I love using journals with kids!
As a teacher, I’ve found that journals provide a simple, flexible space for kids to practice writing, think creatively, process what’s happened, and express how they feel. Their journals can hold everything from imaginative stories and detailed drawings to everyday memories and big emotions.
When kids are journaling, I’m usually much more focused on letting them create and communicate their ideas than I am on correcting every spelling or grammar mistake. There are other times and places to work on those skills. Journal time is a chance for kids to take risks, follow their ideas, and discover that what they have to say matters.
Journal prompts for kids don’t need to be complicated or come in lists hundreds of questions long. In fact, a few open-ended prompts can inspire far more ideas than an exhaustive list ever could.
The trick is to choose prompts that kids can customize based on their interests, experiences, and imaginations. A question such as “What if…?” can become a new journal prompt every single day. Kids can write about animals, friends, space, school, magical worlds, or whatever else is on their minds.
- Get creativity flowing with these drawing prompts for kids! (Psst, you can also use them as writing prompts!)
13 Journal Prompts for Kids
Here are some of my favorite endlessly customizable journal prompts for kids, along with examples to help ideas flow.
1. “What If…” Journal Prompts
“What if…” is one of the simplest ways to spark imaginative writing. Kids can finish the question themselves or use an idea suggested by an adult.
For example:
- What if dogs could talk?
- What if you woke up with wings?
- What if your toys came alive at night?
- What if you discovered a new planet?
- What if it snowed in the middle of summer?
This type of prompt works especially well for kids who enjoy storytelling, fantasy, and inventing unusual situations.
2. “What Would Happen If…” Journal Prompts
“What would happen if…” prompts encourage kids to think beyond the initial idea. They can imagine a situation and then explore its consequences.
For example:
- What would happen if no one needed to sleep?
- What would happen if your family lived on a boat?
- What would happen if gravity stopped working?
- What would happen if kids made all the rules?
- What would happen if dinosaurs still existed?
Encourage kids to keep asking themselves, “And then what?” This can help turn a one-sentence answer into a complete story.
3. “What’s Your Favorite…” Journal Prompts
Favorite-things prompts are easy to personalize and can help kids write about subjects they already know and enjoy.
For example:
- What’s your favorite place to visit?
- What’s your favorite thing to do outside?
- What’s your favorite family tradition?
- What’s your favorite book character?
- What’s your favorite meal?
You can also add “Why?” to any of these questions to encourage kids to explain their answers in more detail.
4. “Tell Me About Your…” Journal Prompts
These prompts invite kids to write about their lives, relationships, memories, and surroundings.
For example:
- Tell me about your family.
- Tell me about your bedroom.
- Tell me about your best day.
- Tell me about your favorite place.
- Tell me about something you’re proud of.
Kids don’t always need an exciting experience to have something worth writing about. Ordinary details can be interesting, meaningful, and fun to look back on later.
5. “Would You Rather…Why?” Journal Prompts
Would-you-rather questions are naturally engaging because kids get to make a choice. Adding “Why?” encourages them to explain their thinking instead of simply choosing one option.
For example:
- Would you rather fly or breathe underwater? Why?
- Would you rather live in a castle or a treehouse? Why?
- Would you rather have a pet dragon or a pet dinosaur? Why?
- Would you rather explore the ocean or outer space? Why?
- Would you rather be able to talk to animals or read minds? Why?
Kids can also create their own would-you-rather questions and answer them.
6. “Imagine That…” Journal Prompts
“Imagine that…” gives kids the beginning of an idea without deciding the entire story for them.
For example:
- Imagine that you find a mysterious key.
- Imagine that a tiny door appears in your room.
- Imagine that you can visit any time in history.
- Imagine that you’re the captain of a ship.
- Imagine that you meet an animal no one has ever seen before.
Kids can write what happens next, draw the setting, describe the characters, or do all three.
7. “How Would You…” Journal Prompts
These questions encourage creative problem-solving. There’s rarely one correct answer, so kids are free to experiment with unusual ideas.
