Kids can write, illustrate, edit and print their own books in this incredible new program.
If you’ve spent any time watching kids lately, you can feel it. They exist in a world that is moving so fast. They have constant input, and so their attention moves from one thing to the next without ever really settling. With the rise of AI and screen time now stretching into hours each day, kids are consuming more than any generation before them. Studies suggest children are spending upwards of 5–7 hours daily on screens, and at the same time, reading for pleasure has been steadily declining. In Canada, literacy scores, particularly in reading comprehension and writing, have shown measurable drops in recent years. You can also see that children are struggling with focus and mental health more than ever before. It’s a scary and noisy world.
We don’t want reading, writing and creation to fade away.
At one of the first Story Labs sessions in Toronto, a child sat staring at a blank page longer than expected. Not because he didn’t have ideas; he had plenty. It was quite fascinating to watch, because it became clear he wasn’t used to holding onto one idea long enough to build it. A few weeks later, that same child stood in front of him classmates, holding a finished book and a certificate. His mum told me he had hung his certificate on his door. He was so proud.
That shift from hesitation to ownership is what Story Labs Kids is built around.
👉 Learn more about the program at https://getstorylabs.ca/
A Different Kind of Creative Writing Program
Story Labs Kids, founded by Zoe Share, is a new creative writing program in Toronto, but it feels like something new. It’s not only about writing a book, it’s about storying through it, from start to finish. There are no rushed prompts or half-finished exercises. Instead, kids are guided through the full process of creating something real. They imagine a story, shape it, write it, illustrate it, and ultimately turn it into a printed book. The final step of holding their printed book changes everything. When a child knows they’re not just writing for the sake of writing, but working toward something they can hold, they stay with it differently. They push through the harder parts or when they feel stuck. They care more about the outcome. They begin to see themselves not just as participants, but as creators.
Why This Matters Right Now
We’re entering a moment where AI can generate a story in seconds, and while that’s impressive, it quietly removes something essential from the process: the time it takes to think, to struggle, to figure something out. Kids don’t build confidence from instant answers. They build it from working through something that doesn’t come easily. That’s what writing does. It forces them to slow down, to make decisions, to connect ideas and to sit with something long enough to shape it into meaning.
“This experience is going to stay with my child for their whole life.” said one Story Labs Parent.
It’s not just a program, it’s a moment where something clicks. Where a child realizes their ideas matter, their voice has weight, and they can create something real. In a world that moves fast and asks kids to consume more than they create, that realization doesn’t just pass. It stays.
