Through journaling kids can exercise self-expression, explore their creativity and communication skills. Journaling is a low pressure activity, teaches mindfulness and even improves mood!
The following helpful and creative journal ideas cover both writing and art journals, but many kids will naturally mix the two forms. Allow your kids to find their own way of doing things, after all, the journal is for them, and no one else.
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Table of contents
Choosing a Journal
We have gone through so many of these mixed media art journals. They are our absolute favorites! We love them because the paper is smooth, thick and can take a variety of media - even watercolor. They are perfect for kids who want to draw and write on the same page. There is a small size for travel.
We also have a great list of journals for kids that help develop emotional intelligence.
You can also make a journal from recycled kid art - upcycle one of the hundreds of art pieces your kids have brought home from school, or doodled in their spare time to make their very own blank book.
Art Journal Ideas
Zentangle-inspired art journal - This is one of the most relaxing ways to create journal pages. Zentangle-inspired art also makes a great family activity as I share in the post.
For another family-oriented journal page idea, try our tandem drawing activity. Watch the video to see how its done.
Harness children's propensity for sticking stuff to paper with this tape art journal page idea.
Stick to a simple theme like a single shape. Is your child in a rut? Suggest they draw and write about a shape. They can create designs or turn the shape into an object. For example, a circle theme can be a page of circles or a drawing of a pair of circles turned into a bicycles.
Does your child have a hobby? Combine writing and art with a hobby journal in which they draw pictures of their interest and then label or write stories about each picture. For example, my bird loving son enjoyed using colored pencils to draw birds and then write down their names and characteristics.
MORE:
- Tips for writing and drawing in journals with kids, including prompts and types of materials. (via Picklebums)
- Art sketch books (via Buggy and Buddy)
- Beginning art journaling with kids (via The Artful Parent)
Writing Journal Ideas
Starting a preschool journal - Encouraging pre-writers to start a journal helps them develop imagination, storytelling and fine motor skills.
Sometimes you need an outside prompt to motivate journal entries. We love using our these question-a-day journals at dinner time. The daily prompts also provide good dinner time conversation.
Dedicate some space for "wonder why" questions instead of looking stuff up with Google the instant you think of it. We take you through some thoughtful ways to get kids to express and nurture their curiosity.
MORE:
- Happy thoughts journal for young kids (via Homegrown Friends)
- Write back and forth with your kids with a mommy and me journal (East Coast Mommy)
- Science journals and notebooks (KC Edventures)
- Poetry journals (Buggy and Buddy)
- Helping young writers find journal topics (via The Measured Mom)
- Tips for journaling with young kids (via Mama Smiles)
Meredith @ Homegrown Friends says
Great post Erica! Pinned and scheduled to share. Thanks for including our Happy Journals 🙂
Kim Kautzer says
Thank you for including our WriteShop writing prompts with your readers. Sharing this post on social media ... so many great links and ideas!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks for all your great prompts.
Felicity Bent says
Thanks so much for this idea. I keep a journal but wouldn't have thought of doing it with children. I'm currently teaching a very challenging class of 7-year-olds and introduced them to the idea this week. I bought them each a 10c exercise book and created a lesson around journaling. Well, they loved the idea. Some of the girls love writing anyway so that was a done-deal. However, I was really pleased to see that a couple of the less able boys were really into it. These are kiddos who REALLY need to practise their writing and unfortunately they're at a school where they don't do much of this. So thanks again for the idea.
Carol Cameleon says
I've bookmarked this to explore at my 'leisure'... thanks Erica 🙂
Carol Cameleon says
I've bookmarked this. Great links and ideas. Thanks Erica 🙂