Journaling with Kids | 10 Journal Ideas for Kids to get Started

Want to get into journaling with your kids? There are lots of different types of journal ideas for kids depending on what their interests are. In this guide for journaling with kids, you can find tips on how to get started, what types of journals for kids you can try, and an extensive list of journal topics for kids to write about.

Journaling with Kids

If you have read our previous posts you will know that there are plenty of benefits of journaling for kids. We are not just talking about literacy skills either.

Sure, they will strengthen their writing, reading and comprehension. However, journaling with kids also allows them to get creative, organise themselves, and gives them a an outlet where they can express themselves confidently.

In this guide, you can find the following:

How to get started journaling with kids
Types of journal ideas for kids

How to journal with kids

Journaling with kids can be really rewarding, but where do you start? Here are a few tips:

Give them the right tools

To start journaling with kids they will first need a journal, or some type of note book to keep their journal entries altogether.

They will need pens or pencils, and other basic stationary. You may need little stickers, stamps, or glitter pens etc to help inspire them to start writing and making it fun.

Make sure they have time

It is important to ensure your child has time to journal. Many families have super packed schedules, and between school, after school sports and activities, sometime there just isn’t any. Make sure there is some time each day where there is nothing on, so that your child can sit, relax and just write without having to stop and start.

Give them your support but not let them stay in control

While some children will start well independently, others may need more motivation and support. Help your child with ideas to write about, and support them if they have questions.

Be careful not to confuse support with control. Journaling with kids should be about their own thoughts and ideas, and you should try to stay out of it as much as possible while still giving them the support they need.

Allow privacy if they want it

Sometimes journaling with kids means allowing them privacy to write what they want. If they are worried that you or someone else will read what they are writing, they may feel reluctant to write it down.

Kids need to know that their journal is a safe space, and that they can write confidently without the risk of someone else seeing something they want kept private.

10 Types of journal ideas for kids

One of the great benefits of journaling is that it can really be anything you want it to be.

There are so many topics to write about, lots of different journal ideas for kids, and types of journals to try that your child may want to experiment with different ideas until they find one that they like and one that works best.

Here are a few examples:

1. Feelings journal

This type of journal for kids is great for all ages and is a way to help children express their feelings and emotions.

For younger children, it may be drawing a picture and labelling it to tell what is happening. For older kids with sufficient writing skills they can use words to describe what they are feeling. Some children may want to keep this private, and it is important as parents that we respect their decisions. However, it can also act as a journal back and forth between parent and child to communicate with each other without verbal engagement.

2. Travel or Holiday journal

Activity and holiday journals are great for kids to reflect on past experiences. It gives them the chance to write about something they did on the weekend, a day out, or a recent holiday they have taken.

This type of journal for kids is telling the story of what happened and can actually be a lot of fun. It is great because the journal topic is already there, they know what they need to write about, they just need to put it all down on paper. Kids can use words, photos, and even stick souvenirs, receipts and photos into the journal to help create the story.

3. Growth Mindset Journal

Children who have a growth mindset believe that they can always improve on things. It is a great trait to have. Growth Mindset Journals can help children grow their confidence and resilience.

Using a growth mindset journal can help kids to grow their skill set and explore their different talents.

You can use growth mindset journal prompts, or you can also purchase growth mindset journal that has set pages and activities to fill out.

4. Sports Journal

This journal idea for kids can be for sports they participate in and want to document.

For example, kids can write about what position they played, strategies, where they did well during their practice or game, and what they can improve on the next time.

5. Nature Journal

A nature journal is great for those who love to get out and about and discover new things in nature.

Kids can use their nature journal to write and draw about observations when they go on nature walks.

6. Poetry Journal

Journaling for kids doesn’t need to be always story writing or recounts, children can also express themselves through poetry.

The journal can be a free poetry journal where they can write poems when they feel inspired. However, it can also be set out into sections according to topic or subjects.

So sections may include school, home, sports, nature etc. It can also be according to emotions like joy, sadness, anger, or humour. If your child likes different types of poems, it can be according to the type of poems, rhyming, acrostic, free verse etc.

7. Art Journal

An art journal is great for journaling with kids who cannot write well yet, struggle with issues like dyslexia, or simply do not like to write. It is a place where kids can draw, create and express themselves without having to use too many words.

It is a great place where you can keep all of their creations in one place, but it also may inspire the kids to start writing little bits and pieces, or at least try.

8. About Me Journal

Another great journal idea for kids is an “about me journal” where they can write, draw, cut and paste, everything about themselves.

So, it could be activities, hobbies, accomplishments etc. It could be writing their favourite quotes or drawing pictures of their favourite things.

There is no one way to do it, and all children will journal differently. It doesn’t need to be set topics, it can be free writing, daily or weekly. Each journal is unique.

9. Daily writing prompt

For children who want to get into journaling and can’t think of topics to write about then writing prompts are great.

You can see our journal prompts for kids list to get some ideas and choose one (or pick one blindly from a jar or container) and use it to start writing.

10. Freestyle journal

This is probably the most common journal idea for kids for those who don’t know what to write about or don’t have a specific topic they would like to document.

This type of journal is usually used to write about thoughts and feelings, observations and events and activities that have happened.

Kids can write or draw freely about anything they want. It is a great journal idea for kids because it is limitless and gives the most freedom of expression.

Freestyle journals are great for kids who are independent and can get creative on their own, and also for kids who struggle to find ideas to write about.

Journal Topics to write about for kids

Hopefully this list of journal ideas for kids helps your children get creative and start writing. Remember journaling with kids won’t always come natural or easy at the start, but the more kids start writing, the better they will get at it, and enjoy it more.

Read More:

Follow Mum’s Little Explorers on Facebook for more inspiration and join the Melbourne for Kids Facebook Group.