives happily ever after with everything they ever wanted.
- Sad Ending: The conflict ends, but there were some difficulties or consequences because of how this conflict ended.
- Cliff Hanger: The main conflict ends, but the reader does not know what happened to the main character or another bigger conflict is revealed to the readers.
- Twist Ending: The most unexpected thing happens at the end, shocking the reader.
It is important when planning the ending that it clearly shows the end of the main conflict your character was facing throughout the story. And that this conflict was resolved through your main character’s actions. For example, if your main character was cursed by an evil witch and now they can’t speak at all. The ending should show that your main character was able to overcome this curse and live their life happily (if this was a happy ending).
When planning your ending you might want to play around with different endings to your story to see which one is the most powerful and exciting for your readers.
Before actually writing your story, we suggest you sit down and write out the basic structure of your story (preferably in one sitting). There are a number of ways you can do this, but the simplest way may be to list everything you know about your story somewhere (See our guide on how to outline a book with a free template ). This will help you to note down every idea you have about your story and make sure nothing interesting gets missed out or forgotten about. Listing out your key scenes can also help you identify any holes in your plot and opportunities to make your story even better. This can even save you time and frustration when it comes to actually writing your story.
Once you have finished listing out all your scene ideas, take a moment to look through your list. If you feel a scene idea is not clear or does not connect you can highlight these ideas. You may also highlight ideas that need further research. Now review all the highlighted ideas again and expand on these until they make sense or maybe just remove them from the story if there is no real connection. Think about alternative scenes that your reader won’t expect. F or example, you might have 3 different ideas for how your story will end.
You might even go a step further and sketch out the main scenes of your story using a storyboard or even some index cards. A storyboard will help you logically layout the key scenes in your story and swap them around to see what works best. A storyboard can also ensure that there are no gaps in your story or even scenes that repeat themselves. Once you are happy with your outline and feel confident that all the key areas of your story have been covered, you can move on to writing your first draft.
Writing Your Story
Now it’s time to start writing the first draft of your story. We call it the first draft because it is highly likely that you will have to write your story a number of times before it is ready to be published.
The opening sentence is one of the most essential parts of any story. It hooks the reader and encourages them to read on if they like the opening. Let’s all face it, there’s nothing really exciting about a story that starts off like, “One day I went to the park…”.
So what makes a good opening? A good opening should set the scene and get the reader excited about what will happen next. It should give enough information to the reader, so they are faced with a series of questions in their head, such as why did this happen? Some of the information you might include in your opening may be details of a setting, a character description or a significant memory in their life. For example. Danny The Champion Of The World by Roald Dahl starts off by describing the main character’s backstory:
“When I was four months old, my mother died suddenly and my father was left to look after me all by himself.”
Your opening should also set the mood for the entire story. For example, if you are writing a horror story, you might want to set a dark tone at the beginning. But bear in mind just because you are writing a horror story, you can still include humour or change tones slightly throughout the story. You just need to remember the overall mood of your story.
There are a number of ways to open your story, such as:
- Starting with dialogue: A character in your story could be talking about something.
- Begin with an action scene: Something might have happened to your main character.
- Describe the setting: Use sensory details to describe an important setting.
- Describe the character’s backstory: Your character has an important memory to share.
An extra tip for your opening is that you might want to plan a number of openings for your story to see which one is the most exciting.
Dialogue is speech between two or more characters. This can be expressed internally through thoughts or externally through conversations. Effective dialogue sets the scene, adds drama and develops your character’s personality. Dialogue also breaks up big chunks of descriptive text to add more life to your story and characters.
While using dialogue in your story may seem like a great idea, it can get boring if used wrongly. A mistake some writers make is including long dialogue between characters talking about minor or unnecessary things that have very little relation to the main conflict. While dialogue may seem like an easy way to clarify parts of your story, don’t use it as the only way to describe your story’s plot. Keep your dialogue short and simple, with important and interesting information.
