Adults aren’t the only ones who can benefit from regular journaling practice. Keeping a journal can be fun and beneficial for kids as well; it gives them an opportunity to express their thoughts, as well as be creative and artistic. Try these journaling ideas with your kids (you can write along with them in your own journal), and you just might get them hooked on a lifelong journal writing habit.
1. Write a fictional story.
Get the creative juices flowing by writing a short story or tall tale. Be as wacky and off-the-wall as you like, and vividly describe characters and scenes. If you’re having trouble getting started, use one of these prompts:
• Answer the question: If you were president for the day, what would you do?
• Pick a wild superpower and imagine what you would do with it.
• Write about an average day’s activities from the perspective of your pet.
• Describe what your ideal life would be like 10 or 20 years from now.
• Imagine you met friendly aliens visiting Earth from another planet; where would you take them and what would you show them?
2. Write from real-life experiences.
Sometimes it’s easiest to write what you already know. Draw from your own memories and experiences to get journaling ideas. Start with one of these prompts, making sure to describe how you feel about each scenario:
• Write about what makes your best friend special to you.
• Recollect the best vacation you ever took.
• Describe your immediate family and what makes each person unique.
• Write about your proudest accomplishment.
• Describe your favorite activity or sport to do in your spare time.
3. Make a scrapbook snapshot.
Create a mini time capsule of your life by filling a page or two with photos, magazine cutouts, drawings and writing about what you love at the moment. Include your favorite foods, books, toys, movies, hobbies, songs, hangouts and friends, and go into detail about why you like these things.
Did you keep a journal when you were younger? Do you wish you had? What journaling ideas would you suggest using for kids?
Maybe you can use one of these Journaling Ideas with your kids.