There’s something truly special about sitting down with your child to write a book together.
It’s not just about putting words on a page—it’s about diving into their imagination, building memories, and creating something tangible that you both can cherish forever.
Here’s why this experience is so rewarding and how you can make it happen.
Why Write a Book Together?
Unleash Creativity: Kids are natural storytellers with wild, unfiltered imaginations. Writing together lets you tap into their unique ideas while gently guiding the process.
Strengthen Your Bond: Collaborating on a story fosters teamwork, communication, and mutual respect as you share ideas and make decisions together.
Boost Confidence: Seeing their ideas come to life in a finished book empowers kids and shows them their voice matters.
Create a Keepsake: A book you co-write becomes a treasure—a snapshot of their thoughts and your shared moments at this stage of their life.
Tips for Writing a Book with Your Child
- Start with Their Ideas: Ask open-ended questions like, “What kind of world would you love to explore?” or “Who’s the hero of our story?” Let their answers shape the plot and characters.
- Keep It Fun and Flexible: Don’t worry about perfection. Focus on the joy of creating. If they want a dragon who loves pizza, roll with it!
- Set a Simple Structure: For younger kids, aim for a short picture book (10–20 pages). For older kids, try a chapter book with a basic beginning, middle, and end.
- Take Turns Writing or Drawing: Alternate writing sentences or scenes, or have them illustrate while you jot down the story. This keeps both of you engaged.
Celebrate Milestones: Finished a chapter? Designed a cover? Celebrate with a high-five or a treat to keep the excitement alive.
Bring It to Life: Once the story’s done, print it out, bind it, or use a self-publishing platform like Blurb or Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing to make a real book. Add their drawings for a personal touch.
A Personal Touch
Last summer, my 8-year-old and I wrote The Adventures of Sparkle the Unicorn, a quirky tale about a unicorn who solves mysteries with her pet turtle. We spent rainy afternoons brainstorming, laughing over silly plot twists, and sketching Sparkle’s glittery mane. Watching my daughter’s face light up when we held the printed book was priceless. It wasn’t just a story—it was our story.
Encourage Their Spark
Writing with your child isn’t about crafting a bestseller; it’s about nurturing their creativity and showing them their ideas are worth sharing. So grab some paper, pens, and maybe a few stickers, and dive into the adventure. What story will you create together?
Have you ever written something with your child? Share your tips or favorite moments below!
Can you remember your favorite book as a child?
How about a favorite story that you’ve heard? Here’s something fun … pick any object in your home and have your child imagine a story about it. Better yet, be the first to create a fun story to help your kids imagination!