Writing children in a story can be a fun but challenging experience. Whether your characters are young protagonists or important side characters, capturing the essence of childhood is crucial for creating authentic and relatable moments in your narrative. Children think, behave, and speak differently from adults. Let’s explore the key aspects of writing realistic and compelling child characters.
Why do you need them ?
Children can serve many different roles in a story, depending on the genre and theme of your work. Sometimes, they’re the main character—think of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or Harry Potter. In other cases, they might be secondary characters who provide key emotional depth, perspective, or even humor.
No matter their role, children help diversify your narrative. Their innocence, honesty, curiosity, and lack of adult filters can offer a fresh and poignant point of view, and often, children can reflect truths that adults are too jaded or cautious to acknowledge.
Children can also act as catalysts for growth in adult characters. They challenge the norms of adult behavior, introduce humor, and offer moments of pure emotion. Writing children with complexity and nuance will ensure that their role in your story is meaningful and engaging for your readers.
Create their personality
One of the most important steps in writing a believable child character is to give them a distinct personality. Children, just like adults, come with a wide range of temperaments, interests, and fears.
Some children are adventurous and bold, while others are shy and introspective. Some may be incredibly curious, asking endless questions, while others might be more quiet and observant.
Think about what motivates your character and what kind of world they live in. Are they growing up in a loving, supportive environment or a more challenging one ?
When creating a child’s personality, consider their emotional maturity as well. Some children might have an old soul and think deeply, while others may be more impulsive, reacting in the moment. This emotional landscape will affect how they interact with others and how they handle the situations they’re placed in.
Give them a voice
Children often communicate differently than adults, not just because of their vocabulary, but because of their worldview. A child’s voice in writing should reflect their stage of development.
Younger children might struggle with complex sentence structures or use simple, direct language to express themselves. Older children, like tweens, will have a bit more sophistication in their speech, but they still might not fully grasp abstract concepts or social nuances the way an adult would.
Use dialogue and internal monologue to help bring your child characters to life. Consider their interests, vocabulary, and how they perceive the world. Do they ask a lot of questions, or do they prefer to stay quiet and observe ?
The key is to make sure their voice feels true to their age. A 5-year-old may say something like, “I don’t wanna go to bed yet, I’m not sleepy”, while a 10-year-old might argue more convincingly, “But I’m just in the middle of my game !”
How do they interact ?
Children tend to interact differently than adults, especially when it comes to how they form relationships and express emotions.
Pay attention to their social dynamics. Do they form close friendships based on shared interests ? Are they influenced by their family members or other authority figures ? Do they follow the lead of a sibling, or do they prefer to act independently ?
Children may be more prone to forming strong bonds or expressing themselves more openly, often without the social filters that adults have.
Also, remember that children don’t always have the same understanding of social rules as adults. They might not grasp subtle cues or read between the lines. Their relationships are often more direct and less complicated, driven by feelings of safety, trust, and genuine connection.
When writing their interactions, you can play with the innocence and honesty they bring to the table, whether it’s a child comforting an upset friend or a sibling rivalry over a toy. These moments should feel genuine, free from the complicated subtext that adults are so often tangled in.
How do they talk ?
A child’s dialogue can provide a lot of insight into their personality, development, and worldview. Younger children, for example, may speak with simpler words and shorter sentences, while older children may use more complex language but still reflect their emotional age.
Their tone and delivery can also convey a lot—children are often very direct when they talk, not yet trained to soften their words for politeness or social niceties.
Another thing to consider is how children perceive language. They might misunderstand idiomatic expressions or take things literally. For example, a child could hear an adult say “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse!” and respond with a confused “But you don’t even have a horse !”
In writing dialogue for children, think about their speech patterns, the rhythm of their sentences, and what they prioritize when speaking.
Are they chatty, verbose, and prone to tangents, or are they more focused and brief ? Do they ask a lot of questions, or are they more introspective ?
Adults in their life
Children don’t exist in a vacuum—they are shaped by the adults around them. Whether it’s a parent, teacher, mentor, or any other grown-up figure, adults have a huge influence on how children think and behave.
When writing children, think about the significant adults in their life. How do these figures impact their personality ? Do they provide comfort and safety, or are they a source of stress or confusion ?
Also, consider how children respond to adult authority. Do they rebel or comply ? Are they looking for approval, or do they challenge adults in their lives ? These dynamics will shape their actions and interactions throughout your story.
Avoid stereotypes
When writing children, it’s important to avoid reducing them to clichés or stereotypes. Not all boys are rowdy, and not all girls are delicate and nurturing. Children’s personalities should be as nuanced as those of adults.
Instead of relying on outdated or simplistic portrayals, think about each child’s unique experiences and how they inform who they are. Consider their background, family dynamics, and internal conflicts as much as their external behaviors.
Creating well-rounded, diverse child characters who challenge stereotypes will add authenticity to your writing. Remember, a child’s individuality should shine through, and not every child needs to fit into conventional molds.
Show their perspective
A key to writing authentic children is to show the world from their perspective. Children often see things differently than adults, and their perception of events, relationships, and emotions can be quite different.
A child might not understand the complexities of a situation but may be acutely aware of its emotional weight. They might focus on details that adults overlook, like the smell of their mother’s perfume or the sound of rain on the window.
By using a child’s unique perspective, you give readers a window into a more innocent, sometimes naïve, but incredibly valuable way of seeing the world. This perspective can lend depth to your story, offering moments of clarity or moments of emotional insight that might be missed by adult characters.
PLOT STRUCTURE WORKBOOK
