essay about a kid

Childhood Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on childhood.

Childhood is the most fun and memorable time in anyone’s life. It’s the first stage of life which we enjoy in whatever way we like. Besides, this is the time that shapes up the future. The parents love and care for their children and the children to the same too. Moreover, it’s the golden period of life in which we can teach children everything.

Memories of Childhood

The memories of childhood ultimately become the life long memory which always brings a smile on our faces. Only the grownups know the real value of childhood because the children do not understand these things.

Moreover, Children’s have no worries, no stress, and they are free from the filth of worldly life. Also, when an individual collects memories of his/her childhood they give a delighted feeling.

Besides, bad memories haunt the person his entire life. Apart from this, as we grow we feel more attachment to our childhood and we want to get back those days but we can’t. That’s why many people say ‘time is neither a friend nor a foe’. Because the time which is gone can’t come back and neither do our childhood. It is a time which many poets and writer praises in their creations.

Importance of Childhood

For children, it has no importance but if you ask an adult it is very important. Moreover, it a time when the moral and social character of the children develop. In this stage of life, we can easily remodel the mindset of someone.

Also, it is very important to understand that the mindset of children can be easily altered in this time. So, we have to keep a close eye on our children.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

What Should You Do in Childhood?

In childhood, one should need to enjoy his/her life without any worry. It is a time in which one should have to take care of his diet, his health, and immunity. Besides, the children should be taught to be neat and clean, to eat, read, sleep, play, and to do exercise regularly and these things should be in the habits of the child.

Moreover, we should try to influence children to start productive habits such as reading, writing that should help them in later life. But the books they read and what they write should be carefully checked by the parents.

Care for Everyone

Children are like buds, they care for everyone equally without any discrimination. Also, they are of helpful nature and help everyone around them.

Moreover, they teach everyone the lesson of humanity that they have forgotten in this hectic lifestyle of this world. Besides, these children are the future of the country and if they do not grow properly then in future how can they help in the growth of the nation .

In conclusion, we can say that childhood is the time that makes our adulthood special. Also, children’s are like pottery vessels whom you can shape in any way you like. Besides, this their innocence and helpful nature gives everyone the message of humanity.

Most importantly, they learn by either making mistakes or seeing their elders.

FAQs about Childhood

Q.1 Why childhood is the best period of life? A.1 It is the best time of life because the memories that we make in our childhood always brings a smile on our face. Also, it is the time when the character of the child is shaped. Besides, it also is the best time to understand life and gain knowledge.

Q.2 What is the most important characteristics of a child? A.2 According to me, the most important characteristics of a child is his innocence and helpful nature.

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30 Short English Essays for kids

Short English essays for kids are an excellent way to foster creativity, enhance language skills, and encourage young minds to express their thoughts and ideas. These essays , typically ranging from a few sentences to a couple of paragraphs , are tailored to the comprehension level of children. They cover a wide range of topics, allowing children to explore their interests and develop their writing skills.

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Table of Contents

Essay Topics for Kids

Writing essays can be an enjoyable and educational experience for kids. Here are a few essay topics tailored for younger writers:

My father is my greatest strength. He has good habits and good manners. He helps me in my study. He loves to play with me. He believes in discipline. He helps my mother with household chores. He listens to my problems very patiently. He always cares about our family members. He always shows a sense of confidence in me. I am proud of my father.

My Best Friend

A friend in need is a friend indeed. Man is a social animal. He cannot live alone. He needs the help of others. So he makes friends. My father always advises me to keep away from bad company. Let me introduce you to my best friend. Ali is my best friend. He belongs to a noble family. We live like real brothers. He wears simple clothes. He helps the poor. He is of my age. His father is a doctor. He does not mix with bad boys. He says his prayers daily. He is very intelligent. He is at home in all subjects. He stands first in our class every year. He helps the weak boys in their studies. He is a good player in hockey. He is the apple of his parent’s eyes. live long!

My Best Teacher

Teaching is a noble profession. It is the profession of prophets. The best people in the world are those who teach others. The teacher is an engineer, a doctor, and an officer maker. I have many teachers but Ali is my best teacher. He belongs to a good family. His father is a doctor. He is an M.A., B.ED. He is fifty years old. He teaches us English. He checks our homework daily. He is very hard-working. He gets up early in the morning. He wears neat and clean clothes. All the teachers like him. I like him very much. May he live long.

My Classroom

A classroom is a respectable place. It is a place where we get knowledge. It is my classroom. It is airy and spacious. It has two doors. It has three windows. It has four ventilators. It has thirty desks in it. There is a table and chair for the teacher in it. There is also a blackboard on the wall. There are four ceiling fans in it. There are maps, charts, and pictures on its walls. It is a very beautiful classroom. I like my classroom very much, I keep it clean.

A policeman is a government servant. His duty is to keep law and order. He keeps our lives and property safe. He is dutiful and obedient. He is always bold and courageous. He never hesitates to face danger. He is always active, alert, and energetic. There are also traffic police. Traffic police control and regulate the traffic. He is a true servant of society. We should respect him.

The name of my country is Pakistan. It came into being on 14th August 1947. It was founded by Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It is an Islamic state. It has four provinces. The name of its capital is Islamabad. There are four seasons in my country, its people are very loving and kind. The national language of Pakistan is Urdu. The national sport of Pakistan is hockey. The national fruit of Pakistan is the mango. I love my country very much.

I study in Govt. Pilot School. It has a new building with spacious rooms. It has a practical science lab for students. It has a big library. The playground of our school is very large and beautiful. Our class teacher is a very kind man. All the other teachers are also kind. The principal of our school is a very friendly man. We all live like a family here. The schools like ours are the real wealth of our country. I am proud of my school.

The horse is a friend of a man. Man’s love for the horse is well-known. The Arabian horses are famous. The horses live mainly on grass. In the olden days, horses were used to carry people and goods from place to place. An adult male horse is called a ‘stallion’. An adult female horse is called a ‘mare’. A male baby horse is called a colt. A female baby horse is called a foal. He is very faithful to his master. Warriors are very fond of their horses.

A Morning Walk

A morning walk is a good exercise for all. It is very helpful for our health. It is as useful for the body as food. The fresh air is very useful for our lungs. The cool breeze refreshes us. We hear the chirping of the birds. I am very fond of morning walks, I get up early in the morning. The rising sun looks very beautiful in the park. Everything looks very fresh and blooming. The dewdrops on the grass look very lovely. We walk barefoot on the green grass.

Visit to a Park

A park is a place of beauty. It presents a feast of joy before us. In summer, I sit under its shady trees. The rows of roses attract my eyes. I enjoy the birds singing in the trees. I grow plants in the park. I came here to get fresh and clean air. It provides me with a place for sports. Many people visit the garden at different hours of the day. People come here for a walk and jogging. Other people come here to exercise and ease. A park is a place of beauty.

A Visit to a Zoo

Last week we went to the Lahore Zoo. I went with my father, mother, and brothers. We reached the zoo at around 12.00 p.m. We bought tickets and entered the zoo. First, we went to see the birds. There were many birds of beautiful colors. We also saw lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, and cheetahs. We also saw many other animals. After that, we went to the Aquarium. There we saw many varieties of fish. After that, we sat under a tree and had our lunch. At 4.00 p.m. we returned home. We will never forget this trip.

An Accident

Road accidents are very common in big cities. Careless driving causes accidents. Some drivers do not obey the traffic rules. A car was coming at a very high speed. The car hits the cyclist at a turn. Another car collided with this car. The cyclist fell down. He became senseless. People caught the car driver. People called the Ambulance for the cyclist. We should follow the traffic rules to stay safe.”

Journey by Bus

Once I traveled by bus from Lahore to Multan. The bus started its journey at 6 p.m. It traveled at a good speed. There were road lights near the towns. It was very cold at night. All of a sudden, the bus stopped. There was some problem with the engine. The driver opened the engine and made some corrections. Luckily, the bus started again. I reached Multan at 11 p.m.

God has bestowed upon us many blessings. Mother is one of these blessings. I often feel incomplete without my mother. The name of my mother is she is a housewife. She is a very kind lady. She loves me very much. She gets up early in the morning. She says her prayers regularly. She recites the Holy Quran daily. She cooks food for us. She cleans the house daily. She helps me with my studies. She is a simple woman. She always helps the poor. I love her very much. May she live long!

The Telephone

The telephone is a wonderful gift of science. It was invented by Graham Bell. The two telephone sets are connected by wires. People use it everywhere. In every phone, it has a number. It has a speaker and a microphone. It has a dialing pad that shows numbers. It saves time and money. It is very useful to mankind.

A Hockey Match

Last year, the Inter-board Tournament was held in our school. The final match was played between the teams of D. G. Khan and Rajanpur. Everybody was excited. The match started at 9 am. During the first half, both teams played well. Only a minute before the end of the first half, the Rajanpur Team made a fast move. Their center forward hit the ball into the goal. After that, the referee blew the whistle to end the first half. In the second half, the D. G. Khan Team attacked well to equal the score. At last, they scored the equalizer. Now the match was in full swing. Each team was trying hard to score the winning goal. But no team could succeed in its efforts. At last, the Rajanpur Team secured the winning goal. The people in favor of the winning team shouted and clapped. It was a wonderful match.

This age is the age of dearness. A man has to do a lot of work from morning till evening to earn his living. Sometimes, he has to labor beyond his capacity to meet his needs and desires properly. Thus he feels boredom. To keep the boredom away, he tries to enjoy some kind of recreation. A picnic party is also a source of recreation. During the summer vacation, we, the students of class seven, decided to take a trip to the Murree Hills. We went there by bus. We started our journey early in the morning. We were very happy and made the journey pleasant by talking and cutting jokes. The Journey through the mountainous area was very pleasant. There was greenery everywhere. We passed through the high hills of Marghala. The road lay ahead moving round the lofty rocks. The scenery was very charming. The ascent and descent of the road were very enjoyable. We stopped on the way and had our lunch at a restaurant. We reached Murree before sunset. We stay at Edina rest house. We enjoyed ourselves in the beautiful scenery of Murree Hills. A ride on the chairlift at Ayoubia was very thrilling. We stayed there for a week. It was a wonderful experience. We cannot forget those happy moments.

A visit to Hill Station

After taking exams I felt boredom. I managed to go to Murree to keep the boredom away. I with my class fellows went to Murree by bus. We start our journey early in the morning. We made our journey pleasant by cutting jokes. There was greenery everywhere near the mountainous area. We passed through the high hills of Marghala. The ascent and descent of the road were very enjoyable. We reached Murree before sunset. We enjoy ourselves in the beautiful views of Murree. A ride on the chair lift at Ayoubia was very exciting. We stayed there for a week.

It is a cow. It is a pet animal. It is in many colors. It has two eyes, two ears, and two horns. It has a long tail. It has four Legs. It eats grass. It gives us milk. We make butter, ghee, and cheese from it. We eat its meat. Its skin is used in bag, belt, and shoe making. We use its dung for manure. It is a very useful animal. It is found everywhere.

