An eclectic list of 99 things that children like was given to me by a writing friend last year after she attended a conference. The list was courtesy of children’s sports author Andy Gutelle…and here I’ve added 400+ more (and more)! I hope this list gives a spark to your writing for children, but I wonder what it will do to my search engine hits?!
If you like this page, follow its visual companion on Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/taralazar/things-kids-like/
Note: this list is more targeted toward picture-book-age children (8 and under) than tweens (9-12) or teens.
(And also check out the list of things kids don’t like.)
- 3D Movies
- Acrobats
- Air Hockey
- Airplanes
- Aliens (See I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK)
- Allowance
- Amusement Parks
- Aquariums
- Arts & Crafts
- Astronauts
- Autumn Leaves
- Awards
- Babies
- Backpacks
- Bacon
- Badminton
- Baggy Clothes
- Balloon Animals
- Balloons
- Band-Aids
- Basketball
- Bathroom Humor
- BB Guns
- Beaches
- Beanbag Chairs
- Bears (See I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK)
- Being Independent
- Being Older Than Another Kid
- Being Loved
- Being Right
- Bicycles
- Binoculars
- Birthdays
- Blanket Forts
- Blimps
- Bling
- Blocks
- BMX Bikes
- Board Books
- Board Games
- Boas
- Bobble-heads
- Booby Traps
- Boogie Boards
- Books! (of course)
- Bubble Baths
- Bubble Gum
- Bubblers (Water Fountains)
- Bubbles
- Bubble Wrap
- Bugs
- Building Things
- Buried Treasure
- Burping
- Butter
- Butterflies
- Buttons
- Cabooses
- Cake
- Campfires
- Candy
- Caps
- Capes and Cloaks
- Car Washes
- Caramel
- Carnivals
- Carousels
- Cars
- Cartoons
- Cartwheels
- Car Washes
- Castanets
- Castles
- Cats
- Cell Phones
- Cheeseburgers
- Chicken Nuggets
- Chimpanzees
- Chinchillas
- Chocolate
- Christmas & Hanukkah
- Churros
- The Circus
- Clay
- Coins
- Collecting Cards
- Collections
- Coloring
- Comets
- Comic Books
- Comic Strips
- Compasses
- Computers
- Contests
- Constellations
- Construction Toys
- Construction Trucks
- Convertibles
- Cookies
- Corn Mazes
- Costumes
- Cotton Candy
- Crafts
- Crayons
- Creepy Things
- Cuddly Toys
- Cupcakes
- Cymbals
- Dancing
- Dandelions
- Dares
- Daydreaming
- Dessert (see WAY PAST BEDTIME)
- Dinosaurs
- Disco Balls
- Disney
- Dogs
- Dollhouses
- Dolphins
- Donkeys
- Doughnuts
- Doughnut Holes
- Dragons
- Drawing
- Dreams
- Dress Up
- Drums
- Easter Egg Hunts
- Eclipses
- Egg Creams
- Elephants
- Endangered Species
- Engines
- Exploring
- Extreme Sports
- Face Painting
- Fairies
- Fairy Tales
- Farm Animals
- Fast Food
- Feathers
- Fencing
- Field Trips
- Figure Skating (See LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD)
- Finger Paints
- Finger Puppets
- Firetrucks
- Fireworks
- Fishing Poles
- Fitting In
- Flannel Pajamas
- Flashlights
- Flutes
- Flying
- Follow the Leader
- Football
- Forts
- Fortune Cookies
- Fractured Fairy Tales (see I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK and LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD)
- French Fries
- French Toast
- Fried Food
- Friends
- Frogs
- Fun Houses
- Funnel Cakes
- Funny Words
- The Future
- Gadgets & Gizmos
- Games
- Geocaching
- Ghost Stories
- Giants
- Gifts
- Giggling
- Gingerbread Houses (and Men)
- Glitter
- Glow in the Dark Things
- Go-Carts
- Going Somewhere Without Parents
- Going to a Ballgame
- Goldfish
- Goofing Off
- Gorillas
- Graham Crackers
- Grandparents
- Graphic Novels
- Gross, Slimy Things
- Guinea Pigs (Cavies)
- Guitars
- Gummi Bears, Worms, etc.
