167 fun & creative journal prompts for teens

Recently updated on December 9th, 2023 at 09:54 am

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The biggest challenge teens have with journaling is not knowing where to start. The journal prompts for teens in this blog will help them kickstart their creative writing journey. 

There are inspirational questions that will help them reflect on their goals and think about their future. Journaling on a regular basis can help improve mental health by allowing a stream of consciousness to flow through during the writing process.

The journal prompts for teens will also encourage them to be grateful about the things that are going well in their life and help them develop a growth mindset attitude

Journal prompts for teens

Using the journal prompts for teens below will also tackle difficult questions like the challenges they are facing right now and the fears they have about the future. 

Journaling from a young age will help teenagers develop positive habits of mindfulness which will be useful to them until they are adults. It gives them a safe space to write down their thoughts.

Journal writing is also a great way to improve teens writing skills.

Thoughtful Journal Prompts for Teens

  1. What does your perfect day look like?
  2. Describe a time when you felt proud of yourself.
  3. If you could change one law, what would it be and why?
  4. What’s your most prized possession and why?
  5. What are three things you admire about your best friend?
  6. If you could live in any time period, which would it be?
  7. List five things you would tell your 10-year-old self.
  8. Write a letter to your future self.
  9. What’s a cause you feel strongly about?
  10. If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
  11. Describe your dream job.
  12. What’s your favorite memory?
  13. How do you define success?
  14. What are your top three priorities in life?
  15. What’s something you wish you were better at?
  16. What’s your biggest fear?
  17. What would you do if you won a million dollars?
  18. What’s a place you’d love to visit?
  19. How do you handle stress?
  20. What’s your philosophy on life?

Fun Journal Prompts for Teens

  1. Describe your dream concert.
  2. You’re a secret agent for a day. What’s your mission?
  3. Create your own superhero persona.
  4. What would your band name be?
  5. If you could be any animal, which one and why?
  6. Invent a new holiday.
  7. What would you do during a zombie apocalypse?
  8. You find a magic lamp. What are your three wishes?
  9. Describe a day in the life of your pet.
  10. What are your top 5 desert island essentials?
  11. Write a short story starting with “It was a dark and stormy night…”
  12. You can time travel to one event in history. Where do you go?
  13. What would you do if you were invisible for a day?
  14. Design your dream house.
  15. Create a new sport.
  16. If you could swap lives with a celebrity, who would it be?
  17. What’s your signature dance move?
  18. Write about your most embarrassing moment.
  19. Imagine you’re a contestant on a reality show.
  20. Describe the ultimate food fight.

Daily Journal Prompts for Teens

  1. What’s the highlight of your day?
  2. List three things you’re grateful for today.
  3. What made you laugh today?
  4. One thing you learned today.
  5. How did you help someone today?
  6. What’s the most interesting thing you saw today?
  7. What’s your current mood?
  8. Describe the weather and how it makes you feel.
  9. What’s one goal for tomorrow?
  10. Did anything surprise you today?
  11. What are you looking forward to?
  12. Write down a quote or saying that resonated with you today.
  13. What was the best conversation you had today?
  14. Did you face any challenges today?
  15. What made you feel loved today?
  16. What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?
  17. What’s one thing you want to improve tomorrow?
  18. How did you take care of yourself today?
  19. Did you experience any ‘firsts’ today?
  20. What was your last thought before going to sleep last night?

Mindfulness Journal Prompts for Teens

  1. What’s a simple pleasure that you love?
  2. Focus on your senses. What do you hear, see, feel right now?
  3. Describe a peaceful place.
  4. Write about a moment you felt truly present.
  5. How do you relax after a stressful day?
  6. What are three things you love about yourself?
  7. What’s a comforting scent for you?
  8. List five things that make you smile.
  9. What’s a song that calms you down?
  10. What’s a texture you enjoy touching?
  11. Write about a time you experienced kindness.
  12. What are your favorite outdoor activities?
  13. Describe your ‘happy place.’
  14. What are some small things that bring you joy?
  15. Write about a food that makes you feel good.
  16. Describe a color that resonates with you.
  17. How does it feel to take a deep breath?
  18. What’s a word that makes you feel at ease?
  19. Describe the sky right now.
  20. What’s a favorite memory that brings you peace?