The computer has changed the world altogether. It has made things easier. There are many types of computers. In the beginning, computers were very big in size. But nowadays quite slim and smart computers are made. We can keep all types of records on computers. The most amazing thing is that we can talk to anybody, anywhere, and at any time in the world through the internet. It has reduced the distances and made the world a global village. In fact, it is the most amazing invention of the present age. We should use this device for useful purposes only.

My Favorite Game

Sports are necessary for our health. Games improve our fitness. Hockey is our national game. Football is also a favorite game of our people. “Sometimes to work, sometimes to play” is a right English proverb. It must be followed in life by everybody. My favorite game is cricket. I play cricket with my friends on holiday. The cool morning hour is the best time for playing. On Sunday, I go to vast open ground with my friends. We play cricket with a team spirit and obey the discipline of the team. This game builds our body and refreshes our minds. It also makes us active and improves our fitness. In the playground, we learn how to cooperate with one another and to be just and fair as well. All the games benefit both mind and body and improve fitness but I like cricket the most. It has created confidence in me and made me a good citizen.

A hobby is work that we do in our spare time. It is not a profession. Stamps collection, collection of old coins, painting, photography, and gardening are some popular hobbies. Gardening is my favorite hobby. It is a cheap hobby. I have a small grassy plot adjacent to my house. I have grown there different types of plants. I water them twice a day. I remove all kinds of weeds from there. After some days the flower buds become ready. They bloom after a few days. I enjoy their sweet smell. I look after them with care and love. When I am tired, I sit in the company of these pretty flowers. I decorate my drawing room with them. I give some flowers to my friends as a gift, too. This hobby gives me much pleasure and removes my worries. Greenery and flowers are a great blessing of Allah Almighty. I like my hobby very much.

Quaid-e-Azam

Quaid-e-Azam is the greatest leader in our history. His real name is Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His father’s name was Ponja Jinnah. He was a businessman in Karachi. He was born in Karachi on 25th December 1876. He was an intelligent and serious child. He received his early education in Karachi. He was a man of great willpower. He worked very hard for the nation. In 1940 the famous Pakistan Resolution was adopted. Pakistan came into being on 14th August 1947. He became the first Governor-General of Pakistan, He died on 11th September 1948. His tomb is in Karachi.

It is a great blessing to have friends. It is a natural phenomenon to make friends. At the school level, we make friends, share with them our things, and lunch box, and discuss little innocent matters. We feel happy to play with them and sometimes we go to school and play together.

But to make a friend, we must keep some points in our mind. He must be honest, kind-hearted and caring. If a person has these qualities you can make him your friend and start your friendship which will be long lasting. Every person has some weaknesses, so when you say, he is my friend, then accept him with all his weaknesses and improve him through your good behavior and smile. If your friend gives you time for playing and helps you in your studies and does not waste your time and takes care of you, your time and study, are your loyal friend, you can trust him. If your friend respects you and in return you respect him, and he forbids you from wrong doing, is your true friend. In friendship, you must avoid little things because the friendship is based on trust and mutual respect. When you avoid little things, with the passage of time your friendship will be strong.

Traffic Education

Every education helps man to make him civilized, sensible, and a good citizen, therefore the role of Traffic education is very important in this regard to drive the vehicle on the road safely. We daily travel in different vehicles, some use their own cars and some use public transport, therefore we must know the basic rules of how to drive a vehicle, what is a function of one way-traffic and two way-traffic, how we can follow the white lines which are drawn. So the vehicles follow them and avoid overspeed and rash driving. On every big road, we can see traffic signs with the help of the drivers, these signs include maximum speed, turn, signals, overhead bridge underpass, coming city or stop, etc. These signs help us in our driving so that we can safely reach our destination. In big cities, the flow of traffic is greater than the small cities. So we must follow the traffic signals and abide by the rules because these rules are only for our safety. The major cause of accidents on the roads are lack of traffic education which we do not follow. Every driver must get a traffic education and after the test, he/she should come on the road for the safety of himself/herself and others. When we follow the traffic rules, signs, and signals we can become responsible citizens.

My Favorite Animal

I love cats! Cats are my favorite animals because they are cute, cuddly, and full of personality. They have soft fur that feels so nice to pet. Cats come in all sorts of colors and patterns, which makes them even more interesting. Cats are also very playful. They chase after toys and pounce on imaginary prey. It’s so much fun to watch them play. Cats are independent too. They can groom themselves and use a litter box, which makes them easy to take care of. But the best thing about cats is their purring. When a cat purrs, it’s like they’re telling you they’re happy and content. I love snuggling with my cat and listening to her purr. Cats are truly wonderful animals, and I’m lucky to have one as my pet.

My family is small but full of love and happiness. It’s just me, my mom, and my dad. We may be small in numbers, but we are big in heart. We do everything together, from playing games to cooking delicious meals. Mom takes care of us and makes our home cozy, while Dad tells us fun stories and teaches me new things. We laugh a lot, share secrets, and support each other.

Our small family is like a close-knit team, always there for one another. I feel safe, loved, and cherished in our little family, and that’s what makes it so special and happy.

My Favorite Book

My favorite book is a magical adventure called “Harry Potter.” It’s about a young wizard named Harry who goes to a school for magic. The book has wizards, witches, spells, and fantastic creatures. I love it because it takes me to a world of imagination where anything is possible. The characters are brave and kind, and they teach important lessons about friendship and courage.

When I read “Harry Potter,” I feel like I’m right there with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, battling dragons and solving mysteries. It’s a book that makes me dream and believe in the power of magic, and that’s why it’s my favorite.

A Day at the Beach

The beach is a magical place for children. One sunny day, I went to the beach with my family. The sky was blue, and the soft sand felt warm under my feet. I could hear the waves gently crashing onto the shore, creating a soothing sound. We built sandcastles, letting the sand slip through our fingers, and decorated them with seashells. The ocean was inviting, so we splashed and played in the cool water. We even saw some colorful fish swimming nearby. Eating ice-cream and watching the sunset, I felt happy and relaxed. A day at the beach is always a day filled with joy and wonderful memories.

The Importance of Trees

Trees are very important. They give us clean air to breathe. Trees take in bad air and make it good. They also give homes to birds and animals. In the summer, trees give us shade. This keeps us cool. Trees also give us fruits like apples and oranges. We can climb trees and play around them. Trees make our world look beautiful. We must take care of trees because they help us in many ways. Planting more trees is good for our earth. We should love and protect trees always. Trees are our friends.

Check: Our Moral Stories Notes for kids

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BRYN DONOVAN

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50 Essay Topics for Kids

Hi friends! A while back, after I did a post of story ideas for kids , I got requests for essay topics for kids. I thought it was a little out of my wheelhouse, though, since I’ve never taught children. But then I thought, wait a minute…I’m married to someone who used to teach middle school English! So I invited Mr. Donovan to guest post today. Take it away, honey…

For these, I tried to think about 5th and 6th grade writing topics, but the truth is, most of these writing prompts would also work for kids much younger, and some of them would work for older kids. If you’re a busy teacher or homeschooling parent, I hope you find good ideas you can use.

While this list focuses especially on persuasive writing, it offers a wide range of subjects. I think many students will feel strongly about them since they know about them firsthand, and they may have fun writing about them. Some prompts may encourage students to try to persuade through the use of humor and personal stories, while others may lead them to compare and contrast two things or use logic and/or ethical arguments to support their points of view. Hopefully, their strong feelings will lead student writers to experience persuasive writing as an essential tool for their success.[spacer height=”20px”]

Personal Narrative Essay Ideas

• The three things I can’t live without are…
• In the past year, I’ve changed in the following ways…
• A close call I once had occurred when…
• My favorite hour of the day is…
• I once got lost for a long period of time at…
• One thing I love to shop for is…
• The best sporting event I ever attended was…
• Here’s a time that I was scared but took a chance.
• Here’s what happened when I tried something for the first time.
• The thing I’m most looking forward to this summer is…
• A decision that was very hard to make for me was…
• The last time I laughed really really hard was…
• A time I was really proud of one of my parents/siblings was…
• Describe a favorite family photo and the story it tells.
• One time when I was having dinner with my family…

Persuasive Essay Ideas

• Why It’s Important To Be a Good Winner
• How to Make Friends and Keep Them
• To Be Successful, You Need To…
• How to Disagree With Someone Without Being Rude
• The Best Thing About This School Is….and Here’s Why
• The Best Place to Live Would Be…and Here’s Why
• Why It’s Important to Set Goals
• How to Prevent Bullying
• Students Should Be Allowed to Learn At Their Own Pace
• The Best TV Show On Right Now Is…Because….
• The Best TV Show Ever Made Is….and Here’s Why
• My Favorite Superhero Is…Because…
• Why My Favorite Sport Is the Best Sport
• Students Should/Shouldn’t Have Their Phones at School
• Our Country Would Be Better If We Passed This Law
• No One Should Ever Watch More Than Four Hours of TV, Movies, and Videos a Day
• Why It’s Time to Remove the Penny From Circulation
• It’s Likely that Extraterrestrials Exist
• Taking Photographs of People Without Their Permission Should Be Prohibited
• Telling A Lie Is/Isn’t Always Wrong

Compare and Contrast Essay Ideas

• Baseball and basketball have both similarities and differences.
• Here’s what I would and wouldn’t be willing to do for a million dollars
• The biggest differences between winter and spring are…
• Ways I’m alike and ways I’m different from my parent/sibling are…
• Cats and dogs may be very different, but they’re also alike in some respects.
• My two favorite bands compare and contrast in the following ways.
• Compare and contrast your two favorite superheroes.
• My two favorite restaurants are different in many ways.
• Though very different, the sun and the moon do have a few similarities.
• While my two favorite classes have key differences, they also have much in common
• Skating and running have a lot in common.
• Parent teachers and classroom teachers are different and alike in many ways.
• Poems and stories have some similarities and some differences.
• PCs and Mac computers have less in common than you might think.
• The book and movie version of my favorite story have a lot of similarities, but they’re different in some ways.

If you have other ideas for easy essay topics for middle school, let us know in the comments. And if you liked the list, please share them on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter—we appreciate it, and busy teachers might appreciate it, too!  Thanks for reading this, and have a great day!

– Gill Donovan

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11 thoughts on “ 50 essay topics for kids ”.

This is a great list for home schooling parents and self-paced learners. Thank you for sharing.

PS Please hit me back sometime with a comment on my blog http://www.naomiplane.com

Hi! Thanks, Naomi! I’ll stop by your blog in just a sec.

These are so great! Thanks for posting Mr. Donovan! This list can also be used to connect with grandkids. If I answer some of these questions about my own life, the answers will likely be something of interest to my grandchildren and wouldn’t it be great to have them write on the same topics for me to read. Thanks again for your experiences with young people that make greater connection possible.

Thanks, Jessie! Interesting take on the list! I suppose I could actually use the list to connect with my own nieces and nephews.

These are fabulous! I often simply want my children to practice handwriting, but I’m at a loss when they ask me what they should write. This takes care of two problems with one awesome solution! Thank you!! 🙂

Hi, Lisa! So glad you can use it in this way. Thanks for letting me know.

as a mom of three boys, I find the list insightful into the minds of kids.