- Gymnastics
- Gyroscopes
- Half Days
- Halloween
- Hammerhead Sharks
- Hamsters
- Hand Buzzers
- Harmonicas
- Harps
- Harry Potter
- Hats
- Haunted Houses
- Having Their Voice Heard
- Headbands (Hairbands)
- Hedgehogs
- Hermit Crabs
- Hidden Pictures
- Hiding Places (Hide-n-Seek)
- Highlights Magazine
- Hobby Horses
- Holidays
- Honey
- Hopscotch
- Horses
- Hot Air Balloons
- Hot Cocoa (Chocolate)
- Hot Dogs
- Hula Hoops
- Humming
- Hummingbirds
- Ice Cream
- Ice Pops
- Ice Skating (See LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD)
- Icicles
- Icing
- Igloos
- Ignoring Adults
- Imaginary Friends
- Independence
- Insects
- Instant Messaging
- The Internet
- Inventing Things
- Invisibility
- iPods, iPhones, iPads
- Italian Ices
- Jack-in-the-Box
- Jack-0-Lanterns
- Jacks
- Japanese Erasers
- Jawbreakers
- Jelly Beans
- Jelly Donuts
- Jokes
- Jugglers
- Jumping
- Jump Ropes
- Kaleidoscopes
- Karate
- Keychains
- Kickball
- Kid Celebrities
- Kids Just Like Them
- Kings and Queens
- Kites
- Knights
- Knock-Knock Jokes
- Knocking Things Down
- Knowing More than Everyone Else
- Ladybugs
- Legos
- Licorice
- Lighthouses
- Lizards
- Locked Boxes
- Lockets
- Log Flumes
- Lollipops
- Lightning Bugs (Fireflies)
- Macaroni
- Magic Tricks
- Magic Spells
- Magnets
- Mail Addressed to Them
- Making Fun of Others
- Making Noise
- Malteds/Malted Milk Balls
- Manga
- Maracas
- Marbles
- Marching
- Markers
- Marshmallows
- Martial Arts
- Marzipan
- Mascots
- Mazes
- Meatballs
- Medals
- Megaphones
- Mermaids
- Merry-Go-Rounds
- Meteor Showers
- Mice
- Microphones
- Milkshakes
- Minecraft
- Mini Golf
- Miniatures
- Money
- Monsters (and THE MONSTORE!)
- The Moon
- Moon Boots
- Moon Bounces
- Morphing Objects
- Movies
- Mud (and mudpies)
- Mummies
- Museums
- Music
- Mysteries
- Nachos
- Nannies (sometimes)
- Naps (sometimes)
- Narwhals
- Nature
- Necklaces
- Neon Lights
- Nicknames
- Ninjas
- Novelty Books
- Nutella
- The Ocean
- Ogres
- Orangutans (see NORMAL NORMAN)
- Origami
- Outer Space
- Packing Peanuts
- Pancakes (Flapjacks)
- Paper Airplanes
- Paper Football
- Parachutes
- Parrots
- Parties (see WAY PAST BEDTIME)
- Peace Signs
- Pebbles
- Penguins
- Pennies
- Peppermint
- Petit Fours
- Picture Books
- Pie Eating Contests
- Pies in the Face (not theirs!)