Motivational Journal Prompts for Teens

  1. What are your goals for this year?
  2. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
  3. Write a letter to someone who inspires you.
  4. What steps can you take to achieve your dreams?
  5. List your strengths.
  6. What’s your biggest accomplishment so far?
  7. What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?
  8. Who are your role models?
  9. What keeps you going when times are tough?
  10. How do you overcome obstacles?
  11. What are your favorite motivational quotes?
  12. What’s a skill you’d like to master?
  13. Write about a time you faced your fears.
  14. What are you passionate about?
  15. What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
  16. What are the top three ways you can improve yourself?
  17. Write about a time you stood up for something or someone.
  18. What’s your mantra?
  19. Describe your ideal future.
  20. What does ‘success’ mean to you?

Self-Esteem Journal Prompts for Teens

  1. What makes you unique?
  2. Describe your best qualities.
  3. What are three things you can do well?
  4. What do you like about your appearance?
  5. Write a list of compliments you’ve received.
  6. How do you show yourself love?
  7. Write about a time you felt confident.
  8. What’s an achievement you’re proud of?
  9. List five people who make you feel good about yourself.
  10. How do you handle criticism?
  11. What are your boundaries?
  12. How would your best friend describe you?
  13. What’s a talent you have?
  14. What are your values?
  15. What’s an affirmation that resonates with you?
  16. What are three ways you can be kinder to yourself?
  17. Write a pep talk to yourself.
  18. How do you recharge?
  19. What are your favorite ways to pamper yourself?
  20. Write about a role you play that you’re really good at (friend, sibling, student).

Spiritual Journal Prompts for Teens

  1. What do you believe happens after death?
  2. Write about a moment you felt connected to something greater than yourself.
  3. What are your spiritual beliefs?
  4. Describe a time you experienced awe.
  5. What are your thoughts on fate vs free will?
  6. What are some rituals that are important to you?
  7. How do you connect with your inner self?
  8. Write about a ‘coincidence’ that felt meaningful.
  9. What’s your interpretation of the meaning of life?
  10. What are your thoughts on the concept of soulmates?
  11. How do you find peace?
  12. What’s a virtue you admire?
  13. Describe a spiritual experience you’ve had.
  14. What are some ethical principles you live by?
  15. How do you practice mindfulness or meditation?
  16. What are your thoughts on the existence of a higher power?
  17. How do you handle existential questions?
  18. What’s a spiritual book or text that has influenced you?
  19. How do you express gratitude?
  20. What’s a question you’re seeking an answer to?

Therapeutic Journal Prompts for Teens

  1. What’s something that’s been bothering you lately, and what can you do about it?
  2. Describe a situation where you felt misunderstood.
  3. Write a letter to someone you can’t speak to in person, expressing your feelings.
  4. What are some ways you cope with stress that you’d like to improve upon?
  5. How do you react when things don’t go your way?
  6. What triggers your anxiety, and how can you manage it?
  7. Write about a time when you had to make a tough decision.
  8. How do you deal with disappointment?
  9. What’s a piece of advice you’ve received that you didn’t like but needed to hear?
  10. What are some self-care activities that help improve your mental health?
  11. Write down a dream you’ve had recently and how it made you feel.
  12. List three things you can do to improve your relationship with yourself.
  13. Describe a relationship that has changed recently, for better or worse.
  14. What’s an emotional scar you carry and how does it affect you?
  15. How do you handle conflict in your relationships?
  16. Write about a time when you felt truly heard and understood.
  17. Describe a moment you felt most alive.
  18. What are some barriers that prevent you from expressing your true self?
  19. What’s something that you need to forgive yourself for?
  20. How would you describe your emotional well-being right now?

Journal prompts for teens for self-discovery :

The journal prompts for teens below will help them discover things they like and dislikes. The questions are designed to get them to think hard about themselves and their friends.

  1. Would you like most about yourself?

2. What do people like most about you?

3. Name three qualities that make you unique.

4. What do you like most about your physical feature?

Growth Mindset Questions For Kids : 

5. What is the best concert you have ever attended?

6. Name three things that people don’t know about you.

7. What is your favorite season of the year?

8. What is your favorite book?

9. Where would you like to go in the next summer vacation? 

10. What is your favorite place in the world?

11. What is your favorite game?

12. What do you think are some of the most important things that are required to have a healthy relationship with your partner? 

