Behind the scenes of our Summer Storytelling Camp (and what’s next for your child)
What happens when you put a group of young writers together and tell them to let their imaginations run wild? A LOT of stories!
Our Young Writers Summer Storytelling Camp was filled with characters, imaginary worlds, plotting, creative challenges, laughter and, most importantly, young people discovering the confidence to tell their own stories.
We explored character development, setting, story structure and the all-important question: “What happens next?”
Summer may be ending soon, but their writing journey doesn’t have to.
Our Creative Writing Club for Kids and Teens returns this September, giving young writers a supportive space to keep creating, learning and developing their storytelling skills throughout the term.
Does your child love books, make up stories, fill notebooks with ideas – or simply have an imagination that needs somewhere to go?
Registration for September is now open. Come and discover what your young writer can create!
How to support and encourage a child who loves writing stories
If your child is always making up stories, filling notebooks with ideas, or disappearing into books for hours, they may have the heart of a young writer. The good news is that you don’t need to be a writing expert to nurture their creativity.
This article shares five practical ways parents can encourage a child’s love of storytelling without turning writing into another school assignment.
You’ll discover how creating a dedicated writing space, providing inspiring resources, celebrating imagination over perfection, becoming an enthusiastic audience, and helping your child connect with other young writers can build confidence and develop lifelong writing skills.
5 steps to use creative writing for your child’s emotional intelligence
This article explores how creative writing helps children develop emotional intelligence alongside their literacy skills. Rather than simply improving grammar or storytelling, writing gives children a safe space to understand and express their feelings, develop empathy, solve problems creatively, and build confidence.
The article highlights that emotional intelligence is built through consistent practice, not perfection. By nurturing a child’s imagination and giving them the freedom to explore emotions through stories, parents help them become not only better writers, but also more resilient, empathetic, and emotionally aware individuals.
Six signs your child might have a writing talent
This article helps parents identify six often-overlooked signs that their child may have a natural talent for writing. While writing ability isn’t always reflected in perfect spelling, neat handwriting, or top grades, it often reveals itself through curiosity, imagination, observation, empathy, and a deep love of stories.
The article outlines six key indicators of writing talent, including being an avid reader, having a vivid imagination, noticing small details others miss, demonstrating emotional intelligence, using writing to process feelings, and showing a fascination with words and language.
Creative indoor activities for book-loving kids
This article gives parents practical and creative ways to keep book-loving kids engaged during the summer holidays. Rather than simply reading books, children are encouraged to interact with stories through activities such as creating book trailers, designing character scrapbooks, rewriting endings, building fictional worlds, casting movie adaptations, and starting book review blogs or Bookstagram accounts.
These activities help children develop critical thinking, creativity, storytelling skills, and confidence while making reading more interactive and fun. The article also highlights how these projects can be a natural stepping stone from being a reader to becoming a writer.
My child loves writing: what should I do next?
This article is a practical guide for parents who have realised that their child has a genuine love of writing. It explains that once a child begins filling notebooks with stories, poems, or even their own comics, the next step is to nurture that passion without turning it into pressure.
Parents should take their child’s writing seriously, create a dedicated writing space, fuel their creativity through reading, and focus on storytelling rather than grammar in the early stages. It also highlights the importance of celebrating their work, entering writing competitions, and seeking professional guidance when appropriate.
Most importantly, it reminds parents that writing is a craft that grows through encouragement, confidence, and consistent practice. With the right support, a child who loves writing today could become a published author tomorrow.
Why creative writing is one of the best holiday activities for children
This article highlights why creative writing is one of the most valuable holiday activities for children aged 9–15. While many parents worry about boredom, excessive screen time, and the “summer slide” during school breaks, creative writing offers a fun and engaging way to keep young minds active.
The article explains how writing helps children maintain and improve literacy skills, including grammar, vocabulary, critical thinking, and communication. It also provides a safe outlet for self-expression, helping children process emotions, build empathy, and develop emotional intelligence.
Beyond academic benefits, creative writing encourages creativity, reduces screen time, and boosts confidence. Completing a story gives children a sense of accomplishment and ownership that can positively impact other areas of their lives.
The article also shares practical tips for motivating reluctant writers and suggests joining a writing community or summer storytelling programme to help children stay inspired and engaged throughout the holidays.
Stickers, stories and sweets: using rewards to keep your child motivated to write
This article explores how parents can motivate children to keep writing without turning creativity into a chore. Many children start stories with excitement but quickly lose momentum because writing can feel difficult, frustrating, or overwhelming.
The article explains how small rewards such as sticker charts, treats, screen-time swaps, and celebrating milestones, can help children push through the challenging parts of the writing process. It emphasises the importance of rewarding consistency and effort, not just finished stories.
Most importantly, the article encourages parents to balance external rewards with intrinsic motivation by giving children choice, autonomy, and a supportive creative environment.
The core message: writing confidence grows through encouragement, consistency, and making storytelling feel joyful rather than stressful.
Screens vs. Pages: The Sensory Magic of Reading Physical Books for Kids
This article explores why physical books still play a vital role in children’s development in a screen-dominated world. While technology has its place, reading physical books offers a unique sensory experience that supports deeper learning, focus, and creativity.
Unlike screens, books engage multiple senses: touch, sight, and even smell, helping children build stronger memory, comprehension, and emotional connections to reading. Physical books also reduce distractions, allowing for deeper concentration and immersion in stories.
Reading from paper encourages patience, imagination, and descriptive thinking, all of which are essential for strong writing skills.
The core message: balancing screen time with physical books helps children become more focused, creative, and confident readers and writers.
Conscious storytellers: helping kids write about big topics like diversity and the environment
This article encourages parents to support children in exploring big, real-world topics such as climate change, diversity, and social justice, through creative writing.
Rather than shielding children from complex issues, storytelling provides a safe and powerful way for them to process what they observe and feel.
Through writing, children develop empathy by stepping into different perspectives, while also building critical thinking and confidence. Creative writing helps them move from passive observers to active thinkers, using imagination to explore solutions and express their ideas.