Oxford Children’s uncovers creative writing trends in BBC 500 Words report

This week, Oxford Children’s published new research exploring how young writers across the UK are using language, drawing on thousands of stories submitted to the BBC 500 Words competition. Released ahead of World Book Day and during the UK’s National Year of Reading, the findings reveal that, despite technology’s expanding role, libraries, printed books, and traditional stories continue to spark children’s imaginations.  

For over ten years, Oxford Children’s has partnered with BBC 500 Words to analyse children’s writing and understand how their language and interests evolve. Each story submitted contributes to the Oxford Children’s Corpus, one of the world’s largest databases of children’s written English. This year’s findings respond to ongoing conversations about children’s reading habits, digital engagement, and the future of literacy, providing a snapshot of the changing ways young people express themselves. 

Our latest analysis examines more than 46,500 stories written by UK children aged 5-11.  Lexicographers, researchers, and editors from OUP explored emerging vocabulary, cultural references, and thematic trends to understand how children interpret the world around them.  

Andrea Quincey

Director of Early Years and Primary Publishing

“It’s been fascinating to analyse the brilliant stories children have submitted over the decade and track the creative ways they are using language.”

How children are writing about artificial intelligence

One of the notable shifts in this year’s stories is in how young writers engage with AI, with mentions increasing 50% in the last year. In 2020, AI appeared mostly in children’s stories in relation to an assistant or robot, and by 2023 it was often associated with a dangerous entity. In 2025, whilst children still express concern, there is an increase in AI becoming an everyday feature in daily life or an imagine future, with examples of ChatGPT appearing as a character or narrator in stories.

Children also continue to reflect anxieties about screen time. Doomscrolling appears for the first time in writing, and references to brain rot, Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year, jumped from one to 210 in the past year.

How gaming is shaping vocabulary

Gaming and social media are influencing children’s word choices. Mentions of dandy, inspired by the Roblox virtual universe, increased by over seven times, while the viral six-seven trend appears in stories more than 400 times. References to tablet increased by 33% in the last year.

Libraries continue to inspire young writers

Despite the rise of technology, children’s fascination with libraries remains strong. Over the past decade, mentions of library in children’s writing have more than doubled, while mentions of librarian increased by over 80%.  

Since 2015, references to book have risen 25%, comic 16%, and novel 15% in the last year. Most of these refer to printed books, with digital formats mentioned far less—mentions of kindle dropped more than 70% over the decade. Traditional stories continued to capture children’s imagination with Cinderella and Snow White in the top ten fictional characters children wrote about. 

Sarah Mears, Programmes Director at Libraries Connected, said: “We are so excited to know that children are increasingly mentioning libraries and librarians in their 500 Words stories. Reading sparks children’s creativity and nurtures their empathy, both crucial life skills.”  

Celebrating the finalists

The winners of BBC 500 Words will be announced in a special programme with The One Show (BBC One, 7pm GMT) on Friday 6 March 2026, with further broadcasts on CBBC and BBC iPlayer across the weekend. Stories from the 50 finalists will also be available on the BBC Bitesize for Teachers website, and we have published the BBC 500 Words Winner’s Book, featuring the six winning stories illustrated by OUP’s own artists.

At this year’s grand final at Windsor Castle, six OUP illustrators—Korky Paul, Harriet Muncaster, Paula Bowles, Rochelle Falconer, Ken Wilson-Max, and Leigh Hodgkinson—joined us to celebrate young writers from across the UK at a reception hosted by Her Majesty The Queen.

You can find out more about the research and read the full report here.