- Piggy Banks
- Pillow Fights
- Piñatas
- Pinecones
- Pinwheels
- Pipecleaners
- Pirates
- Pixar Movies
- Pizza
- Planetariums
- Playdates
- Playgrounds
- Pogo Sticks
- Pony Rides
- Pools
- Pop-up Books
- Popcorn
- Popsicles (and Popsicle Sticks)
- Poptropica
- Pop Stars
- Porch Swings
- Posters
- Pretending
- Princesses
- Prizes
- Puddles
- Pumpkin Picking
- Puns (see 7 ATE 9: THE UNTOLD STORY)
- Puppets
- Puzzles
- Rabbits
- Race Cars
- Rainbows
- Rainforests
- Recess
- Red Light, Green Light
- Relay Races
- Repeating What You Say
- Reptiles
- Rhymes
- Ribbons
- Robots
- Rock Stars
- Rockets
- Roller Coasters
- Roller Skates
- Routines
- Rubber Bands (and Rubber Band Balls)
- Sailboats
- Sand Castles
- Sandboxes
- Seashells
- Scary Stories
- School Dances
- School Lunchtime
- Science Experiments (see NORMAL NORMAN)
- Scooters
- Sea Horses
- Sea Turtles
- Secrets
- Secret Codes
- Secret Passageways
- See-saws
- Series Fiction
- Sequins
- Shadow Puppets
- Sharing Music
- Sharks
- Shiny Things
- Shoe Boxes
- Shooting Stars
- Sibling Rivalry
- Sidewalk Chalk
- Silly Bandz
- Silly Words
- Singing
- Skateboards
- Skeeball
- Skeletons
- Skim Boards
- Skipping
- Skyscrapers
- Skywriting
- Sleeping Bags
- Sleeping Late
- Sleepovers
- Slides
- Slingshots
- Slime
- Slugs
- Slurpees
- Slush
- Smiley Faces
- S’mores
- Snow Days
- Snowball Fights
- Snowboards
- Snowmen
- Soapbox Derbys
- Soccer
- Sock Monkeys
- Soda (Pop)
- Somersaults
- Spaghetti
- Sparkles
- Sparklers
- Spider Webs
- Spitballs
- Sprinklers
- Sprinkles
- Squirt Guns
- Squirting Flowers
- Squishies
- Staying Up Late (see WAY PAST BEDTIME)
- Stickers
- Stilts
- Stopwatches
- Straws
- Stuffed Animals
- Summer Camp
- Sundaes
- Sunshowers
- Super Heroes
- Super Powers
- Superstitions
- Surfing
- Surprises
- Swimming
- Swings
- Swords
- Syrup
- Tae Kwon Do
- Tadpoles
- Tag
- Tall Tales
- Teasing
- Telescopes
- Television
- Telling Lies
- Temporary Tattoos
- Tents
- Texting
- Tickling
- Tide Pools
- Tie-Dyes
- Time Capsules
- Time Travel
- Tire Swings
- Tongue Twisters
- The Tooth Fairy
- Their Own Space
- Toys
- Toy Guns
- Trains
- Trampolines
- Trap Doors
- Trapeze Artists
- Treasure Hunts
- Treehouses
- Trophies
- Turtles
- Twisting the Truth
- Unicorns
- Unicycles
- Unwrapping a Gift
- Vacation
- Vampires
- Velcro
- Video Games
- Villains
- Volcanoes
- Waffles
- Wagons
- Walkie-Talkies
- Water Fountains
- Water Slides (and Water Parks)
- Watermelon
- Waves
- Weekends
- Weird Stuff
- Wellies (Rainboots)
- Whales
- Whirlygigs
- Whistles
- Wind Chimes
- Winning Contests
- Winning Games
- Wishing Wells
- Wizards
- Word Searches
- X-ray Vision
- Xylophones
- YouTube
- Yo-Yos
- Zebras
- Zig-Zags
- Zombies
- Zoos
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 
79 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 19, 2008 at 4:15 pm
SamreeN
I think this information was very helpful and gave me a lot of great ideas. Actually I needed some help with a poetry assignment I was given last week! It is due tomorrow! Yikes! Anyway thanks a lot! No a bunch!
November 18, 2013 at 10:41 am
joyaceyJoy Acey
I agree! Isn’t this a great list to use for writing children’s poems. We should never be stumped again. Thank you Tara and Andy.
April 11, 2009 at 1:05 pm
kathytemean
Again you are very creative. You really have a great blog.