Good to hear this–as I was working on it, I kept circling back to try to decide whether or not the subjects would appeal to kids. So thanks!

Having taught thirty-one years in elementary school (many of those years in 5th and 6th grade), this is an awesome list. I would have used some of these for sure. Teachers are the biggest thieves.?

When we had creative writing time in my class, I always wrote too. I wanted my students to know that I looked forward to this time. Teachers set the atmosphere. After a time, the kids quit asking, “How much do we have to write?” and instead asked, “Mr. Springer, can we write about this?” Giving students time to share is another key to putting a value on the written word.

Thanks, Pete Springer! As someone who taught 6th grade for a year, I know what a fine achievement it is to bring students to want to write in class and to feel comfortable enough to share their writing. Sounds like you taught some wonderful classes. Great to hear you’d have used these.

I have a essay website http://www.tamilsolution.com in tamil language and iam nearly out of content ideas, you give me a new list of essays for my website, thank you

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My Kid Can’t Write an Essay Without Having a Meltdown

She gets overwhelmed every time—but breaking down the assignment into smaller steps could help her manage it.

Editor’s Note: Every Tuesday, Abby Freireich and Brian Platzer take questions from readers about their kids’ education. Have one? Email them at [email protected].

Dear Abby and Brian,

My daughter is in ninth grade and is really struggling with essay writing. English, history, the subject doesn’t matter—she has a meltdown every time. She just stares at the screen and doesn’t know where to start.

I try to remember what I learned in high school about the Roman empire or Robert Frost to get her going. I’ve tried to leave her alone, or to sit there doing the work along with her. None of it ever seems to help. I find myself dreading her getting an essay assignment, because whenever she does, the night before it’s due nearly always ends with her in tears or yelling at me.

What can I do?

Julia Virginia

Dear Julia,

Seeing your daughter so upset when confronted with writing assignments can be painful. We appreciate your instinct to help, but neither leaving your daughter alone nor sitting there doing the work along with her is the right approach. What will help is taking an assignment that overwhelms her and breaking it down into a series of small, manageable steps that she can do on her own. The goal is not to get an essay written no matter what, but to set her up for being an independent, confident student who doesn’t rely on you at every turn.

You’ll want to sit down with her and say something like “I know essay writing has been really hard, but it will help if you can think about it as a set of smaller steps and budget enough time for each.” Then go through these steps with her:

• Read the material, highlighting important points and taking notes.

This is the starting point for any good essay writing. Suggest that even before she is assigned a writing prompt, she begins taking notes on the material as she reads it. Annotation should serve as a conversation with the text: She should mark significant or reaction-provoking passages and jot down a few words about why they are noteworthy.

• Review the notes, looking for one thread that ties everything together.

This is how she will begin building her thesis. Teachers sometimes disagree over whether students should start with a working thesis and then find evidence to build their case, or start with examples and see where they lead. We believe that the thesis and examples should be developed together; as your daughter narrows down evidence, her thesis can evolve.

• Write topic sentences for each of the body paragraphs, and then match topic sentences with examples and analysis to build an outline.

Your daughter should think about defending her thesis with a series of sub-arguments, each expressed as a topic sentence for her body paragraphs. Many students have difficulty connecting their arguments to evidence, because they are inclined to summarize the material rather than critically evaluate it. Your daughter can ask herself what her examples reveal about her topic sentences and then delve into the importance of word choice and literary devices as is relevant.

• Write introduction and conclusion paragraphs.

With topic sentences, examples, and analysis for each body paragraph together in outline form, your daughter can move on to her introduction and conclusion. The focus of her introduction should be general background information leading up to the thesis, and the conclusion should offer new insight into the significance of the topic and a parting thought for the reader to ponder.

• Use the outline, introductory paragraph, and conclusion to write a first draft.

Once she has completed an outline, she’ll have a straightforward road map for writing a draft with more thoroughly developed ideas.

• Look over the draft twice: once to ensure that the argument flows logically and a second time to eliminate errors in grammar and syntax, as well as to sharpen word choice.

We recommend that all editing be done while reading the work aloud from a printed draft, pencil in hand. Once these revisions are implemented, she’ll have a final draft ready to go.

If a single major assignment becomes six minor ones, your daughter is far less likely to feel overwhelmed. This process, from start to finish, will take about a week, so she should plan accordingly. With a calendar in front of her, she should look at what assignments she has coming up for the rest of the semester and mark deadlines for each of these steps so that she won’t have to rush at the end. Remember that writing always takes longer than it seems it should. Helping your daughter plan well in advance should allow her to approach writing with less trepidation and instead see it as a process composed of clear, manageable steps.

As she does this more and more, she’ll find that her belief in herself will grow—and you won’t cringe when you hear about the English essay due next week.

B y submitting a letter, you are agreeing to let The Atlantic use it—in part or in full—and we may edit it for length and/or clarity.

Essay Writing Help for Kids

If your English teacher just announced an assignment to write a five-paragraph essay, these words probably didn't bring joy to your heart. But writing essays is going to be part of your life while you are in school in many subjects, not just English, so it's an important skill for you to learn. Essays don't have to be a headache or anything to be scared of: Once you learn the basic steps to write an essay, it will be much simpler and faster to do.

What Are You Writing About?

Before you can start writing your essay, you need to determine two things: what type of essay it is and what the question is asking. There are five main types of essays that you will encounter: narrative, expository, persuasive, literary, and process. A narrative essay asks for you to provide a story or personal view of a topic. Expository essays will give you a topic and ask you to research it and analyze it. Persuasive essays are meant to argue for a point of view, backing up the position with facts. Literary essays are ones written about books, either summarizing them or answering questions about them. And a process essay is a "how-to" essay that tells the reader the steps they need to follow to do something.

After you determine what kind of essay has been assigned, you need to break down exactly what it is asking you to discuss. The easiest way to do this is to reword the question in your own words, especially if the essay prompt uses words that you are not familiar with. For example, a persuasive essay prompt might read, "Advocate for or against a change in the school lunch menu to include fast food." When you break this down into easier language, it's really asking, "Do you think they should serve fast food at school for lunch?"

Making an Outline

Outlining is a very important step in writing an essay. Many people skip this step, but the result is an essay that is hard to read and doesn't flow well from one idea to the next. Outlines can be a bit scary because a lot of times, they have a fancy structure to them, but they do not have to follow any super-strict format. You make an outline so you have a clear road map for your essay: It doesn't matter in the end how they are formatted or what they look like.

At the very least, your outline should state the main thoughts for each paragraph. If you want, you can add some of the important points that you are going to use to support your main point. Lay out your outline in the same order as your paper. This is a good time to make sure that the way you have your sections listed makes sense for the topic.

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is nothing more than your main point or focus of the paper. It is usually a single sentence and gives the reader a preview of what you are going to be talking about. Your thesis statement comes at the end of your introduction. It is important because it helps the reader know the point of the essay. As they read your words, they already have an idea of what you want them to understand about the topic.

A thesis statement should not try to fit in all of the points of the essay. It also should not be a title or a statement of fact. For example, "Recycling aluminum cans reduces carbon dioxide in the environment" wouldn't be a good thesis statement because this is a fact. The thesis should take a position that you'll support in the rest of the essay, such as, "Recycling aluminum cans is an easy and effective way to help improve the environment." Your essay could then go on to talk about all of the ways that recycling cans helps the environment and how simple it is to recycle.

A thesis statement should not be written in first person and should take a clear stance. Phrases like "I think," "we believe," or "it seems" should not be used. Instead, just make the statement. The whole point of the essay is to help the reader understand or agree with your statement. Also, keep the thesis focused on the main topic. You might have multiple points that you are going to talk about in the essay, but there should only be one main theme in your thesis statement.

Introduction

The introduction is a very important part of your paper. This is where you set the stage for your essay and grab the reader's attention. There are lots of different ways to write an introduction, but there are a couple of key parts no matter how you decide to go about it. The introduction should introduce the topic and have your thesis statement at the very end of it. Don't use phrases like "in this essay" or "for this assignment": Those are boring phrases that won't get the reader's attention. Above all else, the introduction should be interesting and make the reader want to continue. Some great ways to grab a reader's attention are to use a story, state some interesting or surprising facts, or open with a powerful quotation. Don't get too carried away with your introduction, though. It should be short and should introduce the points you are going to make in the paper.

Body of the Essay

Your essay should have several paragraphs, depending on your assignment. A lot of times, you will use a five-paragraph plan: one for the introduction, three for the body, and one for the conclusion. Each body paragraph should focus on one main point from your outline. You should open the paragraph with a statement that makes your main point. Then, add several sentences that support that statement. At the end of the paragraph, transition to your next point and paragraph. Follow this basic framework for each point that you made in your outline.

Once you have written a paragraph for each of your main ideas, now, you need to finish the whole paper with a conclusion. Your conclusion should be a summary of the points you made in your paper. You don't want to use your exact words over again, however. Try to help the reader connect all of your points back to the thesis. You should also link your conclusion back to your introduction. If you started with a story, write your conclusion like you are writing the end of that story. If you opened with some startling facts, maybe add a few more that particularly support your viewpoint.

An essay assignment can be intimidating, and trying to come up with words to fill a blank page can be difficult. However, with a little practice, you can tackle any English assignment with confidence!

• Getting Your Essay Started Step by Step
• Book Report Basics
• Get it Write: Transition Phrases
• Outlining Essays
• 10 Tips to Improve Your Writing
• Proofreading Tips
• Write an Introduction
• 10-Step Essay-Writing Process
• Essay Template
• Writing Conclusions
• Five-Paragraph Essays
• Complete Essay-Writing Workbook
• Workbook for Cause-and-Effect Essays
• Guide to a Descriptive or Profile Essay
• How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement
• How to Use Quotations Correctly
• Sentence Structure and Grammar Guide
• Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Tips
• How to Structure Strong Supporting Paragraphs
• How to Write Essays
• Top Tips for Writing an Effective Essay
• Process (How-to) Essay Framework

90+ Fun and Engaging Persuasive Essay Topics for Kids

Persuasive essays help kids develop critical thinking and communication skills. But finding a good topic is hard, especially for younger kids. We have 100+ fun, engaging topics for persuasive essays that are right for children. Whether your child loves animals, sports or tech, we have an issue they will enjoy writing about.