13. Do you think it’s fair to judge people by their looks?

14. How do Instagram filters create unrealistic expectations of beauty?

15. If you can change one thing about your life, what would you change? Why?

16. Do you think is possible to attain perfection?

17. What are some of the things you can do to make the world a back to please?

18. What does your dream house look like 

19. Have you ever stood up for your friend?

20. What is the biggest online purchase you have ever made?

Don’t forget to check out this fun Trivia quiz for kids

Journal prompts for kids

21. Have you ever fought against a bully?

22. Have you ever witness racism? Did you do something about it?

23. If you’re given US$10,000 what will you do with the money?

24. What do you like most about your best friend.

25. How important it is to speak up against something you see as wrong? Have you 

26. ever done something like this?

27. What worries you the most?

28. What are your priorities in life?

29. What is your biggest weakness? 

30. Write a letter to your future self. 

31. What is your favorite childhood memory?

32. What are you afraid of about leaving high school? 

33. If you can keep 3 things in your life, what will you keep?

34. What is your biggest strength?

35. How do you introduce yourself to a stranger?

36. Write about the best holiday you have ever had. Who was with you? Where did you go? What did you do?

37. What has staying at home during the pandemic has taught you? 

38. What was the hardest thing about studying online? 

39. What new skill would you like to learn?

Check out these creative writing prompts for kids

40. Write what your life will look like in 2050. 

41. What is your biggest regret so far?

42. Describe a time you were misunderstood by your friends. What was it about? How 

43. did it make you feel? What did you do to fix the situation?

44. What do you like most about your bedroom?

45. How do you feel about going to college? 

46. What is the first thing you notice when you meet someone new?

47. What does a perfect day look like to you?

Fun questions for teens: 

48. If you are to spend one whole year with someone on a remote island who would you take with you?

49. Is there only three things that you can take with you to a remote island for one year what are the three things that you will pack?

50. If you can only eat one food for the rest of the year what would you eat?

Check out  Personalised Growth mindset kit for children

51. If an animal can suddenly talk to you what do you think it will say?

52. If you can add one word into the English dictionary what would you add? What 

53. does the word mean? How would you use the word in daily conversation?

54. If you can disappear for one day what would you do?

55. If you can fly where would you go?

56. How would you change the ending of your favorite movie?

57. If you’re given the chance to double up a superhero power what would you like to be able to do? How will your power change the world?

58. If you can meet a famous actor or actress who would you like to meet? What is the first thing you would say to that person? Why do you want to meet that person?

59. If you can meet someone famous that is no longer alive who would you like to meet? Why?

60. Rewrite the story of Cinderella from the step sisters point of view.

61. If you’re told that there are only 24 hours left to live in this world what will you do in that 24 hours?

62. Create a list of things you would like to do before you turn 30.

63. If you can have a genie that would make dreams come true what are the three things you would wish for?

64. If there is an outfit you have to wear for the rest of your life, what would you wear?

You can use the printables below to help your child deal with any anxiety they may be facing in their daily life or at school. 

65. What will you do if you can meet a dragon that can talk?

66. What is one family tradition you would like to change?

67. What is one household chore that should be automated? 

68.Rewrite the ending of your favorite book. 

69. If you are given the chance to learn a new language what would you like to be fluent at?

70. If you can change your name what would you call yourself?

71. Who was your childhood hero?

Thought provoking journal prompts for teens : 

72. What is your favorite social media network? 

73. What are three things your parents don’t know about social media?

74. Do you wish social media was never created?

75. What are the three best things about social media?

76. What are the three worst things about social media?

77. Would you ever quit social media?

Related : Personal journal prompts for self-discovery & growth

78. How real are your friends on social media?

79. If you can reinvent the internet, what would you change?

80. If you can create a viral video, what will it be about?

81. What are some issues people have with privacy and data online?

82. How will you feel if suddenly the internet is no longer available for use permanently? 

83. What do you think is an appropriate age to give a child a smartphone?

84. Which tech inventor do you admire the most? Why?

85. Is social media addictive? Why?

86. How has social media change friendship?

87. How do you think social media has made the world a better place?

88. How helpful was social media during the pandemic?

89. If you can be a famous influencer what would you like to be known for?

90. What do you think is the right age for social media? Why?

91. What would you like to do after graduation?

92. What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

93. List some of your goals for the next two years.

Check out the open-ended questions for kids below: 