Kathy
April 13, 2009 at 2:30 am
Lists to Spark Ideas « Writing and Illustrating
[…] 100 of what kids like that Tara Lazar has been compiling. Click her to read the full list. https://taralazar.wordpress.com/2007/11/04/199-things-that-kids-like/ She’s up to 79 things kids don’t like. Maybe you can think of more. Here’s […]
September 4, 2009 at 3:25 am
Masud Rana
moms will be benefitted by this write up.
September 4, 2009 at 3:27 am
Heydon
I’m writing a book about crabs. It looks like you’ve listed every animal and object in existence except crabs. Should I give up?
September 5, 2009 at 8:44 pm
tara
Ha! Don’t give up! Go ahead and write that book about crabs. You have to write the story you want to write–that’s what makes it interesting, your passion for crustaceans!
Seriously, my daughters love crabs. This summer at the beach we had hermit crabs and sand crabs as pets. (They stayed in the bucket and were returned to the ocean at the end of the day!)
August 7, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Janet Valentine
No, don’t give up, kids love crabs and tide pools – a lot. Plus that could be educational. Do you need an illustrater, btw? There are so many things kids like she couldn’t list them all – I noticed that cookies, mice and unicorns were missing, for example. Let me know if you need art, my website has samples: http://www.valentineland.net
September 28, 2009 at 10:27 am
peg366
Tara,
Thanks for a great list. As soon as I started reading, ideas started popping into my head. Super post. Keep up the good work.
I have your blog marked as one of my favorites and I check it out on a regular basis.
Peg Finley/peg366.wordpress.com
September 28, 2009 at 10:40 am
tara
Thanks, Peg! I appreciate the link from your blog, which is shaping up nicely! Keep up the good work yourself! 😉
September 29, 2009 at 1:12 am
peg366
Tara,
Coming from you that is quite a compliment. Thanks. I will strive to make it as good as I can.
Peg Finley/peg366
November 8, 2009 at 8:44 am
PiBoIdMo Day 8: Karma Wilson’s Secret (and a giveaway) « Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)
[…] but she’s become one of my biggest inspirations. More specifically, her alphabetical list of 299+ Things Kids Like has become one of my biggest inspirations. In fact, I never would have guessed that a blog entry […]
November 16, 2009 at 11:15 am
anitanolan
What a great list, Tara, Thanks!
anita
November 18, 2009 at 2:04 am
Anusha
Im missing childhood days… Awesome stuff!
Kudos.
January 12, 2010 at 5:13 am
Sudeep
Really nice and thought-provoking list! 🙂 Impressive stuff.
January 26, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Diana
Great list! Thanks!
April 23, 2010 at 11:28 am
Doug
POKEMON NEEDS TO BE ON THIS LIST!!
PLEASE AND THANK YOU
May 21, 2010 at 1:50 pm
I Don’t Like Your “Like” List « Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)
[…] Children I was taken aback this week when a kid posted a comment on my blog in regards to the 365+ Things Kids Like […]
September 10, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Debbie
Love the poem!!
November 5, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Lovely Link: 400+ Things That Kids Like « Crave Writing
[…] on over to Tara Lazar’s blog for a list of 400+ Things That Kids Like. For example, campfires, popcorn, and weekends. The list is both un-scientifically but so-obviously […]
June 9, 2011 at 12:45 pm
KatMcD
Thanks for the great list! I was brainstorming on a character I’m developing and this list gives me lots of ideas.
August 15, 2011 at 3:33 pm
cloud9design
Great list! 🙂
September 15, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Chan Tin
Pokemon
September 29, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Vgsghghhfh
I love it my son has had a great time
October 11, 2011 at 9:35 am
Lindsay Aquilina
you forgot bubble wrap xD
November 4, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Picture Book Idea Month – Generating Ideas | Pinwheel Books
[…] there’s a few lists that could help in getting the idea generating started. One is 400+ things kids like, while the other is 79 things they don’t. When creating a character for a story, these lists […]
November 12, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Jessica Young
That’s a lot of brainstorming!
