Real-Life Writing Prompts for Children
I wrote these short writing prompts when I was teaching English to primary grades. I provided each student with a notebook that they could write their responses in. Most of the time I used these prompts as an opening writing activity before beginning our lesson. Oftentimes I wrote them on the fly to correspond with something that was currently going on, such as a festival our school was having, a change in the seasons, or a holiday. My students considered the writing prompts the highlight of the day and I hope yours do as well.
Title: What are you looking forward to?
Write about a future event or something you are happy about.
​
What are you looking forward to?
​
I’m looking forward to ___.
​
I can’t wait!
​
What are you not looking forward to?
​
I’m not looking forward to ___.
Title: Fruits and vegetables
Do you like fruits? Do you like vegetables?
​
Which do you like better: fruits or vegetables?
​
Which fruits do you like?
​
Which vegetables do you like?
​
We can't get every fruit or vegetable in every season.
​
Which season has your favorite fruit or vegetable?
​
Can you get that fruit or vegetable in this season?
​
Title: My Favorite Sports
What are your favorite sports?
Why?
What do you like to do?
Snow in winter?
Title: Snow in winter?
​
Do you live in a place that is snowy in the winter? If so, do you get a lot of snow or a little snow? Do you enjoy playing in the snow?
Do you make things out of the snow, like a snowman or a snow fort?
If you do not have snow where you live, do you wish you could have snow?
Write about the weather where you live.
Title: Being sick
​
What is it like being sick?
When was the last time you were sick?
Do you sleep a lot?
What do you do to pass the time?
Do you have something you always eat or drink when you are sick?
What does someone do to take care of you?
Happy Valentine's Day
We celebrate Valentine's Day so we can say I love you to someone special.
In this writing prompt you can make a valentine for someone you love. How can you say I love you to someone special?
Will you tell the person why you love him or her? Will you say something nice about him or her?
Maybe you can also draw a heart. The heart is a symbol for Valentine's Day.
You can cut a heart out of paper and write on it the words you want to say to the person.
Title: Buying gifts for loved ones for a December holiday
When December holidays are near, do you buy gifts for your family or friends?
What holiday are you celebrating? Who do you buy gifts for?
What else do you do as you celebrate this holiday?
Title: Choosing
Did you ever have to choose between two things you wanted?
What did you choose? Why?
What happened after you made your choice?
Title: Emergency
What do you do in an emergency? Think of a time you or someone you know had an emergency. What did you or the person do to face the emergency?
​
Examples:
weather
fire
traffic
medical
house
accident
Title: A Pet I Would Like
Write about a pet that you would like to have.
What animal is it?
What does it do?
What is your pet’s name?
What does it eat?
How do you take care of it?
Title: At a Party
You are having a party.
There are many foods and decorations!
Write about all the things you see at your party. Use your imagination.