How to Get Kids Excited About Writing in the Age of AI

If you have an older elementary kid or middle schooler, you may have noticed something new in the last couple of years. When faced with a writing assignment, their response isn’t always, “I don’t know what to write.” Instead, it might be something like:

“Why should I write this when I could just have the computer do it for me?”

My own kids don’t have much experience using AI themselves yet, but they hear us talk about all the things it can do. They’ve heard me rant about how AI is being used to create stories, art, music, all of the things that are inherently human. 

So the kids draw a logical conclusion from these observations: Why struggle to get my ideas on paper when a machine can do it in seconds with only a few simple prompts? And with that hanging over our heads, how do we keep kids interested in writing? 

It’s something I’ve been asking myself a lot lately, and while I don’t have a clear answer, I’m choosing to look at it as an invitation to show kids how writing is still a valuable skill, even in the age of AI. 

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Why Writing Isn’t Obsolete

Yes, AI can generate words. But it can’t decide what’s important to the writer, shape ideas using a unique voice, incorporate lived experiences into the writing, or tell stories the way you as a writer want them told.

Writing is about communicating. It’s about connecting. At its heart, it’s still a very human practice. 

The Problem With Treating Writing as Another “Assignment”

I think this is where we as teachers and parents need to keep it creative. Maybe instead of focusing on word count and perfect grammar, we first emphasize the creative process. We show how valuable writing can be from a standpoint of expressing ourselves, we model it, we make it fun and engaging first, then get into the nitty gritty details later.

It’s natural for kids to want to find shortcuts when it comes to checking off a box. But if the writing process starts as something personal, something with a purpose beyond “Write a 500-word personal narrative about…”

AI feels appealing because it removes the struggle, it takes zero effort beyond typing in a good prompt, but it removes the most important part: ownership. Kids (and adults!) can’t learn to think through their ideas and organize their thoughts if they never practice writing them down themselves.

Writing Skills Kids Actually Need in the Real World

I think it’s also important to not frame writing as a “competition” with technology. We’ll never be faster than it, we’ll never be able to pump out as much content as an AI chat bot. But we have something it doesn’t, and that is truly original thoughts based on lived experiences. 

Writing is still a real skill that people use every day. This is where our Writer Career Study, part of our Career of the Week series comes in! People still want human-created work when it comes to careers like:

• Journalists and reporters

• Copywriters

• Graphic novelists (check out these blank graphic novel pages to get kids excited about making their own!)

• Content creators

• Game script writers

• Screenwriters

• Editors

• Bloggers

• Researchers

All of these professionals need to write clearly and persuasively. AI can assist, but humans still decide what to say, how to say it, and whether it works! Showing kids examples like this helps them see that writing is so much more than a busy work assignment to get done.

How to Reignite Excitement About Writing

So how do we get older kids interested again, even if they’ve started thinking, “Why bother?” Here are some strategies that have worked for us with younger kids, and for other moms I’ve talked to who are trying to keep their older kids excited about writing:

Give writing a purpose

Write letters to friends. Do you have an older kid who’s interested in politics? Have them research an issue and write a letter to a policymaker! Have them write guides for their favorite games, instructions for something they love doing, or reviews for real products they’ve actually used. All of this writing has a real audience or goal, and it eliminates the question: “What’s the point?” 

Keep it short and achievable

Questions of the day journals, fun creative micro-prompts, or one-paragraph reflections are a great way to get some daily writing practice in without causing overwhelm.

Focus on one skill at a time

When it comes to revising and editing, practice one skill like combining sentences, punctuation, or dialogue instead of correcting everything at once. We have an entire set of Skill-Specific Revising and Editing Practice Passages and Skill-Specific Task Cards that tackle each skill in a quick, accessible way!

Connect writing to careers

Highlight real-world examples, like journalists, authors, and game designers. Have kids research some current writers who are succeeding at writing (even in the age of AI!)

Make revision playful and low-pressure

Graphic organizers, sticky notes, or dry-erase pages help reduce overwhelm. Keeping the sessions short can help hesitant writers feel successful!

I like to start with having kids practice revising writing other than their own. It removes some of the pressure and gives you a chance to tackle individual skills specifically before kids have to tackle revision with their own creations.

We want kids to understand one big idea: writing is how ideas travel from your mind to someone else’s. AI can generate text, but it can’t choose what’s important to you, what you find funny, or how you feel. Writing teaches children to think, communicate, and make their ideas matter, which is a skill that never becomes obsolete.

So if your older kid is groaning about writing (or asking if they can just use AI) take a step back  and show them why it matters, remind them of all the potential careers and opportunities available to humans who write. Offer small, playful ways to practice. And most importantly, show them that writing is theirs.