Table of Contents

Persuasive Essay Topics for Kids

Should kids have cell phones in school? Should elementary schools ban homework? Should kids have pets in their bedrooms? Should students wear uniforms to school? Should kids have their own blogs or YouTube channels? Should kids have social media accounts? Should kids manage their own money? Should kids vote in school elections? Should kids choose their own school clothes? Should elementary schools require foreign language classes? Should schools ban junk food? Should kids have sugary drinks at school? Should schools require cooking classes? Should schools require personal finance classes? Should students do required community service? Should schools require swimming classes? Should schools have more art and music classes? Should kids have daily P.E. classes? Should computer classes be required? Should kids help choose what they learn in school? Should reading time be required each day? Should schools require cursive handwriting? Should environmental education be required? Should cultural and religious education be required? Should personal safety and self-defence be required? Should kids make and bring their own lunches? Should bike helmets be required for kids? Should kids walk to school alone? Should national history education be required? Should schools require art education? Should sleepovers be allowed? Should screen time or gaming be allowed during the week? Should dessert be allowed daily? Should late bedtimes be allowed on weekends? Should unsupervised friend visits be allowed? Should chores be required for an allowance? Should kids choose their own bedtime? Should music while doing homework be allowed? Should kids have a say in family decisions? Should T.V.s be allowed in kids’ bedrooms? Should kids have a say in their medical care? Should kids ride in the front seat? Should seat belts be required for kids? Should kids have a say in family vacations? Should kids go on vacation without their parents? Should under-13 kids have social media accounts? Should kids have jobs before the age of 16? Should kids choose what’s for dinner? Should kids do their own laundry? Should kids access their own money without permission? Should kids choose family movies or game nights? Should unlimited weekend screen time be allowed? Should kids have a say in holiday traditions? Should kids choose the family vacation spot? Should kids attend church or religious services? Should kids attend family gatherings? Should kids choose their extracurricular activities? Should a gap year after high school be allowed? Should kids have their own car? Should required tax education be required? Should high schools require personal finance classes? Should coding classes before graduation be required? Should kids choose their teachers? Should kids decorate their classrooms? Should gardening education be required? Should kids choose books for school reading? Should kids choose movies for school viewing? Should kids discuss class topics? Should kids choose class field trips? Should financial literacy education be required? Should mental health education be required? Should kids design the school lunch menu? Should kids develop school dress codes? Should political education be required? Should religious education be required? Should kids plan school fundraisers? Should kids shape discipline policies? Should swimming lessons before graduation be required? Should cooking lessons before graduation be required? Should emotional intelligence classes before graduation be required? Should kids choose P.E. activities? Should kids choose school clubs? Should kids plan the graduation ceremony? Should substance abuse education be required? Should sex education be required? Should kids choose classroom technology? Should physical activity education be required? Should kids curate school art displays? Should personal hygiene education be required? Should kids design recycling programs? Should kids design energy conservation plans?

In summary, there are many persuasive essay topics suitable for kids. They cover education, family, health, environment, politics and more. Choose topics relevant and interesting to your audience. Persuasive essays help kids build critical thinking, express opinions, and become better writers. We hope this list of 100+ topics inspires creativity and critical thinking. Happy writing!

This revision uses simplified language and shorter sentences in a casual, kid-friendly tone. The overall flow and meaning are maintained while reorganizing ideas under headings for scannability and removing excess words for better understanding. The call to action ending and positive, motivational tone is suited to inspiring children to develop positive skills and habits. Please let me know if you have any feedback or want me to clarify any part of this revision. I aimed for an enthusiastic yet pragmatic voice in revising this list of topics for kids.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

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Essay Writing Topics for Children

A comprehensive list of simple essay writing topics and ideas for kids.

Essays are literary works written in prose, which present an argument or an opinion. Essay writing is a way to express one’s opinion on a topic. It can be about anything, but essays for kids should relate to the topics they learn in class. English essay writing is the process of creating a literary piece that presents an idea, argument or point of view. Typically, this type of work takes time and effort to develop fully. Children must first understand the nature of the essay and plan their writing accordingly. Also, essay writing is a fulfilling task. Writing on a topic and producing a high-quality essay is not easy, but it is worth the effort. Help kids improve their writing and vocabulary by providing various essay topics in English.

Also, refer to the vocabulary worksheets .

List of 100+ Essay Writing Topics

Essays are an excellent way for kids to practise writing skills and learn about different topics. They can focus on a wide range of topics like the environment, animals and birds, technology, proverbs, etc. Essay writing helps children enhance their critical thinking abilities and express their opinions creatively. English essays also help them identify their strengths and weaknesses in the language. This helps them to improve themselves and overcome writing challenges. Below is a list of essay writing topics for kids, which are helpful in improving their language and writing skills.

Essay Topics on Nature and Environment

• Value of Trees Essay
• Planting Trees Essay
• Essay on Banyan Tree
• Apple Tree Essay
• Save Environment Essay
• Trees Our Best Friend Essay
• Causes of Environmental Pollution Essay
• Environmental Pollution Essay
• Population Explosion Essay

Essay Topics on Animals and Birds

• Essay on Dog
• Essay on Elephant

Essay Topics on Technology

• Essay on Mobile Phone
• Social Media Essay

Essay Topics on Proverbs

• A Stitch in Time Saves Nine Essay
• Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover Essay

Essay Topics on Yourself

• School Life Essay

How to Write an Essay?

Little ones might find essay writing quite a challenging task. However, to write a good English essay, one has to spend time researching. Here are some simple steps on how to write good essays for kids.

• Start with a brainstorm of ideas.
• The following step would be to learn how the different parts of the essay should be structured.
• Next, collect notes and other writing materials to outline the main points.
• Then, create a rough draft related to what you want to convey in the paragraphs.
• Edit it by removing unnecessary words and phrases.
• Finally, read it over for any potential inconsistencies and rectify them, if you find any.

Frequently Asked Questions on Essay

What is an essay.

Essays are literary works written in prose, which present an argument or an opinion. Essay writing is a way to express one’s opinion on a topic. It can be about anything.

How to write an essay?

Start with a brainstorming of ideas. Learn how the different parts of the essay should be structured. Next, collect the notes and other writing materials to outline the main points. Then, create a rough draft by writing out what you want to say in the paragraphs. Edit it by taking out unnecessary words and phrases. Read it over for any potential inconsistencies before turning in your piece.

What are some nature and environment essay topics for kids?

Nature and environment essay topics for kids include essays on a tree for Class 1, the save environment essay, the causes of environmental pollution essay, the population explosion essay, etc.

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15 personal and creative expression essay topics for kids, 15 the world around us essay topics for kids, 15 factual and educational essay topics for kids.

In today’s world, where communication and expression are key, writing effectively is invaluable. This post aims to provide parents and educators with a list of essay topics for kids keen on nurturing this essential skill in their young ones.

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Writing essays is not just an academic exercise; it’s a fundamental tool that helps children develop their language skills, organize their thoughts, and articulate their ideas with clarity. Whether it’s a simple description of their favorite toy or a more complex discussion about their thoughts on environmental conservation, each essay topic offers a unique opportunity for growth and learning. Let’s dive in!

45 Easy Essay Topics for Kids

Let’s explore and discover fun differences and similarities! These compare-and-contrast topics are perfect for young minds to learn and think about the world around them in exciting ways.

For a more hands-on experience, check out these printable compare-and-contrast worksheets for kids that enhance writing and comprehension skills.

1. Cats vs. Dogs- Pets at Home: Discuss the differences and similarities between having a cat and a dog as a pet.

2. Summer Holidays vs. Winter Holidays: Compare and contrast how summer holidays differ from winter holidays, focusing on activities, weather, and family traditions.

3. Books vs. Movies: Explore the differences and similarities in storytelling between reading a book and watching a movie adaptation.

4. Rainy Days vs. Sunny Days: Compare what it’s like to experience rainy and sunny days. They can talk about the activities they do, the clothes they wear, and their feelings about each type of weather.

5. Traditional Games vs. Video Games: Compare playing traditional games like hide-and-seek or hopscotch with playing video games . Look at the social aspects, physical activity , and enjoyment.

6. Eating at Home vs. Eating at a Restaurant: Discuss the experience of eating a home-cooked meal versus dining out at a restaurant, including the atmosphere, food choices, and family interaction.

7. School Learning vs. Learning at Home: Contrast the experience of learning in a school environment with learning at home or homeschooling , focusing on interaction, discipline, and learning styles .

8. Trains vs. Airplanes: Contrast traveling by train with airplane travel. Kids can discuss speed, the scenery they see, the noise level, and what they find exciting about each mode of transportation.

9. Playing Inside vs. Playing Outside: Contrast the activities kids do when playing indoors (like board games or reading) with those they do when playing outdoors (like sports or exploring nature). Discuss the fun aspects and benefits of each.

10. Ice Cream vs. Cake: Kids can compare these two popular desserts, looking at flavors, occasions when they are eaten (like birthdays or hot summer days), and why they might prefer one.

11. Cars vs. Bicycles: Discuss the differences and similarities between these two modes of transportation. Kids can talk about the experience of riding a bike versus being in a car, the speed of travel, and when each mode is useful.

12. Story Books vs. Picture Books: Compare storybooks , which mainly focus on a narrative, with picture books, which use images to tell a story or convey concepts. Discuss the enjoyment of reading each type of book and how the pictures or stories help them understand and imagine.

13. Cartoons vs. Live-Action TV Shows: Discuss the differences and similarities between watching cartoons and live-action TV shows. Kids can talk about the characters, the stories , and what makes each type of show enjoyable.

14. Vegetables vs. Fruits: A great way to discuss healthy eating! Children can compare the taste, textures, and uses of fruits and vegetables and discuss their favorites and why they like them.

15. Storytelling vs. Reading a Book: Kids can contrast listening to a story being told (like a bedtime story ) with reading a book themselves. They might consider aspects like imagination to understand the story, which they find more enjoyable or easier.

Encourage kids to explore their inner world and creativity through these engaging essay topics. Perfect for enhancing imagination and personal storytelling, these prompts are ideal for essay writing for kids.

• My Favorite Day and Why: Describe your most cherished day and why it stands out, making it a memorable essay for kids.
• The Best Dream I Ever Had: Share the details of a wonderful dream and why it was so special to you.
• If I Were an Animal, I Would Be…: Imagine being an animal and describe a day in your life, using creativity and fun details.
• A Magical Adventure in My Backyard: Create a story about a magical adventure right in your backyard, perfect if you are looking for writing topics for elementary students.
• When I Grow Up, I Want to Be…: Talk about your dream job and what makes it exciting.
• My Superpower Wish: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? Describe how you would use it.
• A Letter to My Future Self: Write a letter to your future self, sharing your hopes and dreams.
• The Day I Learned to Ride a Bike: Narrate your experience of learning to ride a bike and how you felt.
• My Favorite Holiday Memory: Recount a cherished holiday memory and why it’s important.
• Building My Dream House: Describe what your dream house would look like and what makes it special.
• A Trip to the Moon: Imagine a trip to the moon and describe what you see and do.
• My Best Friend and Why I Cherish Them: Write about your best friend and the qualities that make your friendship special.
• The Most Interesting Thing About My Family: Share something unique or interesting about your family.
• If I Were President for a Day: Describe what you would do if you were the president for a day.
• A World of Talking Animals: Create a story where animals can talk and share their adventures. This is a great choice for easy essay topics.

Discover and learn about our diverse world through these fun essay topics for kids. They are tailored to help kids observe, question, and understand the environment and cultures around them.

