The Best Examples of Inspire Creative Writing in Children: 3 Everyday Examples That Actually Work

Let’s start with one of the simplest examples of inspire creative writing in children: 3 examples you can use right away: the story jar. No apps, no subscriptions, just scraps of paper and a jar.

Here’s how it works in real life.

You grab a jar (or a bowl, or a shoebox—kids truly do not care). Together with your child, you brainstorm fun prompts on small slips of paper. Think silly, surprising, or mysterious. Then, whenever you have 10–15 minutes—after dinner, before bed, on a rainy afternoon—you both pull a few slips and build a story from them.

Instead of presenting this as “writing practice,” frame it as a game: “Let’s see what ridiculous story we can come up with tonight.”

Real examples from a story jar

Here are some concrete examples of prompts that actually get kids talking and writing:

• A character: “A shy dragon who loves baking cupcakes”
• A place: “A playground on the moon”
• An object: “A backpack that whispers secrets”
• A problem: “Everyone suddenly forgets how to speak”

One night, your child might pull: shy dragon + moon playground + whispering backpack. You might say:

“Okay, tell me what happens when the shy dragon brings cupcakes to the moon playground and hears the backpack whisper something strange.”

At first, your child might just say the story out loud while you write it down for them. This is still a powerful example of inspire creative writing in children—they’re doing the creative part, you’re just being the scribe. Over time, you can gently invite them to write one sentence, then two, then a whole paragraph.

Variations that keep it fresh

To keep this one of your best examples of inspiring writing over months, rotate themes:

• Holiday jar: Winter stories, summer adventures, birthday surprises.
• Feelings jar: Prompts that include emotions: “A nervous robot on the first day of school.”
• STEM jar: Mix science with story: “A scientist who accidentally shrinks the school bus.”

These variations are all examples of how one simple idea can grow with your child. As they get older, encourage them to add more complex prompts: moral dilemmas, plot twists, or historical settings.

For more background on why storytelling helps children process emotions and build language skills, the American Academy of Pediatrics talks about the power of reading and shared stories in early development: https://www.healthychildren.org

2. Tiny Books: One of the Best Examples of Inspire Creative Writing in Children

Next up in our examples of inspire creative writing in children: 3 examples is the “tiny book” project. Kids are far less intimidated by a six-page folded mini-book than a blank notebook with 100 pages. Tiny feels doable.

Here’s the basic idea: you fold a single sheet of paper into a mini-book, your child writes and illustrates a short story, and then you proudly “publish” it on a shelf, in a box, or in a special basket.

How to make a tiny book feel special

Instead of saying, “Write a story,” try this:

“Let’s make a tiny book for our home library. What should this one be about?”

That one sentence shifts the task from “assignment” to “author project.”

Some real examples include:

• A 6-year-old’s book titled “The Cat Who Hated Naps” with one simple sentence per page and big crayon drawings.
• An 8-year-old’s mystery, “The Case of the Missing Pizza,” with a short chapter on each page and a “To Be Continued…” ending.
• A 10-year-old’s fantasy, “The Last Firefly Kingdom,” with a map on the inside cover and a cast of characters list.

All of these tiny books are concrete examples of inspire creative writing in children because they show kids that their ideas are worthy of being “published,” no matter how short or silly.

Step-by-step way to guide the writing (without taking over)

You can quietly scaffold without turning it into a lecture. Try this gentle sequence:

First, help them choose a main character and a goal. For example:

• “A girl who wants to build the tallest treehouse in the neighborhood.”
• “A boy who’s trying to teach his dog to talk.”

Then, ask three simple questions:

1. What goes wrong?
2. How do they try to fix it?
3. How does it end?

You don’t need to say, “We’re working on plot structure now.” Just have a conversation:

“So what’s the first problem the girl has with her treehouse?”

“Does she fix it the first time, or does she have to try again?”

“What’s the big ending?”

Their answers become the skeleton of the story. You can jot down their ideas in a quick outline and let them turn that into sentences inside the tiny book.

This is one of the best examples of gently teaching story structure without any formal lesson. It also lines up nicely with what literacy researchers say about narrative skills supporting reading and writing success. For more on that connection, you can explore resources from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/reading

Make it a 2024–2025 “home publishing” ritual

To update this for today’s kids, who live in a world of instant sharing and digital everything, add a modern twist:

• Create a “home library” box where all tiny books live. Invite visitors to “check out” a book.
• Record a read-aloud video of your child reading their tiny book and send it privately to grandparents instead of posting it publicly.
• Create a digital archive by snapping photos or scanning pages so your child sees their stories saved like real books.

These small touches turn tiny books into ongoing examples of inspire creative writing in children—not just a one-time craft.

3. World-Building Nights: The Most Fun Example of Inspire Creative Writing for Older Kids

The third in our examples of inspire creative writing in children: 3 examples is perfect for kids who love fantasy, video games, comics, or role-playing games: collaborative world-building.

Instead of asking them to “write a story,” you invite them to help you create an entire world together—a place with its own rules, maps, creatures, and history. Writing then becomes a natural extension of their ideas.

How to start a family world-building ritual

Pick one night a week (or one weekend afternoon a month) and declare it “World Night.” Bring snacks, paper, and pens. Start with one simple question:

“If we discovered a hidden world under our town, what would it be like?”

Then build from there. Some real examples include:

• A family who invented Cloud City, where kids ride giant birds to school and rain is made of glittery confetti.
• Two siblings who created Gearland, a steampunk world powered by giant clockwork animals.
• A parent and tween who built The Library of Lost Dreams, an endless library where every dream ever dreamed is stored in a glowing book.

