Have you ever watched a child build an entire kingdom out of LEGO bricks? Or draw a treasure map of an imaginary island with fantastical monsters?
I have. I was that kid, and I’ve taught those kids. Imagination and possibility hide around every corner of a child’s mind—they just need a little encouragement to bring those ideas to life.
Kids are Natural Worldbuilders
Before a child ever learns words like “setting” or “worldbuilding,” they’re already imagining underwater cities, hidden forests, talking animals, underground tunnels, and magical kingdoms.
Play Barbies with a group of five-year-olds for twenty minutes, and soon you have a nice mermaid, an evil queen, and someone using her freeze powers (when did she get those) to stop the bad guys.
Tell a group of seven-year-olds that their play equipment is a grand sailing ship, and watch as they invent sea monsters, a shocking number of tsunamis (not sure how we survived so many), and a wicked octopus.
Hand a group of eight- to ten-year-olds some aged paper, a list of questions, and the freedom to create whatever they want—and voilà! Worlds will be born. I did this with my students a few years ago, and their creativity absolutely delighted me.
After experiencing the joy of worldbuilding with kids, I decided to create the Young Worldbuilder’s Starter Kit—a free printable activity guide inspired by the world of Willomina Tip: Lost in the Imperial City.
Whether your child dreams of writing stories, loves fantasy adventures, or simply enjoys drawing maps and inventing new places, this guide is designed to help turn imagination into something they can build, explore, and eventually write about.
What’s Inside the Young Worldbuilder’s Starter Kit?
The printable workbook is packed with creative activities that encourage kids to think like authors and explorers.
Inside, they’ll find:
- A welcome from Willomina herself
- A fantasy world questionnaire to spark ideas
- A guided map-building activity
- Character creation worksheets
- A character drawing page
- A fantasy vehicle design activity inspired by the airships of the Imperial City
- A personal letter from Willomina encouraging young creators
- A creative writing adventure page
- An Official Young Worldbuilder Certificate. (Like, very official; some might call it “frameable.”
Every activity is designed to encourage creativity without feeling like homework.
More Than a Writing Worksheet
I’ve always learned best by creating something. As a kid, that meant drawing characters and inventing stories. As an adult, I discovered my students learned the same way.
Think about it, worldbuilding naturally combines:
- Creative writing
- Reading comprehension
- Art
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Imagination
Instead of filling in blanks with “correct” answers, children become the author, cartographer, inventor, and explorer of their own world.
Kids are always being told how the world works, what can or cannot happen, and what to do. But when they become the worldbuilders, suddenly they are in charge, and there isn’t just one right answer. It’s whatever they can imagine.
Inspired by Willomina Tip
Many of the activities draw inspiration from the world of Willomina Tip: Lost in the Imperial City, a whimsical world of floating islands, airships, mysterious legends, and dangerous revolutions.
But the point of this workbook is not to copy my world.
My goal is to give young creators the tools and confidence to build one of their own.
Download Your Free Copy
If your child loves fantasy, storytelling, drawing maps, or imagining entirely new worlds, I’d love to share this free resource with you.
Join the Polaris Network newsletter below, and I’ll send the Young Worldbuilder’s Starter Kit straight to your inbox. (You have my solemn promise that I will never spam you.)
I hope it inspires many new adventures—and maybe even the first chapter of a story only your young author can tell.
About Grace Gidman
Grace Gidman is the author of Willomina Tip: Lost in the Imperial City and a former elementary educator who loves encouraging children to read, imagine, and create. Through stories, printable activities, and fantasy resources, she hopes to inspire the next generation of young worldbuilders and storytellers.