Another common mistake in writing dialogue is not including the character’s emotions or personality in the dialogue. You might use straightforward direct words, but we all know that conversations in real life aren’t always that direct and simple. Try inventing your own words and don’t be afraid of including informal or slang words in your dialogue, as this could add to your character’s personality.
Learn how to write effective dialogue with our guide on how to write dialogue .
Sensory elements is another word for including the five senses throughout your story. When drafting out your story, try to find opportunities to include all the senses (not just sight). For example, if you’re introducing a new character, talk about how they smell, what their voice sounds like as well as any features that stand out. The same goes for when you are describing different settings or scenes in your story (see our section on settings above). Sensory elements make the reader feel like they are experiencing the story for themselves.
Typically taste is the least used sense in any story because it is hard to think about how something tastes unless your character is actually eating something. But a very good way to use the taste sense could be to describe how your character is feeling at a certain moment. For example, if your character is walking through a scary corridor, you can say their mouth felt dry and tasted like dry cement. This gives the reader a feeling of how scared or nervous that character felt at that moment.
We already touched on the ending above so won’t go into too much detail here. The key to a good ending is to make sure your readers don’t feel disappointed after finishing your book. Make sure you don’t rush the ending by missing out on key details as to why this is the ending. For example, if you are ending on a happy note, don’t forget to tell your readers how and why your character/s are happy now compared to the beginning of the story.
The ending is a good place to close any gaps or things you forgot to mention earlier on, such as side characters which may have disappeared or a minor conflict that was never resolved. Your ending should also feature your main character otherwise the ending would be pointless to the reader.
Finally, no matter how you are ending your story, make sure the main conflict is resolved in some way. Whether this is a good solution or a solution with terrible consequences, you should clearly show the end of the conflict. As a bonus, a good ending almost always has a memorable last line. So when you are writing your ending, you might what to write down several last lines and pick the best one that summarises your story the best.
Publishing Your Story
Your first draft is now complete, it’s time to read and edit your story until you are happy to share it with the world.
If you have written your story on a computer, we suggest you print it out as it will make it easier for you to read a printed version. Once you have your story in hand, find a pen (preferably a red one) to circle or make notes of anything that doesn’t make sense in your story. When reading your story, we suggest reading it out loud, so you can listen to any words that are repeated or sentences that don’t make any sense.
Read your whole story in one sitting, as you read you can make notes in any white spaces around the story text. While reading lookout for any boring or unnecessary information in your story and highlight it. In your first reading, we suggest that you avoid looking at spelling and grammar errors, instead focus on the content and ideas in your story. Once you have done this, you can edit your first draft. It is likely that your second draft will be slightly shorter, as you would have removed any boring parts of the story. Do the same with your second draft, ask yourself if the plot is clear and interesting? Are the characters interesting? Have I described the setting clearly?
When you are happy with the story concept, you can then move on to editing your story for spelling and grammar mistakes. At this stage, you can also look for opportunities to be more descriptive and sentences that start with the same words. Once you have sorted out these mistakes, you can ask someone else to read your story or even read it out loud to them. Another person will be able to give you feedback on how interesting your story is and whether it makes sense. They may even be able to give ideas on how to improve your story further.
The final step is the edit your final draft with all the changes you identified and then it’s ready for publishing.
Your story is almost ready, but we need to give it an interesting title. When picking a title for your story, you might focus on a particular quote, the name of the main character, or even key objects from your story. In most cases story titles are short and easy to remember, so avoid using long and complicated words in the title.
If you can’t find inspiration from your own story, try doing some research by looking at other book titles or using our book title generator . When researching make note of book titles that interest you and review your list to see what they have in common. You might even draw inspiration from everyday stuff, such as music or a movie you recently saw.
Remember the story title is the first thing your reader will see, therefore it should make them curious to open and read your book.
So your story is now ready to be shared with the world! You can publish your story for free on many websites, including Imagine Forest . The benefit of publishing your story on this site is that you can share your story with a community of active members and receive feedback from other writers. You can even include images, create a cover for your story and print out your final story to share with friends and family.