Each session, you add more details: Who lives there? What do they eat? What are they afraid of? What are the rules? Kids love making the rules.

Turning world-building into written stories

Now, here’s where this becomes one of the strongest examples of inspire creative writing in children for older or reluctant writers.

Once the world feels real, you can say:

“Pick one character from this world and write about their very worst day… or their very best day.”

Because they already care about the world, writing about it feels less like work and more like documenting something that “exists.” Some examples include:

• A short story from the point of view of a janitor in Cloud City who secretly controls the weather.
• A diary entry by a kid in Gearland whose pet clockwork tiger goes missing.
• A news article from The Library of Lost Dreams about a mysterious dream that escapes into the real world.

All of these are authentic examples of how world-building nights can inspire different kinds of writing: stories, journal entries, newspaper articles, even “text message” conversations between characters.

Adding current trends: fandoms, games, and AI (carefully)

In 2024–2025, kids are living in fandom culture and game worlds. Instead of fighting that, you can harness it:

• Invite them to create a world inspired by their favorite game or show, but with their own twist.
• Let them design a game guide or “player manual” for the world you build together.
• If you use AI tools, use them as brainstorming partners, not replacements. For example, you might ask an AI to generate a list of creature names, then your child picks their favorites and writes the descriptions.

The key is that your child stays the author. The AI, if you use it at all, is just a spark. The writing, the choices, the voice—that’s all them. This keeps your world-building nights firmly in the category of best examples of inspire creative writing in children rather than “the computer did it.”

For more on kids, media, and creativity, Common Sense Media has regularly updated guidance for families: https://www.commonsensemedia.org

More Real-Life Examples of Inspire Creative Writing in Children

We’ve focused on three big anchors—story jars, tiny books, and world-building nights—as our main examples of inspire creative writing in children: 3 examples. But sometimes you just need quick, low-pressure ideas you can slip into daily life.

Here are more real examples of small ways to inspire creative writing without turning your house into a classroom.

The “Wrong Story” bedtime twist

At bedtime, start telling a familiar fairy tale… but get it hilariously wrong on purpose.

“Once upon a time, there were three little… giraffes who lived in a spaceship.”

Your child’s job is to correct you or continue the “wrong” version. The next day, invite them to write or dictate the silly version into a notebook. This becomes a playful example of rewriting and parody, which are advanced creative skills wrapped in giggles.

The “Text Your Future Self” note

Ask your child to write a short note to their future self 1 year from now:

“Dear Future Me, here’s what I hope you are doing…”

You can tuck it away in an envelope or save it as a digital note. This simple, reflective letter is another quiet example of inspire creative writing in children because it blends imagination, goals, and personal voice.

The “Photo to Story” challenge

Instead of scrolling past photos on your phone, pause on one and say:

“Pick one person or object in this picture and write what they were thinking at that exact moment.”

This works beautifully with family photos, vacation snapshots, or even random stock photos from safe, kid-friendly sites. It’s a tiny but powerful example of creative writing rooted in real life.

FAQ: Real-World Questions Parents Ask About Inspiring Creative Writing

What are some simple examples of inspire creative writing in children I can try today?

Some of the easiest examples of inspire creative writing in children you can start right away include the story jar game, making a tiny book from a single sheet of paper, and asking your child to rewrite a familiar story in a silly way. You don’t need special materials—just paper, pens, and a willingness to be playful.

Can you give an example of how to help a reluctant writer start?

A gentle example of getting a reluctant writer started is to let them tell the story out loud while you write it down. For instance, you pull prompts from the story jar, they narrate, and you become their “secretary.” At the end, read it back to them with genuine enthusiasm. Often, kids eventually want to add a sentence or fix a word themselves.

Are digital tools good examples of inspiring creative writing, or do they get in the way?

Digital tools can absolutely be helpful examples of ways to inspire creative writing if they’re used thoughtfully. Kids might enjoy typing their tiny books on a simple word processor, designing a cover in a kid-friendly art app, or keeping a digital journal. The key is that the tool supports their ideas instead of replacing them.

For guidance on screen time and healthy media use, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers family media planning tools: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/media

How often should I do these activities for them to be effective?

You don’t need a daily schedule. Even one or two short sessions a week can make a difference. For example, you might do a story jar night on Tuesdays and a tiny book project one weekend a month. The goal is consistency over time, not perfection. The more these activities feel like family fun instead of assignments, the more powerful they become as ongoing examples of inspire creative writing in children.

What if my child hates handwriting—can it still count as creative writing?

Absolutely. If handwriting is a barrier, let them type, dictate into a voice-to-text app, or tell the story while you write. Creative writing is about ideas, imagination, and expression. The physical act of writing can come later or be supported in different ways. Many teachers and literacy experts recognize that separating composition from handwriting can help kids who struggle with fine motor skills stay engaged with storytelling.

Bringing It All Together

If you remember nothing else, remember this: kids rarely light up at the words, “Go write something.” They light up when writing is attached to play, connection, and a sense of “This is our thing.”

The story jar, the tiny book project, and world-building nights are three of the strongest, most realistic examples of inspire creative writing in children: 3 examples that fit into real family life. Around those, you can sprinkle in smaller habits—bedtime “wrong stories,” notes to future selves, photo-based prompts—that keep creativity humming in the background.

You don’t have to be a writer yourself. You just have to be willing to be a little silly, a little patient, and very curious about what’s inside your child’s mind. The stories are already there. These examples of activities simply give those stories a way out.