120 Journal Prompts for Kids

Invent a new ice cream flavor. What is in it, and what is it called?

Then ask: Who would love it, and who would hate it?

Your shoes can take you anywhere for one day. Where do they go?

Then ask: What happens when you try to make them stop?

Write the rules for a holiday you made up.

Then ask: What would people eat and wear on it?

You shrink to the size of an ant for an afternoon. Describe your trip across the kitchen.

Then ask: What looks scary from down there that looks normal now?

Write a news report about the funniest thing that happened at your house this week.

Then ask: Who would you interview for it?

Your teacher turns into an animal for a day. Which animal, and how does class go?

Then ask: What would the class learn from that animal?

Design the perfect fort. Draw it and label every part.

Then ask: What is the secret password, and why that one?

You find a door in your house that was never there before. Open it.

Then ask: Do you tell anyone it is there?

Write a letter to your sock that went missing in the laundry.

Then ask: Where do you think it went?

If vegetables could talk, which one would be the bossiest? Write a conversation at dinner.

Then ask: Who wins the argument?

You get to be a grown-up for one day. Write your schedule from morning to night.

Then ask: What would be harder than you expected?

What is something you can do now that you could not do a year ago?

Then ask: How did you learn it?

Write about your favorite place to be alone.

Then ask: What do you think about when you are there?

What makes you laugh the hardest?

Then ask: Who is the funniest person you know, and why?

If your life were a book, what would this chapter be called?

Then ask: What do you hope the next chapter is about?

What is one thing people often get wrong about you?

Then ask: What would you want them to know instead?

Write about a time you were really proud of yourself.

Then ask: Did anyone else know you felt that way?

What are three things you are curious about right now?

Then ask: How could you find out more about one of them?

What is your favorite smell, and what does it remind you of?

Then ask: Write about the place or person it takes you back to.

If you could be really good at one thing overnight, what would you pick?

Then ask: Would it still feel good if you never had to practice?

Write about something you changed your mind about.

Then ask: What made you change it?

What do you want to be known for when you are older?

Then ask: What could you do this week that is a small step toward it?

What is something small you are thankful for that most people never notice?

Then ask: What would your day be like without it?

Write a thank-you note to someone you have never thanked.

Then ask: Will you send it? Why or why not?

What is one thing about your home you would miss if you moved away?

Then ask: Why does that one thing matter so much?

Write about a mistake that turned out to be a good thing.

Then ask: What did you learn from it?

Which part of your body are you thankful for today, and why?

Then ask: What did it help you do?

Write about a teacher or coach who helped you.

Then ask: What did they see in you?

What is something in nature you are glad exists?

Then ask: When did you last stop to look at it?

Write about the best gift you ever got that did not cost money.

Then ask: What made it special?

What is something you have that another kid might wish for?

Then ask: How does it feel to think about that?

Name three good things that happened today, even tiny ones.

Then ask: Which one would you want to happen again tomorrow?

Write about someone in your family who works hard for you.

Then ask: What do they do that you do not see?

What does your body feel like when you are nervous?

Then ask: What helps the feeling go away?

Write about something that makes you angry, and what you do when you feel that way.

Then ask: What would you like to do instead next time?

Who can you talk to when you are worried?

Then ask: What makes them easy to talk to?

If your mood today were weather, what would it be?

Then ask: What made it that kind of weather?

Write about a time you were scared but did the thing anyway.

Then ask: How did you feel afterward?

What helps you feel better when you are sad?

Then ask: How could you help a friend who feels that way?

Write about a time you said sorry, or wish you had.

Then ask: What made it hard to say?

What is something you are worried about that you have not told anyone?

Then ask: What is the worst that could happen, and how likely is it?

Describe a time you felt calm and safe.

Then ask: How could you get back to that feeling when things are hard?

Write about a feeling you had today that you did not show.

Then ask: Why did you keep it inside?

What would you say to a younger kid who is having a really bad day?

Then ask: Is that what you need to hear sometimes too?

What is a family tradition you love?

Then ask: Which tradition would you start with your own family one day?

Write about a time you and a friend disagreed.

Then ask: How did you fix it, or did you?

Interview a grandparent or older relative in your head. What would you ask them first?

Then ask: Now really ask them, and write down what they say.

Describe a perfect day with your family.

Then ask: What part could you actually do this weekend?

What makes someone a good friend?

Then ask: Which of those things are you good at?

Write about a time someone in your family surprised you.

Then ask: What did you learn about them?

If you could switch places with a sibling or cousin for a day, what would you find out?

Then ask: What would be harder for them than it looks?

Write about a friend who moved away or who you do not see anymore.

Then ask: What would you tell them if you could?

What is the best advice a grown-up ever gave you?

Then ask: Have you used it yet?

Write about a time you helped someone without being asked.

