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Summer is coming! Maybe it already feels like summer where you live. I know we kind of get antsy this time of year and want to enjoy the nice weather. So, it can be kind of tough the first few weeks the warm weather sticks around. After that, though, we get into our routine. Part of it is writing. Summer writing prompts can help.

We are year-round homeschoolers. No, we don’t do every subject and keep the same schedule. I’m not that mean. However, we do keep up with math, reading, and writing. I try to make things a little more fun in the summer, and writing prompts can help out.

If you want to learn a little more about the benefits of homeschooling year-round, click here.

Summer Writing

Summer is for fun, right?! So why should kids continue writing during the summer?

Believe me, I get it. Summer is the perfect time to kick back and relax. However, the reason I recommend kids keep writing over the summer is so they don’t lose their skills.

I taught for almost ten years in public and private schools. For several years, I even ran a preschool. Summer slide, losing academic skills over the summer, is real.

The key to summer homeschooling is making it fun and making it meaningful, if possible. To make writing fun, I came up with a variety of writing prompts. Let’s take a look.

Summer Writing Prompts for Kids

Writing, like any skill, needs to be practiced. Therefore, keep your kids writing, so they don’t lose their skills. There are many ways kids can do this. I came up with some suggested prompts and ideas to help.

About the Prompts

You will notice, I have included different types of writing on the list. Kids can find creative writing ideas, “how to” books, lists, persuasive writing, and more. The purpose of the prompts is to, well, prompt them to get writing.

I like creating many different options so kids have a choice. There is nothing that will kill someone’s desire to write than being forced to write something they don’t want to.

During the summer, keep it fun. Give kids some choices. As the summer goes along, they may want to try another type of writing for themselves.

Here’s a little tip: Join your kids in writing! If you are having fun writing a “how-to” booklet and seeing if they can follow the directions, it may get them to want to give it a try. Another way to join in the fun is to write something together!

However you choose to use the writing prompts, they are a tool on days your kids get stuck. So take a look and see what you think.

20 Writing Prompts to Try This Summer

1. Write a “how-to” book on how to make your favorite banana split or s’ mores.
2. Make a “how-to” booklet on making the biggest cannonball splash.
3. Describe your perfect summer day.
4. It’s a hot summer day. Write about what you would do.
5. Write what the BEST Fourth of July celebration would look like.
6. Persuade someone why the beach or the forest is more fun.
7. Persuade someone why summer is the BEST season.
8. Explain to your parents why you should be allowed to camp in the backyard all summer.
9. Write a campfire story. (Scary or funny)
10. You have been building a sandcastle at the beach when suddenly a door opens underneath. What happens next?
11. One evening you are chasing fireflies through the field. As you are chasing them, you come to the edge of a forest. A path begins glowing in front of you. Write a story about what happens next.
12. You and your friends are out camping. You open the flap of your tent and come face-to-face with ____________. Tell what happens.
13. Create a comic about a bike adventure with your friends.
14. Create a comic where you are a superhero that saves the kids at summer camp.
15. Research an ocean animal.
16. Make a list of the things you want to do this summer. As you complete them, write a paragraph telling about it.
17. Write a letter to a friend or family member you haven’t seen in a while.
18. Draw a picture of your dream treehouse then write up a description about it.
19. Draw a picture of a water park (or amusement park) and tell all about it.
20. Keep a journal of what you do over the summer.

Download your FREE PDF of the Summer Writing Prompts.

Next Steps

Not only do you need to get kids writing, but you also need to give a little instruction and feedback, too. Kids need guidance and constructive criticism while writing to make sure they aren’t getting sloppy. You want kids to write over the summer, so they don’t lose their skills. They will still need you to help.

So whether you are typical year-round homeschoolers or want to keep your kids writing skills up over the summer, give some of the writing prompts a try. Download a copy and every week or two get your kids writing. You’ll be glad you did!

You might also like 20 Creative Spring Writing Prompts to Try Today. It not only includes more prompts but some pretty writing paper, too.

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