Kids don’t need to know plot structure or grammar terms before they can be storytellers. What they do need is permission to explore.
If you have a young writer in your life, scribbling dragons on the back of their homework or spinning wild stories about rainbow llamas and robot uncles, the first step is often the trickiest: just getting started. So, let’s talk about how to help kids begin their storytelling journey — with encouragement, not red pens, all the while remembering that these ideas can apply to writers of all ages.
Forget Rules — Start with Imagination
Kids don’t need to know plot structure or grammar terms before they can be storytellers. What they do need is permission to explore. Let them write about a three-headed kitten who saves the world. Let them invent whole planets of slime. That messy, magical spark is how it starts.
✔ Try this:
Ask open-ended questions like:
- “What would your favourite toy do if it came to life?”
- “If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?”
- “What’s the silliest superpower you can imagine?”
Writing prompts like these can be a great launchpad. The Literacy Shed and Story Starters by Scholastic are fun, free resources to kick things off.
Let Them Talk Before They Write
Sometimes, the words get stuck because kids are still figuring out how to turn ideas into sentences. Talking it out helps. Ask them to tell you their story first — no pressure, no edits — just like they’d tell you a dream.
Then, help them “catch” their ideas on paper. This is especially helpful for younger kids or those who struggle with writing mechanics.
✔ Pro tip:
Use a voice recorder or phone to capture their storytelling, then play it back together and write it down. This gives them confidence that their ideas matter, even if spelling isn’t their strong suit yet.
Make It Playful
Writing doesn’t have to happen at a desk. Try it in chalk on the driveway. With comic panels. On sticky notes. In glitter pen. Let kids choose how they want to tell their story — even if it’s through drawings with speech bubbles.
✔ Fun tools to explore:
- Book Creator (simple online tool for making illustrated books)
- Storybird (visual storytelling for kids)
- Toontastic (free app that lets kids animate their own stories)
Kids learn through play — and storytelling is no different.
Celebrate Effort Over “Correctness”
This is huge. If we only praise “correct” spelling and tidy sentences, kids will think that’s what writing is about. But the goal is expression, not perfection.
When a child finishes a story, celebrate it like a published book. Read it aloud. Make a mini booklet. Add it to the fridge gallery. This builds confidence, which is way more powerful than a spelling quiz.
✔ Try saying:
- “I love the way your character solved that problem!”
- “You’ve got such a strong voice — I could hear it in that line.”
- “This twist surprised me — I didn’t see it coming!”
Write With Them (Not At Them)
If you want to encourage a child to write, try writing beside them. Show them that you get stuck sometimes. That you rewrite. That writing isn’t about getting it right the first time — it’s about keeping at it.
✔ Bonus activity:
Create a shared story where you each write a paragraph, taking turns. Add twists, jokes, and wild ideas. It becomes your own little writing adventure.
Final Thought:
Every child has a story to tell — even if they haven’t written it yet. Our job isn’t to make them “good writers” overnight. It’s to help them feel seen, heard, and excited about putting their ideas into the world. Their first story might be silly, or scribbled, or full of plot holes — and that’s exactly how it should be.
Want more help encouraging your young storyteller? Check out:
- Raising Children Network
- ABC Kids Listen Story Time — great for inspiring little imaginations
- Children’s Book Council of Australia — for booklists, events, and inspiration
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