For example:
- How would you build a house on the moon?
- How would you help a lost dragon find its home?
- How would you design the perfect playground?
- How would you make a rainy day more fun?
- How would you teach an alien to play your favorite game?
These prompts can inspire stories, diagrams, labeled drawings, instructions, or lists.
8. “If You Could…” Journal Prompts
“If you could…” questions allow kids to imagine possibilities beyond their everyday lives.
For example:
- If you could invent anything, what would you invent?
- If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
- If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
- If you could change one rule, which one would you change?
- If you could learn any new skill, what would it be?
Follow-up questions such as “What would it look like?” or “What would you do first?” can help kids expand their ideas.
9. “Describe…” Journal Prompts
Descriptive prompts help kids pay attention to details and put their observations into words.
For example:
- Describe the perfect day.
- Describe a place where you feel comfortable.
- Describe an imaginary creature.
- Describe today’s weather.
- Describe something without naming it.
Kids can use details about colors, shapes, sounds, smells, textures, movements, and feelings.
10. “Remember When…” Journal Prompts
Journals are also wonderful places for kids to record their memories.
For example:
- Remember when you tried something new?
- Remember when something made you laugh really hard?
- Remember when you went on an adventure?
- Remember when someone helped you?
- Remember when you felt proud of yourself?
If a child can’t think of something right away, look through family photos together or talk about recent experiences.
11. “Make Up…” Journal Prompts
Sometimes kids simply need permission to invent something completely their own.
For example:
- Make up a new holiday.
- Make up a new animal.
- Make up a game and explain the rules.
- Make up a superhero.
- Make up a restaurant and create its menu.
A journal entry doesn’t have to be a traditional paragraph. It can include drawings, maps, diagrams, menus, comics, lists, or labels.
12. “What Do You Think…” Journal Prompts
“What do you think about…” prompts give kids space to share their opinions and explain their ideas. There’s no single correct answer, which makes these prompts great for building confidence and encouraging deeper thinking.
For example:
- What do you think makes someone a good friend?
- What do you think kids should get to choose for themselves?
- What do you think makes a day feel special?
- What do you think every playground should have?
- What do you think adults should understand about kids?
Kids can explain why they feel that way, share an example, or draw a picture to help communicate their thoughts.
13. Everyday Reflection Prompts
Journaling can also help kids notice and reflect on their everyday lives.
Try starters such as:
- Today I…
- I noticed…
- I learned…
- I felt…
- I wonder…
- The best part was…
- Next time, I would…
- Tomorrow, I hope…
These simple sentence starters are especially helpful for kids who feel overwhelmed by a completely blank page.
How to Use Journals With Kids Who Can’t Write Yet
Kids don’t need to know how to write to keep a journal! I work with preschoolers, and they LOVE having their very own journal. Drawing, scribbling, and making marks are all meaningful ways to record ideas.
Let young kids draw whatever they want on the page. When they’re finished, invite them to tell you about their picture. You can write down exactly what they dictate, without correcting their words or changing the story. This shows kids that the marks on a page carry meaning and that their ideas are worth recording.
- Check out all my favorite art supplies for kids!
Try not to turn journal time into a handwriting lesson. Kids can experiment with letters and words if they’re interested, but drawing and dictation are completely valid forms of journaling. Over time, their pictures, marks, pretend writing, recognizable letters, and conventional writing will naturally change.
Let Kids Make the Journal Their Own
I love seeing where kids take even the simplest journal prompt. The same “What if…” question can inspire a detailed drawing from one child, a hilarious story from another, and a thoughtful reflection from someone else.
There’s no single right way to keep a journal, and that freedom is a big part of what makes journaling so valuable.
Give kids plenty of room to write, draw, make marks, invent stories, and share what’s on their minds. Try not to worry too much about perfect spelling, grammar, or complete sentences during journal time. Sometimes the best thing we can do is step back and let kids create.
Do you use journals with your kids or students? Share your favorite journal prompts for kids in the comments—I’d love to add some new ideas to my own collection!
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