Writing Prompts for Kids: 45 Gratitude, Self-Esteem & Confidence, and Creative Writing Prompt Ideas

Post at a glance: Writing prompts for kids: Journaling as an outlet to explore feelings and express emotions (15 Gratitude Prompts / 15 Self-Esteem and Confidence Prompts / 15 Creative Writing Prompts)

Journaling can be an outlet for kids to explore and express all the emotions bubbling inside them.

It may also be a powerful learning tool,  facilitating reflection, critical thought and improving writing skills.  

In today’s post, we will explore the use of journaling prompts for kids. We will also share prompt ideas for their gratitude or self-esteem journals, and some wild ideas that will inspire children in their creative writing journey.

Related reading: Benefits of Journaling for Kids

(Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You can also read our Disclosure & Disclaimer policy here)

What Are Writing Prompts for Kids

A prompt is a word, sentence or image that inspires an idea or topic and leaves room to personalize.

Children can sometimes find it difficult to express how they are feeling.

Writing prompts for kids support a creative outlet which gives them a chance to organize their thoughts and express themselves on their own terms.

What is the Purpose of Writing Prompts

The purpose of a writing prompt is to help kids expand on their own ideas and give them a little push in the right direction.

It encourages children to think about different topics and ideas, as well as developing a larger understanding of their own thoughts and feelings.

Other reasons writing prompts are helpful include:

• Developing your own perspective
• Improve writing styles
• Create a foundation for academic writing (e.g. essays, reports, research papers)
• Stepping out of your comfort zone and writing about something different
• Providing a starting point to expand creativity
• Finding a genre that suits you
• Challenging your writing skills
• Explore ideas in greater detail
• Considering new thoughts
• Jump starting writer’s block
• Building on a topic
• Inspiration!

Journaling Prompts for Kids

There are many different kinds of writing prompts that can help children with skills such as coping mechanisms and language development.

It is also a place where children have a creative outlet. Listed below are some different types of writing prompts and examples of prompts for kids:

• Self-Esteem and Confidence Journaling Prompts
• Gratitude Journal Prompts
• Creative Writing Prompts

Self-Esteem and Confidence Journaling Prompts

It is important to love yourself first.

Not only does this boost your confidence but it also improves your self-esteem and helps you to think more positively about yourself.

Take a look at some of these prompts and remember, “you yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” (Buddha)

1. List 10 things you love about yourself.
2. Write yourself a thank you letter.
3. What makes you happy?
4. Name a quality you like about yourself.
5. What do you like about yourself?
6. List 5 things you have done and are proud of.
7. What is something positive you accomplished today?
8. Make a list of compliments about yourself.
9. What makes you feel good about yourself?
10. Write 10 things that you are good at
11. What is the nicest compliment you have ever received?
12. Write about your favorite feature and why.
13. How can you show yourself love?
14. What are your strengths?
15. Write a letter to your future self

You can also use these growth mindset quotes as journaling prompts.

Related reading:

• Fun Activities to Boost your Child’s Self-Esteem
• 55 Empowering Self-Esteem Activities for Teens
• Self-Esteem Worksheets: Things I Like About Myself
• Best Self-Esteem Books for Kids, Teens and Parents

Gratitude Journal Prompts for Kids

Gratitude is expressing to yourself or others how thankful you are for what they have done.

It is a way of letting people know what they mean to you and reminding yourself to be grateful for the little things (and the big ones too).

Here are some examples of gratitude prompts to get kids thinking about what they appreciate.

1. What are 3 things you love about your sibling or best friend?
2. Think of a gift you have received recently, write a thank you card to the person and let them know you are grateful.
3. Write down 5 things that you are thankful for.
4. Choose three people who have done something nice for you and thank them for it.
5. Write about the best gift you have ever received and why it’s special to you.
6. What do you love about your parents? Write them a card telling them you are grateful.
7. Name a teacher you had that you are grateful for and why.
8. Write about the last time someone did something nice for you and thank them for it.
9. Make an effort to say thank you to 10 people today.
10. What is the nicest thing that someone said to you today? How did it make you feel?
11. Who is someone important to you? Write them a letter telling them what they mean to you.
12. Name 5 things you have that you are grateful for.
13. What is your favorite holiday? Why are you thankful for this holiday?
14. Who makes you feel loved and why?
15. Make a list of 10 things that make you happy.

At home, we love our gorgeous gratitude kit (it includes journaling pages). For us, it’s not just a way to draw our kid’s attention to the positive things in her life but also a bonding opportunity.

More gratitude activities for kids 👈

Creative Writing Prompts

Creative writing is a great way to express creativity and allows kids to expand their ideas, encouraging their imaginations to run wild.

This not only benefits kids by improving their confidence and cognitive growth, but also improves skills such as thinking and problem-solving.

It is never too early to start writing. Check out some of these writing prompts that will help inspire kids to start writing.

1. Write a story about going on an adventure with your best friend.
2. You get to fly in a hot air balloon, write about everything that you can see.
3. What would it be like to live on the moon?
4. Write about your favorite thing to do outside.
5. Imagine a giant box is delivered to your front doorstep with your name on it. What’s inside and what happens when you open it?
6. You come home from school to find your favorite character from a book jumping on your bed, what do you do?
7. Write a story about what happens when you find a magical bicycle
8. You woke up one morning and had powers, what are your powers and what would you do with them?
9. Write about what it would be like if you had a lion as a pet.
10. If you had one million dollars, what would you spend it on and why?
11. Write a story about what would happen if you woke up one morning with a mermaid tail.
12. You fly into outer space in a spaceship and discover a new planet. What do you find?
13. Write about your favorite season; spring, summer, autumn or winter. Why is it your favorite? What is something you like to do in that season?
14. You find a gene while playing in the garden and they grant you three wishes, what do you wish for?
15. Write about what you would do if you were invisible for a day?

Are you ready to start journaling?