Fun Activities For Building Creative Writing Skills In Kids

When it comes to building creative writing skills, using fun activities and following some simple tips will go a long way. So, throw out the traditional rule book of how creative writing skills "should" be taught and see if a fresh new approach will engage children in putting the pencil to paper and letting their creativity unfold.

Tips for Building Creative Writing Skills in Kids

Creative writing is a skill and art form all rolled into one! And it doesn't just involve concocting fictional narratives; creative writing can also be non-fictional and based on true life. It doesn't have to be make-believe to count -  it just involves using the imagination to express thoughts, feelings, and actions. Here are some ways you can inspire your kids creative writing skills at home:

Helping Reluctant Writers at Home

Helping reluctant writers at home will require a lot of patience and support from parents; however, with a kind approach, you'll soon have a wordsmith on your hands. Encourage your children to explore their thoughts and express themselves by providing interesting prompts based on topics that resonate with their interests. This isn't about getting a pencil out right away! Instead, focus on saying ideas aloud and brainstorming. If they feel comfortable, you could then try mind-mapping these thoughts together. Remind them throughout that it isn't about perfection.

Breaking down the writing process into smaller, manageable chunks can motivate reluctant writers to gradually embrace writing as a tool for self-expression and communication. Remember, the most important part is for children to develop a positive association with writing while celebrating their unique viewpoints and ideas.

Thinking Outside The Box

Break free from what you consider the "right way" to nurture creative writing skills and see what works for your child. One way to do this is by observing their interests and what they like to do in their free time. If they prefer comics to novels, they are more likely to be inspired to write a comic strip than a full-page story. If movies are more their thing, take a look at movie scripts and see if they want to write their own.

Read Together

If you're still unsure what your child enjoys, help them get started by reading together. Good writers tend to be readers, as the more exposed they are to books, the larger their vocabulary is and the more inspired they are to invent their own stories. Join a library to access free books, or check out a non-profit like the Internet Archive. Equally, think about organizing a fun book swap or joining one in your local community.

10 Fun Activities for Building Creative Writing Skills

Teaching creative writing doesn’t also have to be a chore or something to tick off. So, let's get started! 

Story starters

Story starters are a fantastic way to boost creative thinking skills. Children also feel less pressured because they aren't starting from zero. You could write prompts on slips of paper like "In a deep dark wood" or "The day started horribly when...." Another idea could be story cubes which are dice that depict images. You roll them to create narratives. It's super easy to DIY your own. All you need are some dice, tape, and small slips of paper. Draw your images, stick them on top of the numbered dots, and get rolling away!

Music

Listening to music is a great activity to get creative writing juices flowing! Music can be hugely inspirational for your little writer. Let them immerse themselves in melodies, rhymes, and lyrics to tap into their emotions and experiences. You could use music as a story starter, asking kids to create a character from the music they heard or listen to music while you're writing.

Practice Freewriting

Freewriting is a writing technique where you let your thoughts flow without concern for grammar, punctuation, or structure. It's all about embracing spontaneity! By letting go of perfection, children can write whatever comes to mind.

Most writers recommend free writing when you feel stuck, as it's a valuable exercise often used to overcome creative blocks. Try a few minutes of free writing each day and encourage kids to write about whatever comes to their mind, don't worry; they can refine it later.

Use Comics to Learn Story Arcs

You can naturally refine creative writing skills by showing kids how story arcs work. One of the best ways to do this is through comics because they're visually engaging. In comics, kids can observe how stories change, the challenges characters face, and the conflicts that arise. As each comic works in a sequence, it's a visual way to see how the author introduces characters, sets the scene, builds tension, reaches a climax, and ends with a resolution.

Study Poetry and Prose

Creative writing can also include poetry and prose. The natural rhythm of poems often mimics music, so kids who prefer a beat might find it more engaging to study and practice writing poetry to build creative writing skills. Japanese Haikus are a fantastic place to start because they're short and follow a set structure but can be creative and often nonsensical (meaning less pressure). For younger children, you can introduce rhymes by reading books like The Gruffalo, written by Julia Donaldson, or Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, by Bill Martin Jr. Both of these popular children's books use repeated language and rhymes to make them memorable and creative.

Role Play

Grab a bed sheet, torches, and finger puppets, and role-play away the afternoon! Children could be inspired to write a script by stories they've read or use their creativity to invent their own. Role-playing stories will be heaps of fun and show kids that creative writing doesn't have to be boring as they bring their stories to life.

Play Word Games

Engaging in word games is an enjoyable way to boost creative writing skills. Games like "Word Association" spark connections between seemingly unrelated words, while puzzle lovers could create their own using a crossword solver to help them come up with clues. Word games not only make learning enjoyable but also cultivate inventiveness, fluency, and the ability to approach language from fresh angles – all essential for building creative writing skills.

Do 1-Minute Writing Challenges

As Stephen King said in his book On Writing, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." The same applies to kids. However, long stretches of sitting down won't benefit kids' attention spans. Instead, set a timer for 1 minute or 30 seconds and give them a specific topic or subject to write about. Not only will the time fly by, but it will also help them write under pressure and be a useful exercise to build writing skills when they aren't feeling it because it's only a minute!

Use Daily Life as Inspiration

All writers take inspiration from their daily lives, so why should kids be any different? Remind them that their everyday experiences hold a treasure chest of stories waiting to be told. A funny interaction with a friend, a magical moment with a pet, or a day trip to the zoo could unlock their creativity. Lead by example, and encourage your child to observe, ask questions, and remain curious about the world around them. By writing about their own experiences, they also learn how to find inspiration from everyday life. 

Teach Them About The Habit of Journaling

Another form of creative writing is journaling. Children can write down their thoughts, practice gratitude, or create their own narratives. However, the most important thing about keeping a diary is that it's a safe space for them to write down what they want without prying eyes. Journaling is a low-pressure way to ease into the habit of daily creative writing practice. 

Incorporating fun activities into your child's routine will keep kids engaged and build their creative writing skills at the same time! Try out some of our ideas at home, and let us know how you got on in the comments. Is there anything else you've tried that's worked for your family?