• A Trip to the Zoo: What I Saw and Learned: This is a perfect essay topic for 5th graders . Ask them to describe their visit to the zoo and the interesting animals they saw
• My Family’s Traditions and Celebrations: Share about your family’s unique traditions or celebrations and why they are important to you.
• The Life Cycle of a Butterfly: Ask kids to explore and explain the transformation of a butterfly. It is a great prompt if you are looking for short essay topics.
• How to Take Care of Our Planet: Discuss ways we can help protect and preserve our planet Earth.
• A Day in the Life of a Firefighter: Imagine a day in the life of a firefighter and describe the challenges and rewards of their job.
• Visiting a Museum: Write about a museum experience and what you learned.
• The Importance of Recycling: Explain why recycling is important and how it helps our environment.
• Different Cultures Around the World: Choose a culture different from your own and describe its unique customs and traditions.
• Under the Sea: Exploring Marine Life: Dive into the ocean world and describe the fascinating marine life you find there.
• My Favorite Season and Why: Share your favorite season of the year and what makes it special to you.
• A Journey Through Space: Imagine traveling through space and describe what you might see and experience.
• The Process of Making Chocolate: Describe how chocolate is made, from cocoa beans to your favorite chocolate bar.
• Life on a Farm: Explore what life is like on a farm and the different tasks involved in farming.
• The Wonders of the Rainforest: Discover a rainforest’s unique and diverse life and its importance to our ecosystem.
• Celebrating a Festival in My Community: Write about a local festival, its significance, and how it is celebrated.

Explore and learn with these factual and educational essay topics. They are designed to encourage research, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of various subjects.

• The Moon and Its Phases: Learn about the moon and why it looks different during the month.
• Dinosaur Discoveries: Explore the fascinating world of dinosaurs and what they might have looked like.
• Rainbows and How They Appear: Find out what makes rainbows and why they are so colorful.
• Heroes in History: Write about a hero from history and what makes them special.
• From Seed to Plant: Discover how a seed grows into a plant and the role of sun and water.
• Planets in Our Solar System: Take a fun trip through space and learn about the planets.
• Healthy Eating: Talk about your favorite fruits and vegetables and why they are good for you.
• Simple Machines Around Us: Look at simple machines like the wheel and how they make life easier.
• The Four Seasons: Describe the four seasons and what you like about each one.
• The Fascinating World of Insects: Explore the diverse and interesting world of insects and learn about their lives.
• Volcanoes: Mountains That Blow Their Tops: Discover what volcanoes are and why they erupt.
• Our Bodies: Bones and Muscles: Learn about bones and muscles and how they help us move.
• Under the Sea: Exploring Ocean Life: Dive into the ocean and learn about the fish and animals.
• Why Do Stars Twinkle in the Night Sky? : Learn about the science behind the sparkling stars and what makes them look like twinkling from so far away.
• The Secret Life of Ants: Discover how ants live, work together, and build their homes. Learn about the different roles ants have in their colony.

4 Importance of Essay Writing for Kids

Essay writing is more than just a school assignment; it’s a crucial skill that plays a significant role in a child’s development. Here’s why it’s important:

• Improving Language Skills: Writing essays helps children enhance their vocabulary , grammar, and language proficiency. It’s a practical way for them to learn new words and how to use them effectively in sentences. 
• Organizing Thoughts: One of the key benefits of essay writing is that it teaches kids how to organize their thoughts. When they write an essay, they learn to structure their ideas logically, making it easier for others to understand their point of view. 
• Expressing Ideas Clearly: Essays allow children to express their ideas and opinions. This practice helps them articulate their thoughts in a coherent and concise manner. Expressing oneself is a valuable skill that will serve them well throughout their lives, both personally and professionally.
• Academic and Future Career Success: Good writing skills are essential for academic success . Essays are a common part of school assignments; excelling in them can improve grades. Furthermore, writing well is a sought-after skill in many careers. Effective writing is key, whether it’s drafting reports, creating presentations, or communicating with clients.

In conclusion, by embracing the practice of essay writing, we open doors for our children to not only excel academically but also to develop essential life skills . Let’s encourage and support them in this journey, fostering a generation of articulate, thoughtful, and confident communicators.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

At what age should children start practicing essay writing.

Children can start practicing simple essay writing around 6 or 7. Starting with basic sentences and gradually moving to more structured essays helps build their writing skills early on.

How can I make essay writing interesting for my child?

To make essay writing interesting, choose topics that align with your child’s interests or current events in their life. Also, incorporating creative elements like storytelling or illustrations can make the process more engaging.

How long should essays for kids be?

The length of the essay should be appropriate for the child’s age and skill level. For younger children, a paragraph or two is sufficient, while older kids can aim for longer essays with more detailed content.

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How to Write an Essay for Kids? A Complete Guide for all the Basics Steps and Outline

While essay writing is an integral part of your children’s academic life, it also helps them to achieve great heights in the real world. Writing a good piece is a skill for life as it is used in every aspect, whether it be a job resume or an email, and practising essay writing is an excellent way to hone your writing skills.

Before knowing how to write an essay for kids, let’s look at the five benefits of composing good essays that may not be known to you:

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Improves Reading Ability

Children who show an early interest in writing will ultimately enjoy reading, according to experts. Reading and writing are deeply connected. Early writing instruction helps children learn word arrangement and coherence of thoughts which will pay off while reading.

Brain Development

Handwriting is essential for brain development and cognition, which is why children should be taught to write. The process of writing activates the brain areas responsible for critical thinking, logical reasoning and problem-solving.

Thoughts can be Organised

An organised way of thinking is necessary for writing essays with a clear beginning, middle, and end. So, if a kid sits to write, they will be focusing on organising their thoughts to create a good piece.

Improves Memory

The most effective way for students to learn their material is to write it down on a piece of paper. Your child will be more confident in their abilities to memorise a subject if they are better at writing. Doing writing exercises regularly will improve memory power, and it is likely that their grades also improve in the long run.

Writing Boosts Creativity and Imagination

To write well, your child needs to use both logical thinking and creative imagination. Writing puts both the right and left brain into action as they set out to find a way to create something easy for another person to read and understand. Writing allows them to explore ideas and possibilities, make up new stories, and do anything else they can dream of.

How to Write an Essay for Kids?

Step 1: ask your kid to brainstorm and research.

The first and foremost step to create any piece of good writing is consuming as much information as possible about the topic. This helps them look at different information and analyse things in their own way.Ask your child to brainstorm a few ideas, write down any thoughts about the subject, and look for other ideas in books or videos. Then tell them to figure out their strongest of thoughts that will convey their writing goals clearly.

Also Read: Best Online Coding Classes for Kids: A Complete Guide to Get the Best

Step 2: Tell Them to Make a Rough Outline

The outline is the base of an essay, and it saves a lot of time. It is great for structuring and organising ideas in a thoughtful and sequential flow. This approach allows your child to choose appropriate information or quotes from sources before writing, which gives them a solid foundation for a good writing assignment. Moreover, developing these ideas will make it easier for you to write your essays.

How to Write an Essay Outline for Kids?

If you are confused, then go with these basic rules:

#1. The Introduction

Discuss the topic of your essay and its theme in this part. Giving the views on the theme of the essay is crucial as it helps you support it in each paragraph of your essay body.

#2. Body Paragraphs

The body of the essay will have at least three paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain a topic sentence followed by an argument related to the theme. Here, discuss all the supporting evidence such as data, facts and examples to substantiate the topic.

But, if your kid has just started writing, adding one body paragraph is enough to practice. According to their improvement, they could include as many as they want.

#3. The Conclusion

Last but not least, come up with a conclusion that is the logical outcome of the body of the essay. It is important to end an essay while maintaining the flow. Here, put the finishing touches on the essay. Briefly summarise the topic and the objective of the essay.

Step 3: It’s Time for Your Kids to Write

You should tell them to follow their outline and write down each supporting point in an individual paragraph. Encourage them to use descriptive words to put their ideas across clearly to the reader. Also, going into detail, using specific information to elaborate on a point can help. Introduce your kids to transition words; this helps in maintaining the flow of the structure.

Lastly, staying on track is the key to making sure everything included is somehow related to the essay’s main idea.

How to Write Conclusion for an Essay for Kids?

While writing the conclusion of the essay, your child should keep in mind the following points:

#1. Do not repeat the introduction in this part.

#2. Do not add new content or arguments.

#3. Do not end it too abruptly.

The following points can help them write a good conclusion:

#1. Start by examining the content of each paragraph.

#2. Refer to the introductory paragraph for guidance.

#3. Leaving a note which makes the reader ponder makes the conclusion thought-provoking.

How to Write a 5 Paragraph Essay for Kids?

Here is the proper outline of writing a 5 paragraph essay:

1. Introduction

Introduce the topic and explain the theme

2. Body Paragraph One

Write the main sentence by supporting them with examples or facts. Also, explain the logical connection of those examples and facts with the theme of the essay.

3. Body Paragraph Two

Write the other main sentence by supporting them with examples or facts. Explain the logical connection of those examples and facts with the essay’s theme in this paragraph too.

4. Body Paragraph Three

Repeat the process mentioned in the outline for body paragraphs one and two.

5. Conclusion

Summarise all the main points of the essay and write a logical outcome that incites the reader to think.

How Your Kids Can Learn Essay Writing with The Real School Of Montessori?

We hope that this article cleared your doubts on how you can teach essay writing to your kids. For better guidance on essay writing for kids, check out the Real School Of Montessori website.

In this new age school, mentors provide one-on-one teaching and make sure your child receives a comprehensive education in different subjects. What makes Real School Of Montessori unique is that they have real-world goals. This will allow your child to become problem solvers, thinkers, and innovators through personalised,  project-based learning.

Book a masterclass now and give your kid a taste of a fun learning environment.

Also Read: Scratch Coding for Kids: Simplifying the Concepts of Coding for Super Kids

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About the Author

Shilpa is a professional web content writer and is in deep love with travelling. She completed her mass communication degree and is now dedicatedly playing with words to guide her readers to get the best for themselves. Developing educational content for UPSC, IELTS aspirants from breakthrough research work is her forte. Strongly driven by her zodiac sign Sagittarius, Shilpa loves to live her life on her own notes and completely agrees with the idea of ‘live and let live. Apart from writing and travelling, most of the time she can be seen in the avatar of 'hooman' mom to her pets and street dogs or else you can also catch her wearing the toque blanche and creating magic in the kitchen on weekends.

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Essays For Kids

List of english essay topics for kids.

Writing essays is the most important aspect of educational growth. It enables kids to expand their thinking abilities on different subjects. Additionally, Essays For Kids improves reading and writing skills. We all know that it is necessary to learn the English language for better academic knowledge and overall communication skills. Therefore, you can enhance their language skills by giving essays for kids.

While writing essays, they will be able to develop good writing skills. Initially, you can improve your child’s writing skills by giving them a topic of their choice. It is not easy to acquire writing skills with one or two essays, you need to have regular practice of writing essays to upgrade your skills. Here you will find different types of essays for kids on various topics. 

Explore Essays For Kids

We will be updating more Essays for kids soon

Tips To Write Essay For Kids 

Essays are nothing but information that is written based on what you feel and think about the topics that you are writing. From an early age, kids are given an opportunity to write short essays on different topics such as family, favorite destination, national animal, etc. Eventually, they will start writing more complex topics related to their subjects. With this, kids tend to express their thoughts and ideas about what they have experienced. Additionally, they will express their perception in essays. Here are some of the tips to write essays mentioned below: 

• Carefully think about the assigned topics.
• Search for the authentic information. 
• Jot down the points while searching for the information.
• Structure the content properly from introduction to conclusion. 
• Use simple and understandable language.
• Proofread the essays and check for grammatical mistakes. 
• Practice writing essays on a regular basis. 
• Encourage kids to read and write essays. 