94. What do you think you will miss most when you graduate from high school?

95. If you can give a piece of advice to your younger self what advice would you give?

96. What is the hardest part about being a teenager?

97. What is the best thing about being a teenager?

98. Who do you admire the most? Why

99. Would you like most about your friends?

100. Who is the one person that has always influenced you to be a better person?

101. What are some of the things you would like to improve about yourself?

102. What is an expectation that teens have of their parents?

103. What makes you happy?

104. What is your dream job?

105. What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your life?

106. Write down some things you have learned about yourself in the last one year.

Related: Check out The Awesome Adventure Journal

Creative journal prompts for teens : 

107. What is the best human invention so far?

108. If you can be an author of a book what would the book be about?

109. What is the OneWorld problem that needs solving immediately?

110. Is there worse live on another planet how would you think it would look like?

Dont forget….THE GROWTH MINDSET KIT  to encourage children to share kindness with others

111. What are some of the most important issues facing teenagers of your age today?

112. What is the hardest thing you had to do recently?

113. Describe a time where you have to make a very tough decision. What was the outcome?

114. Write about the time where you felt let down by your friend.

Gratitude journal prompts for teens : 

115. Name two people you are thankful for.

116. Write a letter to your parents and include the things you are grateful about.

117. Write something good that happened this week.

118. Write about a kind act someone did for you.

119. Which teacher inspires you the most?

Related : 120 daily writing prompts

120. Write a short poem about your school. 

121. Write about the funniest joke you heard this week.

122. What is your favorite book and why?

123. What are some of the things that make you angry?

124. What are some of the things that make you sad?

125. What are you most optimistic about the future?

126. What is the best advice you have ever received?

127. What is your favorite holiday season?

128. What is a growth mindset mean to you?

129. Write down some of your biggest achievements.

130What are some of the character that makes a good friend?

131. Do you think God exists?

132. When was the last time your parents were upset with you? Was it your fault?

134. What is your greatest talent?

135. Write down some things you do really well. 

Related : Journal prompts for depression

Deep questions to ask yourself

Funny journal prompts for teens

136. Invent a new food. What is it made of? How does it taste like?

137. What would you do if you were stuck in a museum for a night?

138. What will you do if you are locked inside a zoo overnight?

139. If you can travel in the future where would you go?

140. If you can travel to the past where would you go?

141. Invent a new superhero character. Describe its superpowers.

142. Invent a new villain. Describe the character of the villain.

143. Write your eulogy. 

144. What is some advice you give to others but never follow it yourself? 

145. If you can be a teacher for one day what would you teach?

146, If you’re given the chance to run your school for a day, how would you run it? What are some of the things you will change in your school?

 Journal prompts for mental health

JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR DEPRESSION

147. If you can be a parent for a day, what new rules will you introduce in your home?

148. If you can be in a music band what would you call your band?

149. If you had an unlimited amount of money how would you spend it?

150. Create your own TV show. What will the show be about? Who would act in the show?

Mental well-being journal prompts for teens : 

151. What type of self-care activity do you practice?

152. What activities do you like to do to relax?

153. What bad habits would you like to stop doing?

154. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

155. What are some of the things you like to do when you’re feeling stress?

156. What do you enjoy doing on the weekends?

Related : 49 Riddles for teens

Riddles for teens

157. What type of song do you like to listen to?

158. What movies do you like to watch to help you relax?

159. Is there any new exercise you would like to try this year?

160. What is an important promise you would like to make yourself whenever faced with a difficult situations? 

161. What is your night routine like?

162. What are some of the things you need to stop wasting time on?

Related : Creative Journal prompts

163. What are some of the things you need to start doing to feel better?

164. What are some negative thoughts you need to stop saying to yourself?

165. Create a list of morning affirmations you would say to yourself before you go to school. 

166. Write down the names of people who are always there for you when you are feeling low.

We hope you have enjoyed the journal prompts for teens above.

Before you go don’t forget to get the Personalised Growth mindset kit for children

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Parven founded Kids N Clicks after obtaining her MSc in Corporate Governance from the London School of Economics. She worked as a business studies and digital marketing lecturer. Internet Matters recognizes her profound knowledge of online safety, dubbing her an Internet safety expert. At Kids N Clicks, Parven keeps abreast of the newest apps. Drawing from her teaching background, she fervently promotes screen-free activities for students and encourages introspective thinking through journaling, games and writing prompts.

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