Creative writing games kids

13 Creative Writing Games For Kids To Nurture Their Imagination

Parenting

Updated: March 15, 2021

Originally Published: Jan. 29, 2020

Klaus Vedfelt/ Getty

Writing is such an important part of your child’s development and education. Of course, you probably already remember how important essay writing was during testing time when you were in school. That hasn’t changed. When you also consider all the poorly written work emails you get in a day, it makes it even easier to understand how dire it is for kids to learn to communicate effectively when they write. There’s more to writing than just school work and business communication, though. Journaling is an excellent way to teach kids to explore their feelings. Creative writing is also wildly important for kiddos as it nurtures their imagination.

How do you encourage a child to write? It’s not always easy, but making it fun can certainly help.

1. Telephone Pictionary

There’s actually a board game, called Scribblish, that follows this same concept. However, you can play the game without shelling out money. Start by having your child write down a secret sentence. Maybe it’s a short quote from a Disney movie or just something they’re feeling. Next, they’ll pass it to a friend or sibling and that player will try to draw what the sentence says. They’ll fold over or tear off the original sentence. When it gets to the next person, they’ll try to translate the drawing into a sentence. This can follow as many steps as you want. In the end, it’s just like playing telephone and super fun to see how convoluted things got from the original message.

2. Personalized Card Messages

Getting ready to send that Amazon gift card to your brother in another state? Set down your child and ask them to write a letter to their uncle. If they’re stuck, make gentle suggestions by asking them about their favorite memory with their uncle or reminding them of the last present he sent.

3. Start a Journal

The traditional way of doing this is to just buy your sweetie a fun new journal and some cool pens. Then let them decide what to write inside. You could also make it a journal you share — a safe place for them to tell you their feelings and secrets or ask you questions they might be embarrassed to ask out loud. You could even write shared stories by taking turns filling a page each night.

4. Popcorn Storytelling

Remember popcorn reading in class? Think of this like that. You can start a story with a sentence or two, then pass it on to one of your children. Whether they take two minutes to write out the next part of the story or just tell you what happens next, they’re still “writing” and creating something new. After two minutes, it’s someone else’s turn.

5. Secret Storytime

Similar to popcorn writing, but with a bit more structure. Start with a piece of paper and have the first kiddo write down the name of a person or character, then fold it over and pass it along. The next kid will name another person, fold it, again, and pass it on. Keep passing until each of the following questions are answered:

Where did they go? What did they do? What did they say? How did it end? The last player unfolds the paper and uses the answers to tell the story.

6. Mad Libs

Mad Libs have been around for decades and are still pretty popular. Now only is it a fun storytelling adventure, it’s also a chance to each your kids grammar and sentence structure. Start by working your way through a couple books. Next, make up your own Mad Lib for your children to fill in and, eventually, encourage them to make one for you.

7. Vocab Challenge

You can use your children’s vocabulary words from school or have your own set of words at home. Help them learn a fun new word each morning and then ask them to come up with a sentence that uses that word. For older kids, ask them to take all their sentences from the week and use them (and new sentences) to create a story.

8. Screen time, School time

It’s summer. You don’t want everything they learned to go to waste. But, you also don’t have a brain full of activities to fill the two months’ worth of days they’re off. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of screen time. However, if you’re feeling guilty, making it a “learning opportunity.” “You can watch Moana, but then you have to write five sentences about it.” As they get older, challenge them with more specific questions to answer. “What did she learn?” “Why was her grandma so important to her journey?” You get the idea.

9. Grocery Time

This isn’t exactly a game but, with enough enthusiasm from you, it might seem like one. Ask your kiddo to help write out the grocery list. This could be as imaginative as asking them what they’d like to buy or as useful as helping them write out and spell the things you actually need to get. Bonus: Including them in your meal planning and grocery buying might actually mean less dinner table stubbornness. Maybe.

10. Caption Contest

Make copies of funny family pictures and put them in a scrapbook. Let your kids have fun writing the captions for each picture.

11. Guess Who!

Remember the game of Guess Who where you had to use descriptors to eliminate people until you accurately guessed who the other person was? A simple twist on this game is to show your kids different pictures of people or characters they know, then ask them to write out five sentences that describe their person. Afterwards, they’ll take turn reading their descriptions to one another and guessing who they got.