January 8, 2012 at 9:08 pm
lovom
i love tara
April 2, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Veronica Jackson
you forgot CAKE!!!!!!!!
April 3, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Tara Lazar
Thanks, Veronica! I had cupcake but neglected the FULL CAKE! It’s now added.
June 4, 2012 at 7:04 am
Gobbleyumyum
Kids like all thoughs things it is a good list
June 4, 2012 at 7:06 am
Gobbleyumyum
Have you got that girls like clothes on the list
August 7, 2012 at 12:05 am
List Weather Related Words and Disasters « Writing and Illustrating
[…] But you don’t want to miss Tara Lazar’s list of the things kids like. It is one worth saving in your file. 400+ Things Kids Like […]
August 7, 2012 at 9:40 pm
Janet Valentine
Great list, really inspiring! I see lots of people added words, I’d have to add cookies, mice and unicorns, but I can see this could be an endless process. Oh, yes, and zebras too, of course!
September 27, 2012 at 2:34 am
Write For Kids
That’s great for those that can’t understand children likes, i think this blog helps for those families……….
Thank You
Nell Jone
October 21, 2012 at 3:11 am
Ian Robertson
That is a truly awesome list! Puppies and Kittens may also be included. I’ve no excuse for that ‘blank look’ now; many thanks.
November 14, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Elizabeth Rose Stanton
My kind of list! Absolutely awesome! Don’t forget farts and burps 😉
November 24, 2012 at 9:12 am
Jennifer Lee Young (@ItsJennyYoung)
I love this! Thanks for the help Tara
November 27, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Kathryn Ault Noble
Tara, you’ve given me enough of a boost to make it to the end of the month! Great stuff!
December 10, 2012 at 4:51 pm
chantel
thx this was very helpful. i needed a topic for my project and now i have a bunch to choose from.
January 30, 2013 at 7:52 pm
kathunsworth
Love the list especially the last one Zoo, I have a tween novel I am working on about some country kids running a fake zoo, Ticked off quite a few from the list and got some extra ideas thank you.
I love your Blog and the look of your book Monstore Illustrations awesome
February 8, 2013 at 12:31 am
cloud9design
Thank you for this amazing list! Very helpful! 🙂
May 3, 2013 at 11:28 am
Happy NaPiBoWriWee! Advice on Writing Picture Books « the open book
[…] 500+ Things That Kids Like, by Tara Lazar […]
November 2, 2013 at 5:29 pm
jheitman22
Okay! I’ve got enough ideas to finish out the month! 🙂
November 9, 2013 at 11:49 am
angiekarcher
Great list! Thx for sharing! We need PiBoIdYear!
November 10, 2013 at 12:45 pm
lois1952
Thanks so much! I’ve taken to carrying this list around. When I’m dry of ideas I pick one item from each of the five pages and brainstorm a story idea…
November 11, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Linda
I keep a list of things kids don’t like. It’s funnier. 🙂
November 14, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
Such an outstanding list of ideas. Thank you for the inspiration. ~Suzy Leopold
November 16, 2013 at 8:59 am
gretchen
how about reading, listening to stories, books??
March 18, 2014 at 5:00 am
Stuck? Three Ways to Discover New Ideas By Rochelle Melander | Write Now Coach! Blog
[…] +Stuff kids love. […]
August 14, 2014 at 1:31 pm
A Title Change and Why | EMU's Debuts
[…] would like. I felt people would pick it up. After all, dragons are on Tara Lazar’s list of 500+ Things That Kids Like. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted my title to be a glimpse into my story. […]
September 19, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Top 10 Toys (and Candy) at the Turn of the (Last) Century: Wheels of Change (plus a giveaway!) | Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)
[…] know I love lists. I’m a listophile. This blog features t a list of 500+ Things that Kids Like, Things They DON’T Like, and a list of over 200 fun, cool and interesting words. […]
October 28, 2014 at 10:46 am
jess
nice … gave me some ideas. thanks
January 6, 2015 at 9:47 am
A List of Ideas for Self-Initiated Illustration Pieces |
[…] a day and lots of guest bloggers share where they get their ideas. She also has a great list of “500 Things Kids Like” and “79 Things Kids Don’t Like” that will surely inspire […]
February 11, 2015 at 11:23 am
Angie
Reblogged this on Love, Laughter, and Life and commented:
Nice list! Total fun for the entire summer!