With a solid story under your belt, you might be ready to write some more stories. To motivate yourself you can enter many story writing competitions for young writers, where you can win awesome prizes for your writing skills. We also recommend our weekly short story challenge for those who want to practice their creative writing skills.
Writing a good children’s story requires a lot of research and planning before you even actual begin writing it. And even with all your notes and ideas, drafting, rewriting and getting feedback can take a long time. The important thing to remember is to let your imagination run wild and never worry too much about spelling or grammar (or at least not at the beginning).
If you’re looking for a quick step-by-step on how to write a children’s story, then here is a summary of all the crucial steps you’ll need from planning to publishing your story:
Are you ready to write a story? Let us know your beginner tips for writing stories and what your next story is about 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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Writing activities for ages 8-10.
6 Fun, Creative Letter-Writing Ideas for Kids
Friends Read Free
Encouraging your kids to write a simple thank you note or a short letter can be challenging. Maybe your kids are reluctant because they’re not good spellers or are struggling with penmanship. Quite possibly, they see it as another homework assignment. There are alternatives, though, that can bolster creativity and motivation.
Rebus Story
For example, to say “My cat loves watching birds,” the child could write: My (picture of a cat) loves (picture of a pair of eyes) birds.
If you need a little inspiration, here are some examples:
Cooperative Letter
Comic strip, mixed media.
It can be helpful to work with your child to write a rough draft of the letter first. Then, your child can go back and choose words, phrases, or entire sentences and add a bit of dazzle to them.
Photographs and Captions
And because kids love to be in the spotlight, keep the momentum going and propose that they write a photograph-themed letter by adding captions to chosen photos.
Sit with your child and scroll through photos of him or her at an event, at a celebration, or simply enjoying an everyday activity. Talk about the pictures with your child, prompting him or her to take the lead as much as possible. Point out how the pictures tell a story.
Now ask your child to choose several photos highlighting the same activity or event, organize them in chronological order, and then write captions for each photo.
For each of these letter formats, remember to have your child add a greeting and a closing in the proper places.
Yes, these letter-writing ideas are meant to make it easier for your kids to compose correspondence because there is less actual writing and more creating. That’s the beauty of it, because the ultimate goal is to encourage and empower kids who don’t want to write to put pencil to paper. So gather a bunch of stamps and imagine that great big smile on a grandparent’s face when he or she opens the envelope and discovers such a special letter from a beloved grandchild.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
For example, you might write, "Hop on your left foot six times" or "Squeak like a mouse.". Try not to see each other's commands. Go outside and stand as far apart as your child can toss the ball or Frisbee. You start the game by taping your first strip to the ball or Frisbee. Toss it to your child.
Create Story Prompts. A fun way to improve kids' creative writing skills is to have them write short stories. Cut out pictures from a magazine with different characters or locations, or write down different words. Place these in a container or glue them to cards to use as writing prompts for creating a unique story.
Here are 9 ways to make creative writing skills fun: 1. Read Often. Books are the best precursor to writing. So get your kids reading! With repeated exposure to words, ideas, and styles, and in books, kids build the ability to mimic and adopt them. Flood them with exposure to books and watch their skills rise.
Step 1: Character development. Creating a character is a great starting point for your child to write their own story. This character can be whatever your child wants them to be. They can be a human, an animal, a mystical creature, or something completely made-up! Once they have a general idea of what they want this character to be, they can ...
Creative writing techniques for kids: a step-by-step guide to writing a story. Encouraging children to write a story of their very own can give them an enormous confidence boost, as well as help them consolidate their literacy learning by putting their phonics, grammar and reading skills into practice. Primary teacher Phoebe Doyle offers ...
Writing. Mary Amato's Tips for Parents: How to Encourage Creative Writing. Create a time and place for writing. Children will want to write if you make it a fun activity to do together. "Let's write a story!". Accept your child's ideas. Your child may create a character/story you don't like.
7 - 8 years old . Year 3 . 8 - 9 years old . Year 4 . 9 - 10 years old . Year 5 . 10 - 11 years old ... If your child has found the creative writing help, tips and activities in this blog useful, why not have a read through another of our blogs, such as how to use metaphors?