12. Dialogue Writing

This can go multiple directions. You could print off a comic strip with no dialogue and ask your children to decide what happens and what is said. You could even print out completely blank comic strips and let them write or draw their own comics. Another option, though, is to simply say, “What do you think so and so would talk about while out to dinner?” This could be something like Mickey and Minnie or even Grandma and Dad. Start simple, but mix things up as they get better about it. “What would you talk about while stuck in traffic with your music teacher?” “What do you think I would say to the President?”

13. Invest In Story Cubes

There are so many iterations of story cubes and so many ways to play! The basic concept is simple, though: Little cubes that you roll like dice and help get your brain working.

Related: There’s A Way For Schools To Do Homework That Doesn’t Suck

This article was originally published on Jan. 29, 2020

15 Fun & Creative Writing Games And Activities For Kids

Help your children develop their writing skills with the help of games and practice.

Mark Twain said, “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words. ” Although children may not find it that easy and entertaining, you can inculcate the habit through interesting writing games for kids. It is a fun and distinct way of piquing their interest in this skill by letting them enjoy it as they learn. In this post, we have a list of the best games and activities to help you engage your children in writing while having fun.

Fun Writing Games For Kids

Writing games need not be all plain, boring or intense. You can try some creative ways to make writing pleasant and enjoyable. Try these fun games for children to begin their lessons in writing.

1. Secret Pictionary

Image: iStock

A game of Pictionary is fun to play when there are more than three players. You can play this game even without the Pictionary cards as all you need is a pencil and a blank paper.

• The first player writes a random phrase and passes it on to the next player.
• The second player has to draw an image based on his/her perception of the phrase written by the first player. Fold the first phrase, and pass it to the next player.
• Now the third player has to understand the drawing by the second player and write a line or a phrase based on the drawing. Fold the paper to cover the first phrase and the first drawing, and pass it on.
• This shall go on with the phrase and drawing alternately until it reaches the last player.
• Unfolding all the pages at the end of the game will reveal a very funny short story.

2. Telephone oracle

Image: iStock

Asking your questions to the Oracle is like sitting with a funny magic ball. Come up with wacky questions and gear up for equally wild answers.

• Every player has to write one question each which they want the Oracle to answer, at the top of the page.
• Now every player has to pass their papers to the person on their left.
• Each player has to answer the question according to their perception.
• Now the players have to conceal the question written on the top portion by folding it and then pass on the papers again to their left.
• This step is tricky but interesting. Every player has to write a possible question after reading the previous answer they see in their paper.
• Fold the paper such that only the latest question is visible and pass it to the left side player.
• The same rounds continue till the bottom of the page and end with an answer.
• At the end of the game, all the players unfold their papers to read their original question, the answers they have received, and everything in between. Kah-ray-zee! You will be surprised to see the crazy answers to your original question.

3. Finish the story

Image: iStock

Your search for creative writing games for kids ends here. This is a delightful and engaging game for their playtime.

• The first player writes two lines on a paper and folds the first line so that only the second line is visible to the next player.
• The second player has to guess the first line, read the second line, add another line to the story and fold the paper such that the first two lines are covered and only the last line is visible.
• All the players continue adding their lines to the story.
• The end result will be a very funny tale with no meaning at all.

4. Consequences

Image: Shutterstock

This writing game is just so much fun that you will get addicted and play multiple rounds of it. You will need a pen, paper and a minimum of 6 players to play consequences.

• The first player has to write the name of a male, on the paper. After writing, conceal the name by folding the paper.
• The second player has to write the name of a female and then fold it again, to conceal it.
• The next player has to write about where they met and fold the paper.
• The fourth player has to write about what he said and fold to conceal it.
• The fifth player writes what she said, and conceal it.
• The last player has to write about what happens in the end.
• Then, unfold the paper to read a very funny story.
• Note that children can write any name, be it their favorite hero or friends in the school, parents or just anybody.

Interesting Writing Activities For Kids

These activities will not only help in bettering the writing skills but also prove useful in the day-to-day life of the family. Children get to explore their creative side.

5. Grocery list writing

Image: iStock

This is one such fun writing activities for kids which require minimal effort and is helpful in learning the names of many grocery items like types of bread, toiletries, spices, etc.

