For every reader

40 Journal Prompts for Kids

These journal prompts for kids are written for children about 6 to 12 years old. The words are simple enough for a young reader, and the questions are short. They ask about real things a child knows well: favorite foods, animals, school, the people at home, and what happened today.

A few minutes with a prompt can help a child notice what they like, put a feeling into words, or let their imagination run. Some prompts are silly on purpose. Others invite a child to think about a proud moment or a hard day, gently and in their own way.

There are no wrong answers here. You can let a child write, draw, or tell you their answer out loud while you write it down. What matters is that it feels like play, not homework.

All 40 prompts

Each prompt is marked quick (2 to 5 minutes), reflective (about 10 minutes) or deep (20 minutes or more).

  1. If you had a pet dragon, what would you name it? quick

  2. What color makes you happy? Name three things that are that color. quick

  3. What do you hope happens today? quick

  4. What was the best part of your day today? quick

  5. What is something that made you laugh this week? quick

  6. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? quick

  7. What is your favorite game to play, and how do you play it? quick

  8. Draw or write about your favorite place to be. quick

  9. What is the silliest word you know? Use it in a sentence. quick

  10. What is one thing you are really good at? quick

  11. If your shoes could talk, what would they say about where you went today? quick

  12. What sound do you like to hear most? quick

  13. What would you name a new planet, and who would live there? quick

  14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? quick

  15. Who is someone who makes you smile, and why? quick

  16. What is one thing you are thankful for right now? quick

  17. What would you put in a sandwich if there were no rules? quick

  18. Tell about a time you felt really proud of yourself. What did you do? reflective

  19. What is something new you learned at school this week? Teach it to your journal. reflective

  20. How does your body feel when you are excited? Where do you feel it? reflective

  21. What is something kind you could do for someone tomorrow? reflective

  22. Write about a time someone was kind to you. How did it feel? reflective

  23. Write about a time you were a good friend to someone. reflective

  24. If you could be any animal for a whole day, which one would you be, and what would you do? reflective

  25. Describe your dream treehouse. What is inside it? reflective

  26. What is something special you like to do with the people at home? reflective

  27. What makes a day a really good day for you? reflective

  28. What helps you feel calm when you are worried or mad? reflective

  29. What is something that feels hard for you right now? What could help a little? reflective

  30. Write about a time you made a mistake. What happened next? reflective

  31. If you were the teacher for a day, what would you teach the class? reflective

  32. What is something you want to get better at, and how could you practice it? reflective

  33. What would you like to be when you grow up? What would a day at that job look like? reflective

  34. Write a short story about a toy that comes to life at night. What adventure does it go on? deep

  35. Make up a new holiday. What is it called, what do people eat, and how do they celebrate? deep

  36. Imagine you find a tiny door in a wall at home. Write about where it leads and what you find there. deep

  37. Draw a comic in four boxes about something funny that really happened to you. deep

  38. Write about the best day you can remember. Who was there, and what did you see, hear and smell? deep

  39. Write a letter to yourself one year from now. What do you want to remember about being the age you are today? deep

How to use these prompts

Let your child pick a prompt, or choose one for the day yourself. Starting with the quick ones near the top of the list works well. Five to ten minutes is plenty for most kids, and a short answer or a single drawing counts. Many families like a prompt at breakfast or right before bed, and teachers often use one to start the morning. If your child gets stuck, read the prompt out loud together, ask them to answer just one part of it, or say they can draw instead. If a prompt doesn't spark anything, skip it and try another.

Download the kids prompt sheet (PDF)

Questions

What age are these journal prompts best for?

They are written for children about 6 to 12. Younger kids can answer out loud or draw while you write a few words, and older kids can write longer answers on their own.

Does spelling or handwriting matter in a kid's journal?

Not at all. The journal is a place to share ideas and feelings, so let the spelling be messy and save the corrections for schoolwork.

Should I read my child's journal?

It helps to ask first. Some kids love to share every page, and others want their journal kept private, so you can agree together on what is just for them.

How often should my child journal?

A few times a week is a good place to start. Short and regular tends to feel easier for kids than long and rare, and it is fine to take breaks.

Can my child draw instead of writing?

Yes. Drawing is a great way for kids to answer a prompt, and many like to add a few words or labels to their picture.

Joy

40 prompts