39 Creative Journal Ideas For Teens (2024)

Inside : 39 Creative Journal Ideas For Teens to get them to start writing today

We all know that being a teenager isn’t easy. We always talk about how this is the “best time of their lives,” but, really, they’re going through a lot. Between school, social, and emotional changes, teenagers often struggle with their feelings and don’t have much of an outlet to help them work through them. That’s where journals can be such a helpful tool.

These journal ideas for teens will help them explore their thoughts and feelings, as well as why they feel the way they do. Some of these prompts are also just easy ways to get them to write about something positive or simple, which is also a very good exercise and good for their mental health.

Take a look at these 39 creative journal ideas for teens!

Journal Prompts For Teens That Will Inspire Them To Write

Some teenagers have no problem filling out page after page of their journals. They either have their own ideas, feelings to vent, or thoughts to work out. Other teens, however, might not know where to start. These prompts are great because they are easy to approach, and you can write either a little or a lot about them. That way, your teen can approach their entries at their own pace.

It’s also important to have your teenager explain the why and how aspects of their entries.

1. List things that make you smile. Why do they make you happy?
2. List things that frustrate you, make you sad, or make you angry. Why do they make you feel this way?
3. What is your favorite part of the day? Why?
4. If you could change one thing about your life at school, what would it be?
5. If you could change one thing about your life at home, what would it be?
6. What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
7. Do you prefer to stay up late or wake up early? Why?
8. What item do you own that is the most important to you? Why?
9. What would you do if you had more free time outside of school?
10. If you had $10,000, how would you spend it right now?

Thought-Provoking Writing Prompts For Teenagers

Once your teenager has warmed up with the easy stuff, it’s time to have them dig a little deeper. These journal ideas for teens have them consider their personalities. There are a few things that we’re trying to accomplish with these kinds of journal prompts:

• Grow their self-esteem
• Consider their future goals
• Understand their environment
• Encourage them to live proactively

All in all, these journal ideas for teens help them to figure out who they are, who they want to be, and how they can grow.

11. What is your best feature, both in your personality and appearance?
12. What is the most difficult thing you’ve gone through?
13. If you could change anything about the world, what would it be? Why?
14. Where do you want to be when you graduate high school? College?
15. Do you tend to save or spend your money and resources? Why do you think you have that habit?
16. What is one healthy habit that you slack on? Why is this habit difficult for you?
17. What is your ideal job in the future? What skills do you need to get that job? Are there any that you can develop right now, or any that you already have?
18. Who do you trust the most in the world?
19. What is something that truly motivates you?
20. What is something in your everyday life that you struggle with?

Creative Journal Prompts For Teenagers

Journals can also be used to foster creativity and get writers to think outside the box. Creative writing doesn’t have to be about writing stories. Journal ideas for teens will help them relive times of their lives. Recounting these events is a form of creative writing. A creative prompt shouldn’t be intimidating, but easy to approach.

These prompts also allow your child to look at a situation from the outside as a third party. They can look at a difficult experience as an outsider and think about how they might have behaved differently, or how other parties must have felt.

21. If you could relive any time of your life, what would it be? What would you do differently or exactly the same?
22. Write a letter to your future self.
23. Pick a foreign country that you would like to live in. How would you live there? What would your house look like, and what would your job be? What would you do in your free time?
24. Write yourself as a character in your favorite book. What role would you play in the story? Write as many details of your character as you can.
25. What is your earliest memory?
26. Write interview questions for yourself, as well as how you would answer them.
27. Imagine that you woke up and suddenly had a superpower. What would that power be? How would you go about your day?
28. You have 24 hours to live life exactly how you want. What would your full day look like?
29. Write about the hardest day of your life. Looking back, what could you have done to make things easier for yourself?
30. Describe a time when you hurt someone else’s feelings. What could you have done differently? Do you wish to apologize?

More Inspiring Journal Ideas For Teenagers

Something that is important to remember is that these journal ideas are for teens, not for you. That is to say, you should not expect to read the responses to these entries. You want them to look within themselves, learn about themselves, and have a safe place to explore their thoughts and feelings.

31. List things in your daily life that make you uncomfortable. Are these things within your control?
32. Write your wildest dreams for the future.
33. Who is someone that inspires you? What is it about them that is so inspiring? How can you be like them?
34. What is something that you can’t change in your life that frustrates you?
35. List three things that you can do in your life to make the world around you a better place.
36. What is something you wish you could say to your parents but can’t?
37. What is something about yourself that you are very proud of?
38. Who is your best friend? Describe them and why they are important to you.
39. What is the hardest lesson that you have ever had to learn?

More Ideas Teenagers Will Love

• Best Chores For Teenagers + Tips For Creating Habits – Teenagers moan and groan about doing their chores, but this is a crucial point in their lives for them to learn important healthy and household habits. Here, I have explored the best chores for teens to take on and how they can build habits around them. I also go into how to make them a part of the process, which is so important to get them on board.
• 50+ Positive Self Care Ideas For Teens – Speaking of healthy habits! Helping your teenager learn how to take care of themselves, both physically and mentally, is a huge part of being a parent. If you’re struggling to get your teen to build healthy living habits, check out these self care ideas. This list might help them realize that it’s easier to take care of yourself than you think.
• Best 100+ Movies To Watch With Teens – Here’s a list so comprehensive that you might need to sit down with some popcorn just to go through the whole thing! Make the “What are we going to watch?” conundrum a thing of the past! We’ve listed over 100 movies that are great to watch with your teen.

About mommateen

Victoria is founder and creator of this blog. She is also a momma to twin boy/girl teens, sharing her ideas and inspiration here for travel, food, parties, school & fun!