85+ Picture Writing Prompts For Kids (+ Free Printable)

A picture is worth a thousand words. So how many words can you write for these 85 picture writing prompts for kids and grow-ups alike! Pictures, whether something as simple as an apple or as complex as an action scene can spark the imagination in more ways than one.

Of course, when looking at pictures you can take the literal route, and describe whatever you see in front of you. Or you can explore your imagination, and think about the ‘What Ifs..’ of a picture. What if that person is actually upset? What if this picture is of a broken family? What if the world looked like this years ago? A picture can have so many hidden meanings and can hide so many secrets. The slightest detail could mean everything. Just imagine you’re a detective solving a crime from one picture alone. Examine every detail, write it down and think why? Only then can you fully understand a picture.

For more inspiration take part in our daily picture writing prompt challenge. Each day you will be given a new picture prompt to write about.

Picture Prompt Generator

In this post, we have included a mix of simple pictures, story picture prompts, photographs, fantasy images and even some action-packed images.

Please click the 'Random' button to get random picture prompt.

You can find the complete list of our picture writing prompts below. We’ve also created a smaller PDF version that includes 30 random picture prompts. Download the printable PDF here.

You might also be interested in the following posts:

150 Picture Prompts To Inspire

Over 85 picture prompts for creative writing, story-telling and descriptive writing assignments:

  • What is this girl looking at? How is she feeling at this moment?
    picture writing prompt 1
  • Where are these two cats going? Where did they come from? What are they feeling?
    picture writing prompt 2
  • What is this girl thinking about? Is this her house? What are those toys doing in the background?
    picture writing prompt 3
  • Is this book magical? Why is this book on the floor? What secrets does this book contain?
    picture writing prompt 4
  • What is the young elephant saying to the older one? What is their relationship?
    picture writing prompt 5
  • What is this dalmatian looking at? What could it be thinking about? Where was this image taken?
    picture writing prompt 6
  • Who is that girl? Why is wearing those clothes? What is doing outside in the middle of nowhere?
    picture writing prompt 7
  • Where are these horses standing? What are they looking at? Where are they going?
    picture writing prompt 8
  • Who does this cabin belong to? When was this picture taken? What could be happening inside?
    picture writing prompt 9
  • Where does this path lead to? What secrets would you find here?
    picture writing prompt 10
  • Why is this person upset? What are they looking at? What has happened to them?
    picture writing prompt 11
  • How does this parrot feel? What is it looking at? Is this parrot alone?
    picture writing prompt 12
  • What is this girl looking at? Who is she? Where is she standing? And who is that girl far in the background?
    picture writing prompt 13
  • Where is this boy going? Who is he? Why does he have a buffalo with him?
    picture writing prompt 14
  • Who are those people running away in boats? What are they holding? Where was this image taken?
    picture writing prompt 15
  • Why is this car disappointed? Who does this cat belong to? Where is this cat sitting?
    picture writing prompt 16
  • How and why did this fight start? Who are those people? Where is this happening?
    picture writing prompt 17
  • What is the relationship between the horse and the owl? What are they saying to each other? Where are they?
    picture writing prompt 18
  • Where would this path lead to? Would you meet someone along the way? What would you find?
    picture writing prompt 19
  • Who are those two girls? Where are they going? What is this place?
    picture writing prompt 20
  • Who are those two people? What are they doing? What is their relationship?
    picture writing prompt 21
  • Where is this building? Who lives here? What secrets are in this place?
    picture writing prompt 22
  • Why is this group of dogs here? What are they talking about? What do they plan on doing next?
    picture writing prompt 23
  • What is the relationship between the reindeer and the squirrels? Where are they going? Why is the reindeer holding a light?
    picture writing prompt 24
  • Why is there a huge statue in the middle of nowhere? Who are those people in the snow? Where are they all going?
    picture writing prompt 25
  • Where is this hot air balloon landing? Who is in that balloon? Why did they come here? What is this place?
    picture writing prompt 26
  • Who are these people? Why are they at the beach? When was this photo taken?
    picture writing prompt 27
  • What are those two people in the distance doing? Why are these three wolf pups looking at them? What is inside that vehicle?
    picture writing prompt 28
  • Who is this boy? What is he waiting for? Where did he come from? Why is he standing here?
    picture writing prompt 29
  • Who is that person? Why is he in the desert? What’s insider the palace? Where are those camels going?
    picture writing prompt 30
  • Is anyone in that car? Where is this event happening? Where was that car going?
    picture writing prompt 31
  • Who is that crow? Why is it looking at that raindrop? How did that girl get inside the raindrop?
    picture writing prompt 32
  • Where are these two horses? What is the relationship between the two? What are they talking about?
    picture writing prompt 33
  • How did this fire start? Where is this place? Who are those fightfigters?
    picture writing prompt 34
  • What is that fairy doing? Why is she near those flowers? Who is she?
    picture writing prompt 35
  • Who does this chess set belong to? Where is this place?
    picture writing prompt 36
  • Where is this bus stop? Who are those people? Where are they going?
    picture writing prompt 37
  • Who is this woman? Why is she holding an hourglass? What is doing outside at night?
    picture writing prompt 38
  • What is this fairy thinking about? Where is she sitting? What events happened to her before this scene?
    picture writing prompt 39
  • Why is that giraffe so big? Who is that boy? Where are they?
    picture writing prompt 40
  • Who is that girl? Why is she standing outside on a bench? What is this place?
    picture writing prompt 41
  • Who are these people? Where are they? Why are they shaking hands? What is that building in the background?
    picture writing prompt 42
  • Why is there a pumpkin in the forest? Who left it there? where is this place?
    picture writing prompt 43
  • Where is this squirrel standing? What is it thinking about? What will happen next?
    picture writing prompt 44
  • Who lives in these houses? Where is this place? What is happening inside?
    picture writing prompt 45
  • What is happening here? Who are those three people at the front at the scene?
    picture writing prompt 46
  • Who is that young girl? Why is she hugging a lion? What events happened before this scene?
    picture writing prompt 47
  • How are these two men related? Why are they holding weapons? Where are they standing?
    picture writing prompt 48
  • Why is this place empty? Where is this room? Does anyone live here?
    picture writing prompt 49
  • Who does this room belong to? What’s inside the wardrobe and desk? Where is this room?
    picture writing prompt 50
  • Where is this horse going and where did it come from? Why is it running in the snow?
    picture writing prompt 51
  • Who is this man? Why is he standing by the water? What has made him angry or upset?
    picture writing prompt 52
  • Who is this man? Where is he going? Does that camel belong to him?picture writing prompt 53
  • Where is this person going? How are they feeling? Who is this person?
    picture writing prompt 54
  • What are these two meerkats looking at? Where are they standing? How are they related?
    picture writing prompt 55
  • Where is this place? Why are the sheep standing inside a bus stop? How did they end up here?
    picture writing prompt 56
  • What makes this tree so special? Where can you find this tree? Why are oranges glowing?
    picture writing prompt 57
  • What is the cat saying to the mouse? Are they friends or enemies? Where are they?
    picture writing prompt 58
  • Who are these girls? Where are they? What is their relationship with each other?
    picture writing prompt 59
  • Where is this cat? What has made this cat angry? What will happen next?
    picture writing prompt 60
  • Who does this piano belong to? Where is this place? What happened here?
    picture writing prompt 61
  • What are the cats talking about here? What is their relationship? What happened before this photo was taken?
    picture writing prompt 62
  • What are these people chatting about? Why is the man on the left confused? Where are they?
    picture writing prompt 63
  • What is this girl looking at? Who is she? Where is she standing?
    picture writing prompt 64
  • Where are these two children going? What just happened to them? What is this place?
    65
  • Who is this bear? What is it watching on TV? Does it have any family and where are they?
    66
  • Who are these people? What is their relationship? Where are they sitting?
    67
  • Who are these boys? What are they playing? Where are they?
    68
  • Who lives in this building? Where is this place?
    69
  • Where is this person going? What is he looking at? How is he feeling?
    70
  • Why is this monkey hiding? Where is this place? What happened before this picture?
    71
  • What is the polar bear looking at? Who is that penguin? What will happen next?
    72
  • Why is this dog running? Where is this place? What is going to happen next?
    73
  • Who is this person? Why are they in a kayak? Where are they going?
    74
  • Where are these polar bears going? What is the older polar bear saying to the young ones?
    75
  • Why does this squirrel have a shopping cart of toilet paper? What is it looking at? Where is it going?
    76
  • What is this girl looking at? Why is there a skateboard behind her? Where is she standing?
    77
  • Where is this hedgehog going? Why is it carrying those leaves? What happened before this scene?
    78
  • Who is this woman? Why is she upset? Where is she sitting?
    79
  • Who are these children? Where are they? Why is the girl giving the boy a flower?
    80
  • Who are these people? Why is the girl in the cap hiding her face? Where is this place?
    81
  • Who is that person? Where is this place? Why is that person walking outside at night?
    82
  • Who is this girl? Where is she going? What is she thinking?
    83
  • Where are the person and dog? Why are they standing outside in the rain? What are they looking at?
    84
  • Who are these girls? What is their relationship with each other? How are they feeling in this picture?
    85
  • Who are these people? Why are they jumping in joy? Where are they?
    86

How to Use these Prompts

Picture prompts are the perfect writing stimulus especially when you hit writer’s block. Here are a number of ways you can use these picture writing prompts to spark your imagination:

  1. Descriptive Writing: Directly describe everything you see in extreme detail. You could even go beyond the physical appearance of things, and explore your other senses, such as smell, hear, feel and taste.
  2. Story-Telling: Pick just one image, and tell a whole story based on this one image.
  3. Story Starter: Similarly you can pick one image, and use it as the starting place of your story.
  4. Collaborative Story-Telling: In a group of 5 – 7 students, each student can have a random picture. The first student uses their picture as the story starter, and then the next student continues the story based on their own image. Keep going until the final student ends the story.
  5. Idea Generation: Pick one image and try to think of at least 3 story ideas related to that one image. 
  6. Daily Writing Challenge: Give your students 7 images, and tell them to write a description for each image every day. 

These are just some ways to use images as writing prompts. You can also check our post on 8 fun story-telling games using image prompts for more ideas.  Did you find our picture writing prompts useful? Let us know in the comments below!

picture writing prompts

Related Posts

Comments loading...