65 Story Starters, Journaling Ideas and Writing Prompts for Kids

To help you jump-start creative writing, I’ve come up with 65 Story Starters, Writing Prompts and Journaling Ideas for kids. With more parents participating in on-line learning and home-schooling options, helpful teaching pointers are more important than ever before.

Want to raise a child who enjoys reading? Experts say that strong writers develop into strong readers. Importance of developing strong writing skills.

Why Use Writing Prompts?

Sometimes the imagination needs a little kick-start to tap into their creative side. It is essential to help your child develop their writing skills. As children advance, they will be coming across story starters in writing competitions as well as educational placement testing.

Single Word Writing Prompts for Kids

This is a starting point for formulating an idea. Either a single word or a grouping of 2-3 unrelated words. This is enough to come up with an idea, a thought. It can help get a paragraph going if not an entire essay.

From the single words a few sentences should be put together that relate words for a cohesive idea. The choice of words should depend on the age and maturity of the child. A younger child might not have enough of an understanding of what goes on in a theatre, therefore the word playground might be a better choice. 

The following groups of words can be used together as the prompt or as single word prompts. Using a single word will give more freedom as what to write about.

1. striped cat, playground, midnight
2. goldfish, swimming pool, winter
3. summer camp, president, rain
4. green door, water, assignment
5. hero, train, dreaming
6. hair, mirror, mystery
7. boredom, money, luck
8. princess, family, trust
9. lost, clown, rainbow
10. magical, future, sailing
11. explode, tent, mountains
12. swimming, black bear, moon
13. stars, excitement, bell
14. storm, jungle, artist
15. cheeseburger, ticking, hidden

Opening Sentence Story Starters

A lead-in complete sentence is used for a more complex writing. An initial idea is given and the child should continue to form a beginning, middle and ending for the story.

1. My dog bit the babysitter
2. A striped cat walked into our class
3. My best friend went into a cave
4. It started snowing in July
5. We found a rusty old key
6. There was a loud crash behind us
7. My dad found an old treasure map
8. A library book opened by itself
9. I’m being followed by a red balloon
10. I heard a strange noise coming from my lunchbox
11. My picture is on the cover of a magazine
12. There was a turtle knocking at the front door
13. I found a message in a bottle
14. It was a magic button
15. Everyone was walking backwards
16. My friends can’t see me
17. I found the end of the rainbow
18. There was a tiger driving the school bus
19. I’m the only one who saw the spaceship
20. My backpack is missing

Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are open-ended sentences. Depending on the assignment they can be fictional or non-fiction stories.

1. I should have seen it coming
2. When I opened the box that came in the mail …
3. My favorite season is …
4. One day I will travel to …
5. I wish …
6. To my surprise …
7. I answered the phone …
8. I just found out that I had won …
9. When the school bell rang …
10. It wasn’t a very good idea …
11. I’m writing a letter to …
12. I have a fear of …
13. Oh no, not again …
14. I peeked through the curtains …
15. When I walked into the closet …

Journal Prompts

Keeping a journal is a more personal form or writing. There are many benefits for children to keep a journal. including building confidence. Here are a few prompts in the form of questions to get your child started journaling.

1. What made you laugh today?
2. What are you most grateful for today?
3. Did you learn something new today at home or school?
4. What would you do over if you could?
5. Did you say kind or unkind words to someone today? How did that make you feel?
6. How did someone show you love or kindness today?
7. What did you do that you are proud of? Ashamed of?
8. Did you read something memorable in a book?
9. Did you hear a song that made you happy? Or bring up a happy memory?
10. Did you notice something beautiful in nature that you would like to remember?
11. What is something you could do to make a family member happy? How could you go about this?
12. What helps you when you are worried?
13. What’s your favorite hobby and why?
14. Write about a favorite vacation.
15. Go outside for 5 minutes, write about what you see.