Journal writing is a great way for kids to express their thoughts and feelings, and also develop their communication skills. We’ve put together this list of 55 fun journal prompts that are perfect for encouraging creative thinking in young minds. From questions about their dreams to favorite memories, these ideas will inspire your child to start putting pen to paper!
How to Setup Fun Journals for Kids
Choose a Journal
Give your child the freedom to choose their own journal. From spiral-bound notebooks to fancy hardcover journals, let them pick something they love and will be excited about writing in.
Decorate It
Let your child have some fun with their journal! Provide some colorful pens, markers, or stickers for them to decorate with their own unique flair.
Set Aside Time
Whether it’s five minutes after dinner each night or a long Sunday afternoon session, make sure you have time set aside for your child to write in their journal each week without having other things pull them away from it.
Discuss Ideas
Brainstorm ideas together before they start writing. Ask them questions about their favorite memories, what they’d like to do when they are older, or how they could make a difference in the world.
Start Writing
Once your child has some ideas down on paper, help them find the right words and express themselves in full sentences. It can be helpful to read aloud for younger children who are still learning how to write by themselves.
Take Breaks
Don’t feel as though your child needs to fill every page of their journal in one go. Allow them to take breaks if they need it, even just a few minutes away from the task at hand can reignite their creativity
Encourage Reflection
After they’ve written something down, ask them questions about what they’ve said. This encourages your child to think more deeply about their writing and reflect on the ideas they have presented.
Talk About It
Pay attention to what your child is writing in their journal and show interest in it. Ask them questions and let them know that you support their creative thoughts and feelings
Celebrate Milestones
Whether it’s a full page of text or just a few words, be sure to celebrate any progress your child makes with their journaling.
Showing them appreciation will encourage them to continue taking the time for this important activity
55 Fun Journal Prompts for Kids
1. What are your favorite things to do?
2. Who is the most important person in your life and why?
3. What would you like to learn more about?
4. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
5. Describe a time when you felt very proud of yourself.
6. What kind of legacy would you like to leave behind?
7. List five ways that you can make a difference in the world.
8. Write a letter to your future self describing who you are today and all of your hopes for the future.
9. What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
10. Imagine that tomorrow morning, all of your wildest dreams come true what would that look like?
11. What are three things you’re grateful for right now?
12. Write about a time when you faced your fears and overcame them.
13. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
14. Describe how it feels to be surrounded by nature.
15. Make a list of all the books that have impacted your life so far.
16. Create a bucket list of all the places you want to visit one day.
17. List five qualities that make you unique as an individual.
18. Imagine a perfect world, how does it look?
19. What are your biggest hopes for the future?
20. Write about a time when you were brave and faced a challenge head-on.
21. Describe what true friendship means to you in five words or less.
22. Make a list of all the activities that bring you joy.
23. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
24. Write down all the lessons that life has taught you so far.
25. Create a timeline of your most important life events so far.
26. What does success mean to you?
27. What do you think makes someone truly happy?
28. List five things that make you smile instantly.
29. Create a list of goals that you want to achieve in the next year.
30. What advice would you give your younger self?
31. Write about something that scares you and why it’s important to face that fear.
32. Which family member is closest to you?
33. If you could invent anything, what would it be?
34. List all the ways that you can show kindness towards others today.
35. What do you think makes someone a good leader?
36. Imagine if animals could talk, what would they say?
37. Write a story about an adventure that takes place in outer space!
38. What do you think makes a best friend?
39. If you could ask one question to anyone in history, what would it be?
40. What is your favorite fairy tale or storybook?
41. If you could use a time machine and travel back in time, where would you go?
42. Make a list of your favorite books and why they’re special to you.
43. Imagine if money didn’t exist, how would the world look different?
44. Write down three ways that you can be more mindful today.
45. What is your earliest memory?
46. If you could talk to your future self, what would you ask?
47. Write about something that makes you really angry and how you can channel that energy into positive action.
48. What does true freedom mean to you?
49. Make a list of all the things that make you feel peaceful and content.
50. Imagine if animals had human rights, how would the world be different?
51. List five ways that technology has changed your life for the better.
52. Describe what real beauty looks like in your eyes.
53. If your life had a soundtrack, what songs would be included in it?
54. What do you think about elementary school, middle school, and high school students?
55. Write a story about the most magical place you can imagine.
How to Organize Fun Journal for Kids
Gather Supplies
Before you can start writing, it’s important to have the necessary supplies on hand. Depending on your child’s age and preferences, these could include a notebook or journal, pens, pencils, markers, colored paper, stickers or other craft materials.
Establish a Routine
Create a designated time each day for your child to write in their journal. This could be after school, before bed or even during lunchtime, the important thing is that it becomes part of their daily routine!
Discuss Privacy
Let your child know that what they’re writing in their journal is private and should not be shared with anyone else unless they choose to do so.
Offer Guidance
While you don’t want to impose too much structure on your child’s writing, it can be helpful to provide some guidance and support when needed. If they are struggling to start, suggest some topics or ideas for them to explore in their journaling.
Choose A Topic Or Prompt
Offer your child creative prompts that they can use as inspiration for their writing, this could be anything from “Write about a time when you felt scared” to “Make a list of all the things that bring you joy”.
Provide Structure
Depending on your child’s age and ability level, provide them with structure for their journaling, this could include having them write in complete sentences or encouraging them to use transition words between paragraphs.
Be Open To Ideas
Give your child space and freedom to express themselves however they feel comfortable, don’t try to control what they are writing but rather listen and appreciate
Tips for Using Fun Journaling Prompts for Kids Successfully
Encourage Imagination
When using kids’ writing prompts for journaling, be sure to encourage your child to use their imagination and think outside the box. Remind them that there are no wrong answers and allow them to explore different ideas and possibilities.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
To get your child’s creativity flowing, ask open-ended questions such as “What would you do if you could travel back in time?” or “If animals could talk, what would they say?”
Get Specific
Instead of asking broad questions like “What kind of person do you want to be?” try to get more specific with journal writing prompts such as “List three qualities that make you a good friend” or “What do you think makes someone brave?”
Break It Down
If your child is struggling to come up with ideas, help them break down their prompt into smaller chunks, for example, if they have to write about an interesting experience they had recently, ask them to start by describing the setting and the people involved.
Give Examples
Show your child examples of fun writing prompts that other children have written in order to inspire them and get their creative juices flowing.
Provide Feedback
Offer feedback on your child’s writing when appropriate, this could include pointing out what worked well as well as suggesting areas of improvement.
Make It Fun
Finally, remember that the goal of journaling is to be creative and have fun, so don’t take it too seriously.
Encourage your child to enjoy the process and express themselves freely without worrying about what others may think.
Bottom Line
Journaling can be a great way for kids to express their thoughts and feelings, which also helps develop and practice writing skills.
By encouraging your child to use fun creative writing prompts, you can help them explore different topics and gain confidence in their writing abilities.
With some creativity and guidance, journaling can become an enjoyable activity that your child looks forward to each day.