September 22, 2020. To provide teachers and parents with writing inspiration for children, we've provided our 20 top tips to encourage creative thinking and writing in young learners. Creative writing is the art of turning your thoughts and ideas into words. This can be anything from a story, poem, or even a theatrical play.
4. Writing practice for preschoolers and kindergarten kids. If your child is new to writing, start with beginner skills like pencil grip practice and tracing the letters of the alphabet. Show your child how to hold a pencil with three fingers, in a tripod grip. This will give them more control when they write.
A must-have notebook to unlock the imagination and inspire children to start writing, full of great hints and tips, and activity pages for jotting down words, sketching characters, and writing in stories. Created by award-winning author Christopher Edge, this is the perfect companion to his How To Write Your Best Story Ever!
Here are the 10 best things you can do to teach creative writing to kids: 1. Subscribe them to kid's writing magazines. Magazines are a living, breathing example of writing. They arrive in the mail like a gift, and they surprise your child with new stories every month. Even better, many of these magazines accept submissions from children.
A journal jar is a place to keep all those ideas and questions. Wash and decorate a wide-mouthed jar, like one that used to contain peanut butter. Then, write or print out journal prompts on slips of paper. Ask your child to pull out one prompt each day and write about it in her journal. 7. Create a family scrapbook.
Step 1: Think of an idea. A good place to start is by reading a book together. Stop and ask your child to make predictions about how the story might end. Your child's alternative ending may become great material for a new and original story. You can also write stories based on real‑life experiences, such as your child's first day of school ...
5 Scaffolding Strategies for Reluctant Writers. Have your child sit next to you while they share their ideas aloud. If your child needs to move while articulating their thoughts, take notes while they verbally process their "rough draft.". The next day, have them sit next to you while they read their own words aloud.
Use games. There are numerous games and puzzles that help children with spelling while increasing their vocabulary. Some of these may include crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams, and cryptograms designed especially for children. Flash cards are fun to use too, and they're easy to make at home. Turn your child's writing into books.
Once students start getting in the habit of writing, these creative writing activities can pull new ideas out of their heads and encourage them to experiment with different genres. 5. Acrostics. Great for: Grades 3 to 8. Acrostic poems are a great way to introduce your students to poetry!
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.
Write a short story about what it might be like if you woke up one morning with a mermaid tail. #3. Which is better, winter or summer? Write about the reasons why you think winter or summer is better. #4. Write about what would it be like if you had an alligator as a pet. #5.
We've outlined a seven-step method that will scaffold your students through each phase of the creative process from idea generation through to final edits. 7. Create inspiring and original prompts. Use the following formats to generate prompts that get students inspired: personal memories ("Write about a person who taught you an important ...
7 Ways to help kids develop their writing skills. For students to improve their English writing skills, they need to practice as often as possible, learn how to type so they can write quickly on a computer, and be introduced to strategies that will help them develop their skills. Encourage reading. Good writers tend to be avid readers and there ...
Step 2: Encourage Writing Regularly. Encouraging kids to write regularly is a cornerstone in developing writing skills. When children make writing a habit, they improve their ability to express thoughts clearly and become more creative and confident. Here's how you can support this habit: Related Reading: Best Writing Apps for Kids. Creative ...
How to run a Short Answer activity in PowerPoint: . Create a slide with a writing prompt from this blog as text. From the Inknoe ClassPoint tab on your PowerPoint, click on Short Answer to immediately insert a quiz button to your slide.; Enter slide show mode to get your class code, which your students will use to join your class from their devices.
There are a number of ways to open your story, such as: Starting with dialogue: A character in your story could be talking about something. Begin with an action scene: Something might have happened to your main character. Describe the setting: Use sensory details to describe an important setting.
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This is a terrific project for older and younger siblings; the older child can help with spelling and brainstorming ideas. Writers can use different-colored pencils or pens to help distinguish one ...