Writing for young children: 10 basic rules

I write for young children and also write marketing and health articles. Writing in both genres, I can tell you that writing for children can be much more challenging. When writing for kids, there are guidelines to keep in mind to help your story avoid the editor’s junk pile. Here is a list of 10 rules to refer to when writing for young children:

1. This is probably the most important element: Make sure your story doesn’t suggest dangerous or inappropriate behavior.

Example: The protagonist (main character) runs away from home while his parents are still sleeping.

This is a no-no!

2. Make sure your story has age-appropriate words, dialogue, and action.

3. The protagonist should have an age-appropriate problem or dilemma to solve at the beginning of the story, in the first paragraph if possible. Let the action/conflict arise. Then have the protagonist, through the thought process and problem-solving skills, figure it out for themselves. If an adult is involved, keep the contribution and help to a minimum.

Kids love action and problem solving!

4. The story must have a single point of view (POV). Writing from a single point of view means that if your protagonist can’t see it, hear it, touch it, or feel it, it doesn’t exist.

Example: “Mary crossed her eyes behind Joe’s back.” If Joe is the lead, this can’t happen because Joe wouldn’t be able to see him.

5. Sentence Structure: Keep sentences short and, as with all writing, keep adjectives and adverbs to a minimum. And watch your punctuation and grammar.

6. Write your story by showing it through action and dialogue rather than telling it.

If you can’t seem to get the right words to show a scene, try using dialogue instead; is an easy alternative.

7. You also need to keep your writing steady. This means don’t say something in 10 words if you can do it in 5. Get rid of unnecessary words.

8. Notice the time frame of the story. Try to keep it within several hours or a day.

9. Along with the protagonist’s resolution of the conflict, the conflict must somehow grow as a result.

10. Use a thesaurus and a book of similes. Finding the right word or simile can make the difference between a good story and a great story.

Using these techniques will help you create effective children’s stories. Another important tool to wear in your writing tool belt is to join a children’s writing critique group. No matter how long you’ve been writing, you can always use another set of eyes. If you are a beginning writer and have not published, you should join a group that has both published and unpublished members. Having published and experienced writers in the pool will help you hone your craft.