20 “What If?” Writing Prompts for Kids
- Age
- 4–6, 7–9, 10–12
- Skills
- imagination · story structure · writing confidence
“What if?” is the question behind almost every great story. These prompts hand children a big imaginative idea and let them run with it.
How to use this
- Pick a “what if” that excites you.
- Think through the consequences — that's where the story lives.
- Use the feedback box for an encouraging check.
- What if you woke up and everyone had swapped bodies with their pet?
- What if it rained something other than water for a whole day?
- What if your shadow could do whatever it wanted?
- What if school lasted only ten minutes a day?
- What if you could pause time whenever you liked?
- What if animals could vote?
- What if you found a remote control that worked on real life?
- What if the moon disappeared for a week?
- What if you could breathe underwater?
- What if your toys remembered everything you ever said?
- What if gravity switched off every night at midnight?
- What if you could taste colours?
- What if the internet vanished forever tomorrow?
- What if you were the last person awake in the whole world?
- What if plants could walk?
- What if you could swap one thing about the world — and had to live with it?
- What if your dreams came true, but only the strange ones?
- What if a new colour appeared that no one had ever seen?
- What if you could talk to your future self for one minute?
- What if everyone had to tell the truth for a day?
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