I've shared in the past how keeping a journal is an important part of my life and that I've attempted to instill in my kids a love of journaling. My experience of journaling with the kids has had its ups and downs and I want to share what I've tried, our successes and failures. I'll do that in an upcoming post, but for now I'm going to share some helpful and creative tips and ideas for getting started.
The following ideas are for writing journals and art journals, but kids will naturally mix the two forms. In fact, I would encourage them to draw in their diaries and write in their art journals. One of the most important things to remember, in my opinion, is to make the activity low pressure! Allow your kids to find their own way of doing things. (Note: affiliate links included below)
Writing Journal Ideas
Starting a preschool journal - a simple idea to encourage pre-writers
Using a journal to build fine motor skills
We love using our these question-a-day journals at dinner time. The daily prompts also provide good dinner time conversation.
Happy thoughts journal for young kids (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 (The Measured Mom)
Tips for journaling with young kids (Mama Smiles)
Need journal prompts? Write Shop the best place to go. She has tons of free journal prompt ideas for kids.
Art Journal Ideas
Zentangle art journal - one of the easiest ways to create journal pages
We have gone through several of these mixed media art journals. They are our absolute favorites!
Laugh art journal prompts (Creative with Kids)
Tips for writing and drawing in journals with kids, including prompts and types of materials. (Picklebums)
Art sketch books (Buggy and Buddy)
Beginning art journaling with kids (The Artful Parent)
Making the journal special
Cool journals for kids - these include blank page journals, as well as those with built in prompts.
Journal made from recycled kid art
Family adventure journals (Go Explore Eature)
Modge podge book cover craft (Crafts by Amanda)
Decorating a composition journal (Crafts by Amanda)
Do you keep a journal? Do your kids? What are your favorite ways to keep the creative juices flowing?
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 🙂