Writing child characters is both nostalgic and difficult. Children are full of love, humor, innocence, and fun, which provides many plot opportunities for writers. This is why I created a second post with tips on how to write young characters. If you are interested in additional tips, check out the first post linked below. If you are writing a story regarding children, continue reading for the 5 best tips for writing characters aged five to eleven.
Remember They are Children
The most important tip to remember when writing young characters is that they are children. Most adult writers get trapped by writing child characters that are too dumb and childish. But you also shouldn't create child characters who present like adults. Children aren't babies, but they are certainly not adults. As you write your young characters, ensure that they appear realistic and don't have the knowledge or speech of an adult. You should craft your child characters with motivations, goals, and fears, as you would with adult characters, but remember they are kids. Depending on their age, your character should be able to perform basic skills, but they shouldn't be adults.
Don't Make Them Overly-Smart
Relating to the previous tip, it is essential to remember that child characters are young, so they should act like it. Children are intelligent, but they lack the experiences adults have encountered. It is for this reason, that your young characters shouldn't be smarter than the adults. When child characters propose all the answers to a problem, it seems clichéd and unrealistic to readers. Rather than writing a child that uses ironic language (or baby talk), consider having your characters speak in full yet childish sentences.
Consider Their Caretakers
As you write, make sure you know the child’s parents and caretakers. Developing the parents of a young character will help you understand the child's environment and the child's skills. For example, if a child has a parent who speaks several different languages, they may be multilingual as well. Figuring out who cares for your kid character will ensure you understand the entirety of your child's character. Even minor things like a parent who is a great chef can have effects on the development of a child's character.
Identify Their Age
It is crucial that you identify the age of your child character. It may seem like all stages of childhood are similar, but each age has specific changes. Before writing your story, choose a specific age for your character and consider how their age will affect them. Identifying the age of your character is essential in understanding their capabilities and development. Writing characters aged one to two will be very different than writing an eight-year-old character. This is why it is important to research the average development and behavior of your character's age while plotting. Also, it is critical to narrow down the age of the character, so you don't offend young readers. Kids can be very sensitive to age and the differences in age.
Guarantee They are Memorable
Lastly, it is important your characters are memorable. To ensure readers return to your novel, your characters must be relatable and memorable. Kids can be harsh critics, which is why it is especially important to create memorable child characters. Before you write, think about what makes your favorite child's character special. As you write make sure you are creating unforgettable characters. To do this confirm your characters have motivations, goals, quirks, and fears.
If you are writing a children's book or a young character, it is crucial the characters are memorable and realistic. Even though it is hard to effectively write child characters, these five tips are sure to help! If you are in need of more advice, check out the button below for part one of this series.
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