Why should you encourage your kids to start writing a journal? The benefits of journal writing include improved writing fluency, improved communication skills, and increased confidence. Plus, it gives your child a lifelong skill that will help with their emotional intelligence. Why You Should Encourage Kids to Start Writing a Journal Once kids can pick up a pencil or crayon, they can start … [Read more...]
Journal Prompts for Kids
Kids sometimes need journal prompts to get started writing. Not all kids do. And not all kids need a prompt every time they write. It's important to be flexible. However, your child is struggling with what to write, try a prompt or a book like Journal Sparks. You can always, always, always suggest that your child write about his or her feelings at the moment or events that happened during … [Read more...]
6 Art Journal Backgrounds For Kids
When your kids want creative project, it's fun to make art journal background pages. Then when you have journaling ideas, you already have beautiful backgrounds ready to go. We use spiral bound journals with mixed media papers because this works for watercolors, acrylics, pen, and pencil such as this journal from Strathmore or this one from Dylusions. 6 Art Journal Backgrounds For Kids 1. … [Read more...]
Beautiful Book of Writing Prompts
Image and Imagination: Ideas and Inspiration for Teen Writers by Nick Healy and Kristen McCurry captivated me from first glance. The book is filled with gorgeous photographs, beautiful design, and interesting writing prompts. What's more, I think it can be used for writers of all ages, not just teens. Beautiful Book of Writing Prompts The authors (and the title) suggest this book is only for … [Read more...]
10 Character Based Journals for Kids
If your child loves these stories -- stories like Frozen, Magic Tree House, or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, let her use the love of the characters as motivation for journal writing. See if one of these 10 character-based journals for kids would interest YOUR child and get him writing during summer vacation. Note: descriptions are from the publishers. 10 Character Based Journals for Kids Disney … [Read more...]
Handmade Journals for Kids
I decided to make handmade journals for my kids, not to buy my kids actual notebooks or journals this summer because I think they're too big. Big overwhelms. Big is too many pages to fill. (Clearly my children haven't inherited my journal hoarding / journal filling addiction!) So, I made simple, small, handmade books for my kids to use for summer writing. And, if they fill up one journal, I can … [Read more...]
Finishing Summer Writing Homework (GROAN)
My fifth grader is supposed to be keeping a journal over the summer --that will be 1) graded and 2) used as an assessment. (Groan.) Summer Writing Intervention AJ does not want to write and it shows in her work. I can barely get a paragraph out of her. (But, at least she writes with lots of voice*!) *voice = when the writer's personality comes through his or her writing What can a … [Read more...]
Art Journals with Kids
by Susan Getty, mom, librarian, and blogger. Art Journals With Kids Post #2 (Art Journals With Kids Post #1) Art Journals with Kids In mid-November, I posted on my blog about the idea of creating artist/writer's journals as a group project with my girls and some of their friends (Artist/Writer's Journaling Begins). Completely inspired by Jess at Teachable Moments, I had been wanting to … [Read more...]
Art Journals With Kids
Today I invite you to join me in art journaling with your kids in the experience, too. I began to explore art journaling after realizing how much joy I find in creating. Before kids, I used my music and dance to channel my creativity. Now, I found myself missing that creative part of self different than my writing. Beginnings of Art Journaling While in the mountains, we used our blank books, … [Read more...]
Make Handmade Journals – Directions and Variations
I was inspired by Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord, the author of Handmade Books for a Healthy Planet, to use recycled materials and teach kids how to make handmade journals. Step One - We used cardboard from cereal boxes and granola bar boxes. Then, we covered the covers with fabric. Step Two - Find paper (if you can use recycled paper, glue the two used sides together.) We hole punched … [Read more...]