Summer Writing Prompts
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Why you should use writing prompts, how, and super ideas to spark creativity.
Are you trying to find ways to keep your kiddo’s brain active and engaged this summer?
Writing prompts give your child just enough structure to fire up their creativity, but are not so restrictive as to be tedious.
How do I use writing prompts?
I use writing prompts with free writes. I recommend doing 2-3 free writes a week. Ask your child to write for 15 minutes. The goal is to simply write. They can write about anything, however, some children are less intimidated by the exercise if you give a prompt. This is not the time to worry about complete sentences, spelling, punctuation, or grammar.
Once a month, have your child choose their favorite free write. Turn it into a full piece. It is during this rewrite that your child will work on more advanced elements like sentence structure, editing skills, and complete content and ideas.
Why should you give writing prompts?
Why should you give writing prompts?Encourages creativity
Writing prompts often act as spring boards. They are tools for the child to think creatively from and then come up with original ideas.
Often, when faced with fifteen minutes and a blank sheet of paper, children struggle. Writing prompts can help spark imagination and get those creative juices flowing.
A writing prompt can encourage children to think outside of the box. This helps them come up with ideas that they would not have on their own. Your child is able to develop their creativity and enables the to write more freely and effortlessly.
Provides structure
Writing prompts provide structure by simply giving the child a starting point. When children are given a prompt, they have an idea of what to write about. All of a sudden, that page does not seem as daunting.
A good writing prompt will elicit various ideas which help provide plot, setting, characterization, conflict, etc. The child will not have to think about elements to writing, they will simply be thinking of the details they find interesting in the writing prompt.
Builds skills
This is why I love free writes. Regular writing practice, which an be facilitated by 15 minute free writes and writing prompts, builds confidence in writing. Over time children improve their writing skills. As a child practices more regularly, they become more comfortable with the process and their writing becomes more focused and concise to the story they are telling.
Bring joy
Many children groan at the thought of having to write. Wring prompts can be fun. If you have a variety of prompts that lead to different types of stories, all children will find something of interest. Children, like adults, want to be heard and they want to share. When you give them a good writing prompt, they often have a lot to say and are eager to share with you.
4 EASY STEPS TO BECOMING A GREAT WRITER…. WITHOUT EVER PICKING UP A PENCIL
Does your child need help with writing?
- Do you struggle with your child to get homework done?
- Do they have difficulty with writing?
- I am a writing teacher-you can make it easy!
- 4 EASY ways to help your child become a great writer.
Writing is at the foundation of all the academic
your child will do in older grades.
This checklist can help!
Writing prompt ideas:
Summer Ideas:
1. How do you know it is summer?
2. Describe a roadtrip (real or made up) adventure with you and your family and all of the obstacles and fun you experienced.
3. Create the perfect summer camp-describe it.
4. Explain your favorite summer hobby, why do you love it?
5. Sandcastles. Create a story based on sandcastles. Whether you go to a sandcastle competition, you find one where little people live, you find one that never washes away when the ocean comes in, etc.
6. Describe a summer thunderstorm. (Or tell a fanciful story of what thunder is.)
7. Write a story about a family vacation you went on during the summer.
8. Imagine a world where summer never ends. Describe this world. Is it good? What are the challenges it has?
9. Introduce summer as if it were a person. What kind of personality does it have? What does it like to do? Does it have favorite foods or colors?
10. If you owned a food truck for the summer, what would you sell?
Imagine you are…
1. A mermaid. Write a diary entry (or a couple) about life in the ocean.
2. A dragon. Describe what it is like to be you and the adventures you have guarding treasure.
3. A fairy. Write a story telling about your adventures in the forest. Is there magic?
4. A pirate. Describe your adventures battling sea monsters and searching for treasure.
5. A unicorn. Are you the only one? What other unique animals do you call friend? Describe the enchanting forest you live in.
6. A ghost. Write a story about your adventures haunting old mansions and exploring new places to spook.
7. A superhero. What is your superpower? How do you try to make the world better? Tell about your adventures fighting villains.
8. A time traveler. Where would you go, into the past or future? Who would you talk to or meet? What would you see? Would you change anything? Are there consequences if you do?
9. A fairytale character. Which one would you choose? Why did you choose this one? What adventures do you have that are not in the original “tale”?
10. A bee or butterfly. Write a story about your life. Keep it from the perspective of a small creature.
Fanciful Ideas:
1. What is the difference between elves, fairies, and brownies? Which one would you like to have as your friend? Why?
2. You are in the garden and discover an enormous mushroom. When you inspect it, you discover a family of tiny winged creatures live in it.
3. An evil villain has turned all of the world’s water sources into lemonade! Write about how people need to adapt to this new world, what will be the immediate challenges?
4. A young camper gets lost in the wilderness and must use survival skills to find their way back to civilization. Describe what they do to succeed.
5. A child discovers a map leading to buried treasure on a deserted island. No one in the family ever took the map seriously. What does the child do?
6. Write a story about a world where animals can talk. Where would you choose, for example, forest, barnyard, household, zoo, jungle, etc.? What do these animals have to say?
7. There is an entire world that co-exists with us beneath our streets. What is it like?
8. You have a robot. What does it do? Are you glad to have it? Did you create it?
9. You find a genie in a bottle. What is your genie like? Do you get three wishes? What are they?
10. Think of a favorite toy you had when you were younger. If that toy could see you now, older, what would it tell you? What would it say about its life since it saw you last?
Writing prompts are a great way to encourage your child to write a few times a week.
By incorporating a regular writing routine, you are helping your child’s brain stay active over the summer months.