Best Storytelling and Writing Apps For Kids
As a mom of three with an age range that spans a toddler, a “big kid,” and a middle schooler, I’m always on the lookout for fun, educational ways to keep them all engaged.
If you’re like me, you know how magical it is to see your kids dive into their imaginations, weaving together their own stories. But let’s be honest, sometimes, finding the right tools to help them channel that creativity can be a task in itself!
This past summer, after watching one too many “Mom, I’m bored!” faces, I decided to hunt for storytelling and writing apps to foster their love of reading and writing in a fun way.
Here are some of our favorites, perfect for kids with an adventurous mind or a budding novelist’s soul!
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Best Writing and Storytelling Apps For Kids
1. Toca Life World
Toca Life World was an instant hit in our house.
With its open-ended gameplay, it’s like a digital dollhouse that lets kids create their own stories, design characters, and even build entire worlds.
My 5-year-old loves it because she can play around without needing to know how to read or write, while my older kids use it to plot elaborate tales with different scenes and characters.
2. Scribblenauts Remix
Scribblenauts Remix turns vocabulary into a game, where kids create their own solutions to puzzles by writing words. Want to cross a river? Type in “bridge” and one appears! It’s a blast for kids 6 and up who have a bit of a vocabulary and want to expand their imaginations. I’ve found it not only boosts creativity but also subtly teaches spelling and problem-solving.
Amazon Link: Find Scribblenauts Remix for your device here to get started on the word fun!
3. Toontastic 3D
Toontastic 3D makes my 8-year-old feel like a mini movie director. Kids can design their own animated characters, write dialogue, and create a series of scenes to tell their story. With backgrounds, character options, and sound effects, it’s like their own mini Pixar studio at their fingertips. The app is a favorite for kids who want to make their stories come to life in a way that feels like real filmmaking.
4. Book Creator
My middle schooler absolutely loves Book Creator. This app lets kids write, illustrate, and even publish their own books! It’s the perfect app for kids who are ready to take their stories from idea to “finished product” without the pressure. Whether it’s a picture book, comic strip, or short story, Book Creator gives them the tools to be their own author and illustrator. We even printed out a few of their stories as keepsakes!
5. Night Zookeeper
If your child thrives in a more structured environment, Night Zookeeper is a great blend of storytelling, writing, and learning. This app has a fantasy twist where kids take care of their own magical animals while completing story-driven writing challenges. The best part? There’s even feedback and encouragement from real writing tutors! My 10-year-old says it feels like a “game about stories,” which is high praise from him.
6. Puppet Pals HD
This app is especially fun for younger kids who want to create their own stories but might not be ready to write them down. With Puppet Pals HD, they choose characters and backgrounds, then act out their stories while recording their voices. My youngest, who’s always up for an impromptu “show,” loves it, and I love that it helps her build early storytelling skills.
7. Storybird
Storybird is a more advanced platform that works well for older kids or middle schoolers who want to hone their storytelling craft. With a library of beautiful illustrations and prompts to inspire them, kids can build stories, poems, or even chapter books! My oldest, who’s starting to enjoy more serious writing, loves browsing artwork to inspire her own creations.
8. Imagistory
Imagistory is perfect for sparking your child’s imagination without the need for text. It’s a wordless storytelling app that lets kids make up stories by looking at illustrations and narrating their ideas. We’ve had a blast passing the tablet around, taking turns making up stories for the same pictures. Great for younger kids who aren’t yet reading but have plenty of creativity to share!
Bottom Line
Whether you have a kid who’s itching to write their first book or one who simply loves to daydream, these storytelling and writing apps can open up new worlds for them! I love knowing that when I hand my kids a tablet, they’re using it to build stories, not just mindlessly scrolling.
