How to Write about Childhood

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. We will learn how to write about childhood, in case you’re preparing for the B2 First, C1 Advanced, or even a school or university exam, where questions about childhood often come up.

Childhood. Just one word—yet it holds a world of emotion, wonder, and imagination. Whether your early years were carefree and joyful or quieter and formative, there’s no denying that childhood memories are a rich source of storytelling and reflection.

As students of English progress to the B2 and C1 levels, the need to describe life experiences becomes very important. And what better topic to narrate than our own beginnings? Describing your childhood is not merely a practice exercise in grammar and vocabulary—it is a chance to reach out to your past and bring it vividly to life using English.

In this lesson, you’ll learn a wide range of adjectives to describe childhood experiences—from the magical to the chaotic, the nostalgic to the painful. You’ll also discover useful collocations and expressions like a cherished memory and a defining moment, perfect for giving your writing depth and feeling.

To help you put these words into practice, I’ve included two original reading passages written at B2 and C1 levels. Use them as models for your own writing, or simply enjoy the stories and reflect on your own earliest memories.

So grab your pen—or open your laptop—and take a trip down memory lane. Let’s learn how to describe those unforgettable years in rich, expressive English.

Positive Adjectives

Adjective	Meaning	Example sentence
Carefree	without worries or responsibility	Those were carefree summer days, spent riding bikes and playing outside.
Joyful	full of happiness and delight	I have joyful memories of birthday parties with balloons and homemade cake.
Innocent	pure, without bad intentions	It was such an innocent time—we believed in fairies and talked to our toys.
Playful	full of fun and games	Our playful afternoons in the garden were the highlight of my childhood.
Magical	like something out of a fairytale; enchanting	Christmas mornings were absolutely magical in our house.
Nostalgic	bringing sentimental longing for the past	Looking at old photos gives me a nostalgic feeling about my childhood.
Wholesome	morally good, healthy, or traditional	We grew up in a wholesome setting with home-cooked meals and family strolls through the park.
Golden	ideal and perfect (usually used figuratively)	Those were the golden days of my childhood before things got complicated.

How to Write about Childhood

Neutral or Descriptive Adjectives

Adjective	Meaning	Example sentence
Memorable	easily remembered; worth remembering	One of the most memorable moments was my first day at school.
Early	happening near the beginning of something	In my early childhood, we were living in a small village.
Vivid	very clear, strong and detailed	I have vivid memories of the orange walls in our nursery room.
Fleeting	lasting for a very short time	That feeling of wonder was fleeting, but I still remember it.
Formative	having a lasting effect on an individual’s development	Those formative years shaped the person I am today.
Ordinary	normal, nothing out of the ordinary.	My childhood was ordinary, but full of love.
Quiet	calm, peaceful, not noisy or busy	I had a quiet childhood, with lots of time spent reading.

How to Write about Your Childhood

Negative Adjectives

Adjective	Meaning	Example sentence
Lonely	feeling sad due to a lack of company	I had a rather lonely childhood because I was an only child.
Troubled	marked by problems or difficulties	He had a troubled childhood, frequently moving from one place to another.
Strict	involving firm discipline and rules	My parents were very strict, and there was little room for fun.
Chaotic	lacking order; very disorganised or noisy	With five siblings, my childhood home was often chaotic.
Painful	emotionally or physically distressing	There are some painful memories I prefer not to revisit.

How to Write about Childhood

Collocations & Expressions

Expression	Meaning	Example sentence
A cherished memory	a memory that is valued and held dear	One of my most cherished memories is baking biscuits with my grandmother on rainy afternoons.
A vague recollection	A memory that is unclear or recalled only partly.	I have a vague recollection of visiting a zoo, but I don’t recall anything else that happened that day.
A bittersweet moment	a memory that is both happy and sad at the same time	Leaving primary school was a bittersweet moment—I was excited about the future but sad to say goodbye to friends.
A distant memory	a memory from long ago that feels far away	Playing hide and seek in the garden is now just a distant memory, but it still makes me smile.
A defining moment	an event that strongly influences someone’s development or character	The day I stood up to a bully at school was a defining moment in my childhood—it gave me the confidence I needed.
A trip down memory lane	an experience that brings back old memories	Looking through my old school books was a trip down memory lane.
Fond memories	pleasant and affectionate memories	I have loads of fond memories of spending summers at my grandparents’ farm.
Faded memories	memories that have become unclear or less vivid over time	Some of my early childhood memories have faded with the passage of time.
Earliest memory	the first thing someone can remember from their life	My earliest memory is of blowing out the candles on my third birthday cake.
Treasure a memory	to hold a memory as valuable and important	I will always treasure the memory of my father teaching me how to ride a bike.

How to Write about Childhood

Reading Passage 1 – B2 First (B2 Level)

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Last weekend, I went back to the village where I spent most of my childhood. It was strange how everything seemed smaller than I remembered—the houses, the park, even the old primary school. Still, it was a real trip down memory lane.

As I walked past my old street, I spotted the house where we used to live. I stood there for a few minutes, remembering all the fond memories we made there—playing board games with my sister, baking with Mum, and running through the garden with our dog.

Some of those days now feel like distant memories, but there’s one in particular I’ll never forget. It was my seventh birthday, and my parents surprised me with a bicycle. I remember the excitement, and then the panic when I fell off five minutes later! It was both painful and funny—a bittersweet moment, I suppose.

I realised that even though we grow up and life moves on, some things stay with us forever. Those cherished memories of childhood remind us where we came from.

How to Write about Childhood

Reading Passage 2 – CAE (C1 Level)

The Power of Remembering

As adults, we often underestimate the importance of our earliest years. Yet, for many of us, a single defining moment from childhood can shape our personality or values well into adulthood.

I recently gave a talk at my former secondary school, and the experience was unexpectedly emotional. Being back in that environment brought on a wave of nostalgic reflection. I found myself recalling moments I hadn’t thought about in years—some crystal-clear, others mere vague recollections.

There was that one memory that stood out above the rest. I was ten years old, shy, and terrified of speaking publicly. But during a school assembly, my teacher asked me to read something I had written, a poem. I remember having trembling hands, a racing heart—but I read it. That moment became a turning point, and looking back, I know it was a defining moment in overcoming my fear.

Of course, not every memory is vivid. Many have faded, lost to time and the natural erosion of detail. But some, I choose to hold on to. I treasure the memory of my grandfather telling stories by the fire—his voice calm, his words magical.

Childhood doesn’t just pass—it imprints. And those impressions, whether cherished memories or faded recollections, are the foundation of who we become.

If you really want to learn English but don’t know how to do it and where to start, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book an online English lesson with one of our certified and experienced English teachers and take a test and consultation! Tap the banner to learn more!

Discover more from My Lingua Academy

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

How to Write about Childhood

Published by My Lingua Academy on 17 Jul 202517 Jul 2025