Then ask: Why did you do it?

What is something your family laughs about together?

Then ask: Write it down so you remember it when you are grown up.

Write a story that starts with: "Nobody believed me when I said the moon was missing."

Then ask: How does it end?

Create a new animal by mixing two real ones. Where does it live and what does it eat?

Then ask: What is it afraid of?

You are in charge of the whole town for a week. What do you change first?

Then ask: Who would be upset about it?

Write about a world where it never gets dark.

Then ask: What would people miss?

Describe a city on the bottom of the ocean.

Then ask: How do people get there?

You can talk to one person from history. Who is it, and what do you ask?

Then ask: What do you think they would ask you?

Write a story told by your backpack.

Then ask: What has it seen that you forgot about?

Invent a sport that has never existed. Write the rules.

Then ask: What makes it fair?

Write about a day when everyone on Earth woke up speaking a different language.

Then ask: How would people figure out what to do?

You build a robot friend. What can it do, and what will it never do?

Then ask: Why did you give it that rule?

Write a story that ends with: "And that is why we never open the blue box."

Then ask: What was in it?

Write about a subject that is hard for you.

Then ask: What would make it easier?

If you could teach the class for one day, what would you teach?

Then ask: How would you make it fun?

Write about a time you kept trying after you got something wrong.

Then ask: What finally worked?

What is a question you have that school has not answered yet?

Then ask: Where could you look for the answer?

Describe the best day of school you can remember.

Then ask: What made it so good?

What would you change about recess?

Then ask: How would you convince the principal?

Write about a book that you could not stop reading.

Then ask: Which character would you want to meet, and what would you ask them?

What is one goal you have for this school year?

Then ask: What is the first small step?

Write about a time you helped a classmate understand something.

Then ask: How did it feel to be the teacher?

If homework did not exist, what would you do with that time?

Then ask: Would you learn anything from it?

Write about something you learned outside of school.

Then ask: Who taught you, or did you teach yourself?

Write about your favorite Halloween costume, real or imaginary.

Then ask: What did it let you be for a night?

What is something you want to do before the year ends?

Then ask: What could stop you, and how will you get around it?

Write about a time you felt really thankful for a meal.

Then ask: Who made it, and did you thank them?

If you could add one dish to Thanksgiving dinner, what would it be?

Then ask: Write the recipe the way you imagine it.

Write about the first cold morning of the year.

Then ask: What changed that day?

Describe a leaf falling from the leaf's point of view.

Then ask: Where does it land, and what happens next?

What is something you are thankful for that you did not have last year?

Then ask: How did it come into your life?

Write about a November day when nothing special happened.

Then ask: Was there anything good in it after all?

Who would you invite to a dinner if you could invite anyone?

Then ask: What would you talk about?

Write a list of ten things you are thankful for, then pick the one you almost forgot.

Then ask: Why was it easy to forget?

What does your family do when it gets dark early?

Then ask: What would you like to add to those evenings?

Write about the best present you ever gave someone.

Then ask: How did you choose it?

What is one thing you want to remember about this year?

Then ask: Why that one thing?

Write three goals for the new year: one easy, one hard, one fun.

Then ask: Which one will you start tomorrow?

If you could put one thing from this year in a time capsule, what would it be?

Then ask: What would future you think when they opened it?

Write about a winter tradition in your family.

Then ask: Where do you think it came from?

Describe the coziest place you know on a cold day.

Then ask: What would make it even cozier?

Write a letter to yourself to open next December.

Then ask: What do you hope will have changed?

What did you learn about yourself this year?

Then ask: Who helped you learn it?

Write about something hard that happened this year and how you got through it.

Then ask: What would you tell yourself back then?

What would you do with a whole week of winter break and no plans?

Then ask: Would you get bored, and what would you do then?

Write about the first day back at school after break.

Then ask: What did you miss, and what were you glad to see again?

Plant something in your imagination. What grows, and what does it need?

Then ask: What do you need to grow?

Describe the sound of rain on the roof.

Then ask: What do you like to do when it rains?

What do you want to try for the first time this summer?

Then ask: What makes you nervous about it?

Write about your favorite summer memory.

Then ask: Who was there, and what did it smell like?

Plan a perfect summer day with no screens.

Then ask: What would you do when you got bored?

Write about the last day of the school year.

Then ask: What are you leaving behind, and what are you taking with you?

Describe a bug you watched for a long time.

Then ask: What do you think it was doing?

Write about a place you would go on a road trip.

Then ask: What would you want to see on the way?

What did you learn this summer that you did not learn at school?

Then ask: Who taught you?

Write about a night outside: stars, fireflies, or a campfire.

Then ask: What did you talk about?

What do you want to remember about this summer when it is winter again?

Then ask: How could you make sure you do?