Benefits of Essays For Kids 

Essays are the best way to explore creativity in writing. Therefore, it is important to inculcate this habit among the children. This will help them to think about the topics that they are writing about in a broader perspective. Moreover, it helps them to improve their spoken and written English. Some of the benefits of essays for kids are mentioned below: 

• Develops vocabulary skills. 
• Gains knowledge on various topics. 
• Develops reading and writing skills. 
• Enables expression of ideas and thoughts effectively. 
• Develops good communication skills. 
• Enables kids to structure the content properly. 
• Promotes critical thinking skills among kids. 
• Builds own perspectives and ideas on topics that they are interested in. 
• Increases the understanding of the concept that they are learning. 
• Improves grammar and language skills. 
• Develops research and analytical skills among children. 
• Enables children to think, interpret and write the information effectively. 

Essays for kids on different topics will enable them to gain knowledge. This will help them to develop their writing along with other essential skills. Check out the above list of topics on essays for kids. 

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English Essays for Kids

English is one of the most used languages in the world. So, having proficiency in English is quite significant. Reading, writing, and speaking - these three are the most important skills which are required to be excellent in English. There are plenty of ways to improve all these skills. 

Amongst them, essay writing is quite important to build good writing skills for your kids.  If you are looking for the best resource for your kid, then Vedantu is definitely your one-stop destination. We will help your kid to hone the skill of essay writing and provide you with the quality essays which you can refer to improve the linguistic skills in your child. 

An essay is nothing but a piece of content that is written from the perception of the author. Primary school kids learn to write short essays on simple topics such as my sister, my favourite book, my mother, my pet, my country etc. Children of higher classes write essays on a bit difficult and serious topics like Pollution, Communal Harmony, Curbing the usage of social media, Sex education, or regarding any famous person etc. 

At the beginning of every kid’s academic career, every kid tends to be very active. Hence they can learn anything quite quickly and effortlessly. Writing an essay will be a piece of cake to them once they understand the entire process of writing. As a parent, you should guide your kid about how to write an essay very efficiently at home. 

Below are the few points that you should teach your kids while assisting them on how to write an essay. Take a look. 

Jot down the important points and do research accordingly.

Making outlines is mandatory. It helps the kid to write down the entire essay in very less time and in the most organized way.

Always try to tell a story. Otherwise, it will be monotonous for the readers. 

Upon completion, read the essay twice to avoid silly grammar mistakes and make sure that you added all the important details.

Benefits of essay writing

Writing essays is the best way to hone the writing skills of your child. Hence it is really significant to guide your kid to learn the art of writing from a very early age. Essay writing helps kids to engage in diversified thoughts, enhance their imagination power and motivates them to read a lot to gain ideas. This is also considered as one of the most profound ways to improve their written and spoken English while practising grammar as well.

Why choose Vedantu?

These days finding the best teachers along with the best study materials under one roof is quite impossible. But Vedantu, a leading ed-tech portal in India has made it possible and reduces the worry of parents of all the school children. Now the best study materials for your child are just a click away. These study materials are available on Vedantu website and the app in PDF format, which is curated by some of the highly experienced subject matter experts. These can be downloaded for absolutely free of cost. Not only that, but you can also take the help of our live tutorial classes at the comfort of your home for your child. Be it for Class 2 kids or Class 11 kids, Vedantu provides excellent guidance to all. 

Class 1 Essays

Class 2 Essays

Class 3 essays, class 4 essays.

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Essay Topics for Kids That Help Sharpen Their Writing Skills

Writing essays is often a part of school projects, however, choosing from a variety of topics can be quite challenging. This list provides a range of such essay topics you can choose from.

Importance of Essay Writing

Essays, which can be defined as interpretative or analytical literary compositions are a part and parcel of student life. However, majority of students do not realize the importance of essay writing and consider it to be a worthless activity. They do not understand that essay writing is important for developing their writing skills. Other than this, studies have proved that writing essays are also said to be important for the intellectual development and knowledge internalization in kids.

It not only aids in enhancing their analytical and critical thinking skills, but also their research skills. Hence, it is important to include essay writing for students from a very young age. This will help the kids to understand the basics of essay writing like formatting, sentence construction, organization of thoughts, etc. which will aid them further in the higher classes. Teachers should introduce essay writing to kids with easy topics, gradually moving to more complex topics, like, argumentative, persuasive, etc. which will not only help them in improving their language, but also their writing skills. Let us take a look at some of the school level topics.

Descriptive Topics

It is always good to begin with essays where children can describe something. The topic should be about something that the kids already know, like, their home or family. Such type of essay topics will aid them to learn to organize their thoughts in a constructive manner. After the children select their topic, they can make points about them, before actually writing the main essay. Here are some good essay topics that kids may find easy to write.

~ My Best Friend ~ My Favorite Sport ~ My Last Holiday ~ The Pet that I would Like to Have ~ What if I had Super Powers ~ My Mother/Father ~ Things I Like to do During My Pastime ~ The Most Special Day of My Life ~ The Person I Admire the Most ~ The First Day in My New School

~ Things I Did During Summer ~ A Dream I had Last Night ~ My Most Memorable Birthday ~ Qualities Required to Become a President ~ My Favorite TV Show ~ Things that I am Afraid of ~ A View from my Window ~ Living at a Bus Stop ~ My Favorite Food ~ My Hobby ~ What Will I Do When I Grow Up? ~ If I Became an Animal

~ The Most Interesting Book I have Read ~ If I Became Invisible ~ If I had a Magic Pen ~ If I Become Rich ~ What Makes Me Special? ~ An Eventful Day in My Life ~ If I Had Three Wishes, What Would I Wish For? ~ All The Things I Want to Do ~ What Would I Do If I Became Invisible for a Day? ~ My Space Adventure ~ A Rainy Day I Spent Alone

Argumentative Topics

After descriptive essays, the next step will be argument essay writing. Argumentative essays are those where students have to put forth their point of view about a topic. However, it is important to remember that these essays cannot be based just on personal knowledge, rather kids have to find enough proof to support their opinions and thoughts.

~ Is Praying Beneficial? ~ Effect of Technology on Human Beings ~ Should Smoking in Public Be Banned? ~ Harmful Effects of Plastic Bags ~ How do Humans Affect the Environment ~ Reasons we Love Chocolate ~ Pros and Cons of Zoos

~ Mobile Phones – Necessity or Nuisance? ~ Is Destruction of Forests Affecting the Earth ~ Harmful Effects of Video Games ~ Is it Right to Kill Animals for Food and Clothing? ~ Should Bullying be Supported? ~ Is Learning a Foreign Language Really Important? ~ Global Warming and Deforestation

Persuasive Topics

Persuasive essays are somewhat similar to argumentative essays, where students have to present their opinions on a topic. The difference is that the essay should persuade the readers to change their opinion about something after reading it. Hence, kids have to conduct thorough research before writing a persuasive essay.

~ Bilingual Education in school ~ Should the Government Ban Hunting? ~ 10 Pros and Cons of Capital Punishment ~ Are School Uniforms Good or Bad Idea ~ Are Exams Making Way for Too Much Stress in Children? ~ How Much is too Much homework

~ Why Helmets should be made Compulsory ~ Home is the best place to Spend a Thanksgiving Holiday ~ Cell Phones for Kids – Pros and Cons ~ Should Mothers Work or Stay at Home? ~ Animals Should Not be Caged ~ Can you Live Without Television?

Compare and Contrast Topics

Essays of this type prove to be a good exercise for kids where they learn to compare between two concepts, find the relations between two contrasting ideas, look at all aspects of a subject and understand it in different ways. Compare and contrast topics thus help build analytical skills in children.

~ Reading from Books vs. Reading Online ~ Harry Potter Books vs. Harry Potter Movies ~ American English vs. British English ~ Comparing two video games ~ Comparing two books ~ Comparison between two music genres ~ Comparing two athletes/sports figures

~ Comparison between two sports events (Wimbledon vs. French Open or NASCAR vs. Formula One) ~ Comparing two restaurants ~ Comparison between two ways to spend a holiday (going out vs. staying at home) ~ Urban Living vs. Rural Living ~ Being Rich vs. Being Famous

~ Comparing two similar/comparable feelings (being sad vs. being bored or being happy vs. being content) ~ Childhood vs. Teenage ~ Comparing two famous personalities ~ Your Real Home vs. Your Dream Home ~ Living on campus vs. Living off campus

Autobiographies

This particular branch of essay writing tests the students’ general knowledge and level of imagination. Students are expected to personify a living or non-living thing and write a description of that thing’s life. All these essays are fictitious in nature. Autobiographical essays are not based on any famous personalities. Some popular autobiography topics are:

~ Autobiography of a book ~ Autobiography of a pen ~ Autobiography of a tree ~ Autobiography of an animal/bird ~ Autobiography of a flower ~ Autobiography of a princess ~ Autobiography of a river

Other Random Topics

~ If given a chance, what would you do for the poor old man living down the street? ~ What would you do with all the Halloween candies that you collected this year? ~ Convincing parents for a picnic ~ Planning a surprise party for Dad ~ What would you do if you found yourself in the land of Lilliput? ~ Inventing an animal ~ How would you like to decorate your room?

~ Is it important for children to go to a boarding school? ~ If I were the Mayor ~ If I were the President ~ If I were a billionaire ~ If I were a tree ~ If I were a devil/an angel

These essay topics for kids can be altered slightly by the teacher as per the grade at which the children are studying. Teachers should also give the kids appropriate guidelines for each type of essay that they have to write. Practicing essay writing on these topics is a way of preparing kids to deal with more complex essay topics that they will encounter during their higher studies.

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Further insights.

Privacy Overview

Essay on My Family

My family is small. There are four members in my family. They are my parents, my sister and I. My father is a doctor. My mother is a teacher. My sister is elder to me. She studies in the eighth grade I m in the fourth grade. Both of us attend the same school. My father has a car. Every morning he drops us at school.

After school, we come home by bus. My father is a jolly person. In the evenings he tells us many fresh and new stories. He also helps us in our studies.

My mother is a hard working woman. After coming home from school she has much work to do. She bathes us and prepares our food. She also participates in social activities. Therefore she is popular among women.

Women always come to get her advise and is often seen with them.

My father comes home late. He attends to many patients and has no time to go out.

My parents are loving and kind.

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Kurt Cobain and Me: The Gen X poster child and rock legend is my Gen Z hero, too

My parents love nirvana, too. but i have my own relationship with cobain's music and persona, by gabriella ferrigine.

The boys spilled out of the locker room in a gnashing horde.

They pitched their bodies into the air and flung clumps of sweaty hair from their faces, headbanging in line with the stomping bass that had just cracked across the gym’s sound system. 

Full of flowing hormones and covered in dried sweat, the entirety of my high school gym class began to move to the music — each individual in their own way — enraptured by its energy and still thrumming with adrenaline from 2v2 basketball scrimmages. 

