Short Story Ideas for Kids

Discover fun, fabulous short story writing ideas for kids! Students can use the following writing prompts to write 30 individual short stories—or they can combine several prompts together to create a longer piece. In each prompt, the student’s character encounters a surprising situation or runs into a dilemma.

Informed by the traits and characteristics they developed in March, students can determine how their characters would react to each new event. The student’s sense of his or her character will also influence how he or she reads the prompt, and each student is likely to create an entirely different scenario out of the same brief setup.

These short exercises are a good way for students to get to know their characters further. While each prompt leaves enough room for the student to write an entire story if he or she desires, students can also combine several prompts to create a longer story or short book.

In March, students got to know their characters through a series of prompts designed to bring out character traits and personalities. This month, students have the chance to take those same characters and put them into new and unexpected situations.

30 Short Story Writing Ideas

Your character is running late and has to take the bus instead of walking.
At school or work, your character gets an unusual assignment.
Your character finds something he or she had lost.
Your character has to choose between two things that he or she loves.
Your character is out talking a walk when he or she sees a dog that…
Your character tries a new restaurant. The chef comes out and tells him or her…
Your character finally gets to take an exciting vacation to beach. On the shore, he or she finds…
During a thunderstorm, your character suddenly remembers…
Your character leaves in the morning but has to go back home after forgetting to bring…
Your character has an accident and…
At a basketball game, your character is surprised when…
Your character gets an interesting offer from a friend. Does he or she take it?
Your character has an argument with his or her best friend. They argued because your character said…
Your character meets someone with the same name.
On your character’s favorite holiday, he or she is excited to…
Your character decides to take a new class or join a new club. All goes well until the teacher or club leader says…
Your character gets a visit from an old friend—but the friend has changed and doesn’t seem to be the same person.
Your character has to give a speech. On the way up to the podium…
Your character meets his or her favorite celebrity. When your character asks for a picture…
Your character finds a wallet with a large wad of bills stuffed inside lying on the street. What does he or she do?
Your character has the chance to move to a new town. Does he or she take it?
At the grocery store, your character sees __________ in the produce section. He or she decides to…
Your character sits down to write a story. He or she is inspired by…
Your character receives a surprise package in the mail. What’s inside?
Your character has an especially bad toothache and goes to the dentist. At the dentist’s office, your character is surprised to see…
Your character goes to see a movie that he or she has been waiting to see for months—only to be seated next to someone who is talking loudly the whole time.
Your character wins a big prize from a local radio contest.
When your character’s birthday comes around, he or she is excited to enjoy a favorite slice of cake. Your character is surprised, however, when the cake turns out to be…
One night, your character wakes up from an especially realistic dream. In the dream, he or she was…
Your character is out at the mall and sees a bunch of television cameras from the local news station. Suddenly, a reporter comes up to your character and wants to interview him or her because…

With endless possibilities and a whole world of new things to discover, it’s easy to see why stories are one of the best forms of creative writing for kids.

Here are 5 Bonus Short Story Writing Ideas

Your story begins with two students inside the school, a note from the principal and a fish bowl. You must incorporate all of these elements into your short story.
You and your best friend go to the local diner after school for a milkshake. Once you arrive, you stumble upon a mysterious note from your teacher. In your story, include what the note from the teacher says, and create a tale about what happens after the note is discovered.
You walk into the cafeteria one day for lunch, only to discover that your two best friends are in an argument. What is the argument about, and how are you going to help them solve it?
Write a story from the perspective of an animal at the local shelter. What type of animal is your main character going to be? Will your character go home with a family, or make friends at the shelter? Discuss the animal’s experience and how the animal might be feeling.
You are babysitting two kids after school, and it’s a spooky, stormy night. You hear a loud crash… and your story begins. Write about what happens throughout the evening, and create a story about your adventures as a responsible babysitter.