May 29, 2015 at 9:57 am
What Do Kids Need? | Childish Nonsense
[…] Okay, I totally stole this from Tara Lazar’s blog, Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) (https://taralazar.com/2007/11/04/199-things-that-kids-like/). Books don’t need to have explosions. They just need to use an interesting approach. Easier said […]
July 1, 2015 at 7:20 am
brshelley
Thanks for your blog! As a Boy Scout master, I realized similar program could be used for my 4 daughters to get what they want (e.g. you need to pass off basic child care and how to contact 911 before you take a babysitting job). I may have missed it in another form, but if not, you may want to add “Learning” to your list. My daughters (8,6,3,1) will actually sit through science videos and documentaries on Islam or flip through the encyclopedias to find out new stuff when it comes up in conversation.
July 14, 2015 at 10:11 am
First Picture Book “Inside Scoop” (& Book Giveaway!) –
[…] cutting it. So I headed over to Tara Lazar’s (of PiBoIdMo fame!) website and opened her list of 500+ Things That Kids Like. Dragons were on that list. I thought the perfect thing for a dragon to swallow would be a knight. […]
July 27, 2015 at 6:10 am
YO, Y’all! Welcome To The House And Welcome Penny Parker Klostermann!!
[…] it easy to join in. I came up with a dragon as the main character (thanks to Tara Lazar’s list of 500+ Things That Kids Like). There were plenty of humorous and logical things for the ornery dragon to swallow. From there I […]
October 26, 2015 at 11:56 am
Kassy Keppol
So fun
October 27, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Kirsten Percival
Wahoo awesome list! I like most of this stuff too!!!!
November 28, 2015 at 12:58 pm
danielledufayet
Thanks, Tara! Awesome idea generating list!
November 29, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Darlene
Thanks so much Tara. I just printed the list out.
December 1, 2015 at 2:39 am
tedx memphis speakers
On Thursday twenty eighth Could, we will probably be streaming ninety minutes
of TEDWomen 2015 , internet hosting an exciting programme of talks
from local actors, creating a TEDx Experience House and launching our journal.
December 7, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Dee Engle
Oh, so happy you shared this list! What a motivator and so much help when brainstorming!
December 9, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Lol
Love it… So true
December 14, 2015 at 9:26 pm
AJ Smith
Not too shabby!
December 30, 2015 at 1:48 am
Sese
Thank you I love your list
January 8, 2017 at 3:21 am
Cameron
No slip n’ slide? I call shenanigans!
May 21, 2017 at 11:35 am
Агамоница
Thank you. I needed some ideas and your list helped me a lot!
January 22, 2018 at 11:59 pm
DamronCox
Great list! I see a lot of overlaps here for middle grade readers, which is more my focus.
March 17, 2018 at 10:39 pm
Eileen Saunders
Thanks for sharing this list. You are a gem. I have over 500 stories for my characters now.
November 8, 2018 at 11:52 am
Montrose co
Thank you so much for this post . This is really helpful,
January 15, 2019 at 3:54 pm
photojaq
Wow. I’m breathless!
April 19, 2020 at 10:49 pm
denitajohnson
Thanks for so many awesome ideas.
July 30, 2020 at 8:17 am
Paulette
Hi Tara–how about Shrinky Dinks? Are they still a “thing” for kids?
January 2, 2021 at 10:18 am
karynellis
What a fantastic list, thank you! Inspiring as heck. Just reading through this list has given me a bunch of ideas to explore during Storystorm this month.
January 21, 2022 at 8:45 am
kiwijenny
Whoah this makes my brain hurt. I’m putting on my hard hat as I mine for ideas.
January 21, 2022 at 9:42 am
Megan Whitaker
Quite the list! Thanks!