For a few fleeting minutes, social stratification was entirely dismantled by one rotating guitar riff. Sports jocks, guys who stuffed their bottom lip with dip in the back of class, girls who smelled like vanilla and bright artificial fruit, and reticent wallflowers, all churning together.

By the time the bell rang, prodding us toward precalc or a quiz on “The Sound and the Fury,” it did, in fact, smell like teen spirit. 

We filed out of the gym, buzzing and bedraggled. A shared ecstasy lingered, if only until the next period began. 

Experiencing that subtle, shimmering solidarity, the threading of different social subgroups together, is intrinsic to my attachment — as a member of Gen Z , not X — to Kurt Cobain, frontman of the iconic '90s grunge rock band Nirvana. 

Since the genesis of the band in 1987 — and Cobain’s subsequent, seismic fame, then tragic death by suicide — he’s functioned as something of a talismanic leader for generations of morose, angsty and disaffected fans. Some of this posthumous cultural longevity is surely due to his premature death, which preserved him in amber, devoid of a flop era and safe from cancellable offense. But that doesn't entirely explain his enduring appeal. Cobain’s emotional melancholy is something members of Gen Z — widely understood as prone to trauma-dumping on the internet and hyper-sensitivity — can find particularly relatable. 

Raised by Gen X parents like mine whose early adulthoods were largely defined by Nirvana and Cobain, his music became part of a shared, familial identity they could pass down to us. In a recent essay for The Guardian, writer Hannah Ewens opines that “Just as the Beatles defined the construct of a rock band, Nirvana redefined what a band was — both in the public consciousness and to other musicians: unpretentious, tough and sensitive, embraced by the system while threatening it.” It's not particularly rebellious to embrace your parents' definition of good music, but over time, I forged my own relationship with Kurt Cobain, distinct from theirs. 

In all honestly, I’ve always felt several standard deviations away from what feels normal (an entirely subjective term). I know this sounds moderately insufferable, but bear with me. My life has been overwhelmingly positive in so many ways. And yet, setting aside personal conflicts and a heady amalgam of ADHD and anxiety, much of it has also felt very different to me than how it’s appeared outwardly to others. I don’t have a complex, philosophical explanation for this discrepancy. I don’t think you always need one. Cobain's music gives me a language for reconciling my own contradictions. We aren't the same by any means: I've had no meteoric rise to fame, no heroin addiction. But there was still a person named Kurt before all that happened to him. 

During my first years of college, like many, I struggled with finding my sense of self. Flush with insecurities of every kind, I tried on different personalities (and some bad outfits) in an effort to, if not wholly reinvent myself, at least discover something about myself that I actually liked or felt secure about. It was a process that ultimately backfired — by trying to be someone I wasn’t, I inadvertently jettisoned some of the most fundamentally defining pieces of myself. And all the while, I was still as sullen and angsty as ever. That all changed on Christmas Day, 2018, when my parents gave me my first pair of Doc Marten boots. 

Laugh if you will, but getting my Docs was like finding my glass slipper. At nearly 6 feet tall, I’d always felt something like Cinderella’s stepsisters, trying to cram my oversized foot into a tiny, dainty, acceptably pretty and interesting shoe. I wear them most days now. Aside from being comfortable, they're equipped with a steel-toed tenacity ideal for navigating New York’s perpetually crusty streets. 

And yes, Docs were a subcultural fashion item of the ‘90s — my dad still owns the pair he wore moshing at a Nirvana show with my mom at the now-shuttered Roseland Ballroom in New York in 1993. While Cobain wore Converse for that particular performance, I’m certain he laced up his boots often too. I often find myself gravitating toward those looks: slouchy pants, oversized jackets and knitwear, the occasional grandpa cardigan. As I’ve grown older, I’ve become increasingly confident in myself and my fashion choices, aware that the old adage is true: What you wear is truly a reflection of who you are. I’m sure that’s what Cobain was trying to convey every time he opted for a skirt or floral-patterned dress for a live performance. That has always been an inspiring exemplar of unabashed confidence to me.

But carrying yourself with confidence in public doesn’t necessarily equate to comfort with — or suitability for — fame, as Cobain's conflicted relationship to the celebrity status that accompanied his artistic success showed me. Regardless of whether he sought to be an international star before it happened, the “slings and arrows” of fame that writer Michael Azerrad wrote about in part for the 2021 New Yorker essay, “My Time With Kurt Cobain,” underpinned the rocker’s mental and emotional health struggles. 

It's not particularly rebellious to embrace your parents' definition of good music, but over time, I forged my own relationship with Kurt Cobain, distinct from theirs. 

In all likelihood, I’ll never be famous, and that’s OK. It’s not exactly something I aspire toward. But the essence of Cobain’s fame has always been incredibly relatable to me. There’s something so vulnerable and real — in an attention economy that demands performance from us all — about someone trying to keep a firm foothold in two warring worlds simultaneously, straddling the ever-oscillating line of what the public sees and what it can't. (“I’m not like them, but I can pretend,” resonates.)

This tension that seems innately bound into Cobain's persona — and Nirvana more broadly — is accurately reflected in the band’s lyrics. Dark, atmospheric themes abound — anger, personal struggles, violence, real and figurative — and while the sometimes disturbing subject matter can be difficult to take, I found the messages braided into them intriguing. His lyrics reflected Cobain’s chaos and mystique, which is to say, I didn’t necessarily understand them all, especially as a kid. All I knew was — mingled with his raspy voice and the band’s splintering sounds — they made me feel at an entirely unprecedented level. And some latent part of me was drawn to that brooding sentiment.

It came as no surprise to me when I learned that he was also a Pisces. 

Whether you believe in astrological signs or find it all to be a bit hokey, I find that Cobain embodied the compassion, sensitivity and emotional profundity that have come to be associated with the symbol of two fish swimming in opposite directions. That division between fantasy and reality — a liminal space I constantly turn to — is one that Cobain ostensibly occupied just as frequently. It’s something like the Vitruvian man, constantly splayed in different directions by our thoughts and ever-shifting emotions. It’s an identity Cobain internalized so intensely that he even carried it with him into his death in April of 1994, writing in his suicide note that he was a “sad little, sensitive, unappreciative Pisces, Jesus man.”

I’ve always known that finding comfort in the music and fashion of my parents’ generation, specifically the elements of it that have since become canonical, is a byproduct of my close-knit and large immediate family. It’s an idiosyncratic, shared existence — something that makes me feel comforted and protective at once. And yet, I’m my own person. While I would be remiss to ignore the inescapability of influence, my relationship with Cobain and his work could never precisely mirror theirs. And I think that’s part of his legacy. He was able to transcend space and time so seamlessly, so acutely, that his aura — which has spoken to my mom and dad for nearly 40 years — now screams to me from a stage set in an entirely different void. 

So consider me influenced, if that’s what becoming secure in my tastes and personhood means. I won’t be running from that anytime soon. 

If you are in crisis, please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

about Nirvana

• I'm not like them, but I can pretend (Obviously, this is an essay about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana)
• Kurt Cobain's daughter marks the 30th anniversary of his death with a loving tribute
• "Nevermind" 30 years on — how Nirvana's second album tilted the world on its axis

Gabriella Ferrigine is a staff writer at Salon. Originally from the Jersey Shore, she moved to New York City in 2016 to attend Columbia University, where she received her B.A. in English and M.A. in American Studies. Formerly a staff writer at NowThis News, she has an M.A. in Magazine Journalism from NYU and was previously a news fellow at Salon.

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What You See in the Dark

Rudy Gobert

Minnesota Timberwolves

I have a few things I want to get off my chest, before the playoffs start. I’m a relatively private person, and it’s not the most natural thing for me to talk about myself if I don’t really know you. But I don’t think you’ll understand me unless you understand a bit of my history, and everything in my life that’s brought me here. So here we go. I hope you will listen with an open mind. 

When our season ended last summer, I went up to the woods in Southern Oregon and I spent three days at a darkness retreat. No phones, no books, no distractions. Just me and my thoughts for 64 hours. It was really powerful. 

When you blow out that little candle on the first night and it’s just you and your own mind, it’s real. All of the crutches that you rely on to distract you and to feed your ego aren’t there anymore. There’s a little slot in the door of your room that they slide a tray of food through for breakfast and dinner, and that’s it. It’s basically meditation times 1,000. 

More than anything, you realize how much of your life, and your dreams, and your fears, and everything that you care about, gets covered up by the daily grind. The darkness shows you everything. Even the things that you thought you had buried. For me, there were a lot of beautiful memories. But there were some painful ones, too. 

I’m always a bit reluctant to talk about my own personal journey. I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing or just my own personal nature. But I think maybe it has made me a bit of a misunderstood person. When I came into the league, I just chalked it up to me being French. But the last few years, after the COVID situation, and my trade to Minnesota, and the incident against the Warriors this season, I feel like people make their own stories about me without knowing much about who I am. 

If you want to stop at the surface with me, that’s fine. 

But if you actually want to get to know me on a deeper level, then I will let you know about a few things that came to me when I was reflecting on my life in the dark…. 

Beautiful things. Painful things. A lot of things……..

“We don’t want that baby in our house.”

Before I was even conscious, when I was just a child coming into the world in Northern France, some people didn’t want me around because of who I am. And not just people. My own people. Very close family, actually. 

It’s a painful memory, but one that I need to share. You see, every year, my mom’s side of the family had this big Christmas dinner at a certain person’s house. My mom is white. My dad is Black. He’s from Guadeloupe, and he was playing basketball professionally in France when they met. My mom already had two white children from her previous relationship, and then I came into the world…. 

And for some people, that was a problem. 

After I was born, certain relatives made it very clear to her that she wasn’t welcome to come to Christmas dinner if she brought me along. 

She could come on her own. But she couldn’t bring “ that child .” She couldn’t bring Rudy. 

She was devastated. And obviously, she spent Christmas with me instead. She told them, “If that’s the way you think, then you’re not going to see me anymore. Not at Christmas. Not ever. I don’t want anything to do with you.” 

My mom.... What would I be without her? 

From day one, before I could protect myself, my mom was protecting me. The things she did for me and my siblings … it’s incredible. Financially, we didn’t have a lot. My dad went back to Guadeloupe when I was two, and my mom had to handle a lot of responsibilities. We lived in what we call HLM. Social housing. Immigrants from all different places. Lots going on, it was an interesting place. No matter what was going on, I always felt grateful and happy for everything I had. I never complained, never asked my mom for things we couldn’t afford. 

One of my earliest memories is going with my mom to a little shop that this charity ran on the weekend. For whatever reason, it was a less abundant time for us, and you could get free groceries and stuff like that. During the holidays, they had a whole table of toys that were donated for all the kids. 

My mom told me that I could pick anything I wanted for my Christmas gift. I remember choosing this really cool toy, and I was maybe six or seven years old. That's when I started to realize what my life back then was like compared to other kids, and having that feeling of happiness, mixed with sadness, mixed with hunger…. As I was playing with this new toy, I remembered thinking “One day, we won’t have to worry about anything.”

It wasn’t really about money or material things. It was about feeling at ease. In control. 