• Grab a pen and paper, and head to the kitchen pantry.
• With the assistance of parents, kids have to note down each item and the quantity required.
• Make an elaborate grocery list and head out for shopping.

6. Writing letters

Image: iStock

Writing letters is old school but is still relevant. So, why not introduce your kids to the old-world charm with this letter writing activity?

• Decide which form you wish to write — a formal letter or an informal one.
• Accordingly, choose whom to address the letter.
• Keep the letter content crisp if it’s a formal letter and give it an emotional feel if you are writing an informal one.

7. Advertisement writing

Image: Shutterstock

This writing activity can keep their creative juices flowing.

• Pick an item to write about. For example, children may choose to write an advertisement for their favorite candy.
• Let them write an entertaining advertisement to sell the product.
• Kids can get innovative and may design brochures, leaflets or even a hoarding style ad.

8. Dialogue writing

Image: iStock

Dialogue is a conversation or interaction between two or more people. This activity can also improve their style of conversation. You can begin with simple dialogues.

• Write an introductory line to begin the activity.
• The next player has to reply to the previous line.
• Keep adding dialogues after each line. In the end, you will have your very own record of the conversation.

9. Written debate

Image: iStock

This activity is similar to dialogue writing, but will have an argumentative tone. This writing activity will help in enhancing their conversational and presentation skills.

• Pick a subject and write down your first argument on the paper.
• Let your child reply to the argument, putting forth his/her point.
• It goes on like a debate but in a written format.

10. Writing instructions

Image: iStock

Learn direct speech through this activity.

• Choose a subject to write instructions about. For example, an experiment on lighting a bulb.
• Kids must write about the tools required and elaborate instructions about how to light a bulb, in detailed steps.
• The style of writing must be communicative and simple to follow.

11. Writing a poem

Image: Shutterstock

Poetry does not have any boundary or age. This writing activity best suits children who are artistic.

• Select a theme to write about.
• Kids can use rhyming words or just express their emotions in whichever poetic style they like.

12. Writing a message on the envelope

Image: iStock

Be it a birthday greeting or a thank you note, this activity will help the child write short messages on cards and envelopes.

• Pick a card or envelope depending on the occasion.
• Write a short crisp paragraph to convey the message.
• Add a salutation, “To” address and a “From” address.

13. Newspaper summary writing

Image: Shutterstock

This activity is ideal for older kids. It helps in understanding their level of reasoning and perception.

• Assign a newspaper headline for them to read and follow.
• Kids have to go through the entire news article, read and understand it in detail.
• Now the challenge is to write a summary about the same news article in their style.

14. Five lines about their hero

Image: iStock

Children will enjoy playing this game for sure as it involves their favorite superhero.

• Find out who your child’s favorite superhero/ idol is.
• Ask them to write any five things about him/her, which they admire.

15. Drawing words

Image: iStock

This activity does not involve writing directly but inspires to write and makes learning enjoyable for kids. Make their imagination run wild with this game.

• Choose a word to draw. It can be any word like sun, moon, precious, beautiful, mountain or anything.
• Let the child draw the word in their style. Do not insist on drawing it perfectly.

Writing is an integral part of children’s education that helps them express themselves better. It is a life skill that relates to communication and allows children to better understand and remember a particular concept. Writing skills should be developed in children from a young age. However, many children are not enthusiastic about writing because they feel it is a difficult task. In such circumstances, you may introduce writing games for kids that do not look like a task and offer them good practice. So, if your children are averse to writing, introduce games such as Secret Pictionary or Finish the Story and activities such as Dialogue Writing or Message Writing. Regular writing practice will enhance children’s skills a great deal.

Key Pointers

• Pique your children’s interest in writing by introducing Pictionary of secret phrases followed by drawing.
• “Finish the story” will enhance the child’s creativity as they take turns to add sentences to the story.
• Dialogue or advertisement writing, word drawing, etc., for your children as you scroll down.

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• Author

Harshita is a graduate in commerce and holds a PG Diploma in Patent and Copyrights Law from NALSAR University. She has also pursued CA and has more than three years of internship experience in auditing. Her love for travelling has taken her to various parts of the world, and writing the travelogues was what brought out her love for content writing....
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