That little memory came back to me in the dark. It was like it was happening right in front of me. It was so vivid. 

And it’s not a sad memory. That’s the thing that’s important to realize. It’s not sad at all. It’s beautiful. 

At the time, I had never even picked up a basketball yet. But I knew — I really knew — that somehow all of this was going to happen. I had an iron belief. Not necessarily that I was going to play in the NBA. But that I was going to be successful — whatever that meant for me. Science, law, accounting, whatever. It didn’t matter. I was going to make it. For us .

By the time I was 12, I had become obsessed with basketball. I used to get every magazine I could get my hands on. Remember those posters in the middle of every issue? I’d tear them out and tape them to my bedroom wall. I put up so many of them that after a while you couldn’t even see the walls underneath. It was wall-to-wall NBA posters with my graffiti tags sprayed over them. I would close my eyes and imagine myself on an NBA floor — dunking the ball, guarding legends like Kobe, Tony, Dirk, STAT … this was the place I would go to. In my head, in my room, in France. If you saw a picture of me at that age, you might not believe it. But I believed it with all my heart and soul. 

A few months after I turned 13, I had the opportunity to join a basketball academy in a town called Amiens, a little further away from my hometown, Saint-Quentin. In my mind, this opportunity was the way I was going to chase my dream and put myself in a situation where I could get better every day. We had two or three practices a day, plus school. Because Amiens was far from home, I would only come home on the weekends. I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but I felt it was necessary, and I made my decision. I would take the 6:20 a.m. train on Monday morning, and return home on Friday evening. My siblings had left for university already, and I was the only kid in the house with Mom. Not until years later, did I realize how hard it was for my mom to have her youngest kid leave home at that time. 

At the time, all she told me was, “Go after your dreams. I’ll be fine.” 

When you are focused on the day-to-day grind, all of these memories can be a blur. There is always noise. But when I was sitting in the darkness, it was like a time machine. You are literally on the train again at six in the morning. You can smell the seats. You remember all the things you had to go through. You remember the kids who called you a n***** in elementary school. You remember the coaches who thought you sucked and had zero chance to become a pro. You remember how desperate you were to make your dream a reality for you and your family. You remember sitting in the living room so angry and disappointed, crying with your mom when at 15 years old you received that letter that said you weren’t accepted to the best basketball academy in France. You remember your mom telling you to keep believing, that it was meant to be.

You remember it all. 

You remember shooting around in the gym with some of your teammates when you were 17, a nobody even in France, and telling them, “I don’t want to just make it to the NBA. I want to be an All-Star. No, I’m going to be an All-Star.” 

And all of them laughing at you, like, “Bro. What???? ” 

And you saying, “You’ll see. Watch me. Just watch.” 

You remember showing your mom that first mock draft with your name on it. Her name. Our name. Gobert.

Thinking about it still makes me smile to this day. What a journey.… I am so grateful for all of it. 

I left my home at 13 to be on this basketball journey, and until I went to the darkness retreat this past summer, I hadn’t ever zoomed out and appreciated the arc of my life like this. It felt like when you’re playing one of those old Playstation RPG games, and you make it to the quiet room to save your game to the memory card. It’s like I put the controller down for a second, zoomed out, and felt that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be on my journey.… And appreciated the beauty of it all. 

It made me understand how other people see me, too. 

You know … of all the shit I’ve gotten in my career, a lot of it was deserved. I’ve made mistakes, like everybody. But the one moment that really bothers me is when I was asked about missing out on the All-Star Game in 2019, and I broke down in tears. 

I think that moment, more than anything, defines how people see me in America vs. who I really am. 

When it happened, I was caught off guard. I had a bunch of cameras in front of me after our practice. I got asked about not making the team, so I started telling the reporters how my mom was the one to call me to tell me the news. And how she started crying on the phone with me. 

For some reason, I just lost it.

It’s something that I think happens to everyone when they talk about their mom…. Like, I would never show emotion in front of my mom. I’m always a rock. I have to act like everything is cool. But in that moment, when I thought of her in front of all the reporters and the cameras, it’s like I turned into a kid again. It just tapped into something really raw inside of me, and it’s like everything came back to me in a surge of emotions — all the memories, and everything she did to help me live my dreams — and I just got choked up. 

I wasn’t emotional because I missed out on one All-Star Game. It was way deeper than that. I was crying because of the deeper meaning. How much my mom means to me. How much this game of basketball means to me. Everything that we have lived through together. 

Of course, social media went crazy. It was turned into a meme, and everyone had their jokes, because that’s the way the world works now. But honestly, you know what? I would never take it back. That was one of the most real moments that I’ve ever had in front of a TV camera. 

I wish for everyone on this planet to have something in their life that they give everything to — all their passion and their heart and emotion — the way that I pour my whole soul into the game of basketball. 

I hope kids watch that video and they see how passionate that person on their screen is. Someone that’s fighting for his dreams. 

No one should be afraid to fail, especially kids. Showing your emotions…. It’s not weakness. It’s just being real . 

That’s a message that I wish we’d tell kids a lot more. I’ve seen how toxic it is for kids now on social media. It’s relentless. If you’re a teenager growing up in this world right now, you need the truth, not a fairytale. And the truth is that there is a lot of shit that is going to happen in your life, and you are going to be tested. You are going to have a lot of moments in your life when the easiest thing to do is to snap. I have done it myself! I am not perfect. I have made my fair share of mistakes, but if I have any wisdom that I can share from working on myself the past few years, it would be this….. 

A lot of satisfaction can come from being yourself, even when you know that some people will make fun of you for it. To me, the highest form of strength is when you stay true to yourself even if the world will mock you for it. That’s when you show your true colors.

You will always have haters. Some people will always try to bring you down. But they’re human like you. Same problems as you. Same frustrations. Sometimes, they’re the ones who are hurting the most. 

The social media machine will never rest. It will always try to pour gasoline on every beef, and try to pit us against each other in the name of entertainment. Especially if it’s two Black men. That’s just the reality of it. But the truth is, I don’t look at anybody in the NBA — past or present — as my enemy. There are only 450 of us now who are blessed to play in this league, and I consider every one of those guys as my brothers. No matter where you were born, or what language you speak, if you have made it this far, then you have been through things that the average person wouldn’t believe, and you have my ultimate respect. 

This brotherhood should be way bigger than basketball. 

All the memes and the jokes and the social media drama…. That’s good for clicks. For business. For entertainment. 

As grown men, as human beings, we should pride ourselves on standing for something bigger. In this crazy world, with all its real problems, it’s just basketball at the end of the day. I love it more than I love anything. I’ve given my life to this game. But it’s still just basketball. More than anything, I wish we could have more understanding and empathy for one another. Even for our biggest rivals. Especially for them. 

At the end of the day, when the battle is over, I wanna be able to reach out my hand and say, “I see you. It’s just basketball. We’re good. I see you.” 

…. I hope we beat your ass tonight, but I still see you.

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At the Masters, Champions Past, Present and Future

Golf enthusiasts regard a trip to the Masters Tournament as the stuff of dreams. Here are photos from this year’s tournament.

Scottie Scheffler at the 16th hole. Credit...

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Photographs by Doug Mills

Text by Alan Blinder

Reporting from Augusta, Ga.

• April 14, 2024

Seventy-five years ago this past week, Sam Snead won the Masters Tournament and became the first champion to receive one of Augusta National Golf Club’s green jackets.

Until he died in 2002 , the jacket was his to wear every time he returned to Augusta. These days, it is a sartorial symbol of how, beyond a freighted history and marvelous azaleas and golf’s geopolitical machinations and gallery roars that ripple from Amen Corner to the clubhouse, Augusta National is more enchanted by champions than most places.

Since the start of the month, Lottie Woad has captured the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Eight children were named champions of a junior golf competition after playing at Augusta. More than 30 past Masters winners gathered for dinner to honor Jon Rahm , last year’s champion, and Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson hit tee shots to start this year’s tournament. Many of their brethren played afterward, because they are allowed to for life. On Sunday, Scottie Scheffler, who was already familiar with the locker room reserved for past champions, won the 88th Masters.

There may be no place in men’s golf where hope, dazzle and ambition are as abundant as Augusta.

But this past week, all of the possibilities seemed to be on greater display than usual. There was the solar eclipse on Monday, when fans peered skyward, just as Ben Crenshaw and Nick Faldo did here, too. Later on, Tiger Woods , 48 years old and two years removed from the last time he finished a major tournament, made his record 24th consecutive Masters cut. But he faded on Saturday.

Higher up the leaderboard during the third round, players like Ludvig Aberg, Nicolai Hojgaard, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele hunted for their debut major title, while Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa and Cameron Smith looked to build on the magic that had made them champions elsewhere not all that long ago. Scheffler occasionally stumbled, but on Sunday, he dominated and locked down his second Masters victory before the birth of his first child.

Golf enthusiasts often regard a trip to the Masters as the stuff of dreams. It certainly is for players. The Masters represents a shot at becoming one of those champions written into history, with the green jackets and the possibility of forever enchanting Augusta.

Doug Mills has been a photographer in the Washington bureau of The Times since 2002. He previously worked at The Associated Press, where he won two Pulitzer Prizes. His Instagram is @nytmills . More about Doug Mills

Alan Blinder is a national correspondent for The Times, covering education. More about Alan Blinder

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Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping professional, collegiate and amateur athletics..

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What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?

It almost time! Millions of Americans across the country Monday are preparing to witness the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse as it passes over portions of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

It's a sight to behold and people have now long been eagerly awaiting what will be their only chance until 2044 to witness totality, whereby the moon will completely block the sun's disc, ushering in uncharacteristic darkness.

That being said, many are curious on what makes the solar eclipse special and how is it different from a lunar eclipse.

The total solar eclipse is today: Get the latest forecast and everything you need to know

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when any celestial object like a moon or a planet passes between two other bodies, obscuring the view of objects like the sun, according to NASA .

What is a solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching our planet, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. The resulting "totality," whereby observers can see the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, known as the corona, presents a spectacular sight for viewers and confuses animals – causing nocturnal creatures to stir and bird and insects to fall silent.

Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rare sight.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. When this happens, Earth blocks the sunlight that normally reaches the moon. Instead of that sunlight hitting the moon’s surface, Earth's shadow falls on it.

Lunar eclipses are often also referred to the "blood moon" because when the Earth's shadow covers the moon, it often produces a red color. The coloration happens because a bit of reddish sunlight still reaches the moon's surface, even though it's in Earth's shadow.

Difference between lunar eclipse and solar eclipse

The major difference between the two eclipses is in the positioning of the sun, the moon and the Earth and the longevity of the phenomenon, according to NASA.

A lunar eclipse can last for a few hours, while a solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes. Solar eclipses also rarely occur, while lunar eclipses are comparatively more frequent. While at least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, total lunar eclipses are still rare, says NASA.

Another major difference between the two is that for lunar eclipses, no special glasses or gizmos are needed to view the spectacle and one can directly stare at the moon. However, for solar eclipses, it is pertinent to wear proper viewing glasses and take the necessary safety precautions because the powerful rays of the sun can burn and damage your retinas.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY