Impressing God's Word on Your Kids' Heart || Kid Wrangler, God Lover, Life Sharer

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • By Topic
    • Books
    • Devotions for You
    • Family Devotions
    • Freebies
    • Giving
    • Holiday
    • Kids Crafts
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Party
    • Purposeful Parenting
  • All Posts
You are here: Home / Kids Crafts / Summer Journals for Little Kids

Summer Journals for Little Kids

It’s summer! School is out and our desk is already dusty. I’m loving having Lydia home every day. (But maybe missing my Mommy & Asa days…) However, I didn’t want this summer to be a big blob of nothingness. If we’re going to homeschool (even partially), I want our lifestyle to be learning. I want my kids to love learning!

So, I’ve been thinking about something creative and fun, yet laid-back to do this summer. Well, good for me, I was invited to an event for Atlanta bloggers to connect with almost every fun museum, park, etc in the city. This summer the kids and I will be visiting the Botanical Gardens, Center for Puppetry Arts, World of Coke, Fernbank Museum, Georgia Aquarium, High Museum of Art, the Children’s Museum, Stone Mountain and Zoo Atlanta! I am so excited!

I am hoping to use these “field trips” as launching pad for other activities that interest the kids. And hopefully, we can even bring a little of God’s Word into our adventures, you know, as we walk along.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to chronicle our summer with journals. I read this awesome post about journals for 2 and 3 year olds and thought Asa would love it because he loved his writing notebook during school. Then it would give Lydia some writing practice during the summer, too.

journals for kids

So, I pulled out all my stickers and let the kids have at it decorating their journals. (And when I say “my stickers” I mean it–because many of them are mine from when I was a kid! I just can’t throw away stickers. I love ’em!)

kindergarten journal

After we decorated, I let them do the first page: a self-portrait and their full name (which clearly, Asa cannot write).  They really enjoyed it. Now all I have to do is figure out some more topics! I was thinking 2 choices: 1) whatever we did that day which may include a little scrapbook-y type stuff with tickets or pictures from our fun outing or 2) draw a picture (and write a sentence for Lydia) about a topic I choose like…

  • favorite Bible story
  • favorite animal
  • shapes (for Asa)
  • a family member
  • tracing/crayon rubbing items (for Asa, idea from this cute blog)
  • what’s the weather today?
  • colors (just coloring for Asa, but maybe for Lydia, how many objects of one color she can think of?)
  • favorite toy/stuffed animal
  • friends
  • make up a story

I have no idea if this will go over well, so we’ll see what happens! I would just love to start a love for writing and journaling in my kids. I’ve always loved to journal and a blank book sets my little heart aflutter. Of course, now I tend to write more on my computer than with a pen and paper!

Do you have any ideas for me? Do your kids (pre-writers or great writers) have journals?

bible craft

ps: If you’re gearing up for summer, too, don’t forget to check out our Super Sunny Day series from last year. I’ve put them all on a Super Sunny Day Pinterest board and added some more fun sunny day activities for you!

 

More from my site

  • Earth Day: Recycled Art: Paper Tube FlowersEarth Day: Recycled Art: Paper Tube Flowers
  • Memories & MemorialsMemories & Memorials
  • How To Make a Rod & Stick PuppetHow To Make a Rod & Stick Puppet
  • Super Fast Way To Learn the Seven Days of CreationSuper Fast Way To Learn the Seven Days of Creation
  • Our Summer: Atlanta Botanical GardenOur Summer: Atlanta Botanical Garden
  • Live OriginalLive Original

Category: Kids Crafts

❮ ❮ Raising Your Kids To Love the Lord
So, how did you like Homeschooling? ❯ ❯

Comments

  1. Julie says

    May 24, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    What a great thing to do… How about some poetry? My sunburn is red, the sky is blue… 🙂
    Or doing their own movie/book/music reviews?
    There are so many possibilities!
    Have fun!

  2. J S says

    May 24, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    personally, my big initiative this summer for my 2 kids is gratitude. maybe include writing/drawing something they are thankful/grateful for or count their blessings, etc…

  3. Michelle says

    May 24, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    I love this–I am putting together a light schedule for my kids (4,6 & 8) and during afternoon I have craft/project time (they love them–loved your Advent activities!)–and I was just thinking do I have enough ideas/craft stuff so I’m not wracking my brain for an activity. This is perfect–even if we just do it a couple days a week to keep up with their outings, appreciations, or some of your items above. My brain is whirring with ideas–where did you see God today? What do you think God should create next? What do you remember that was fun last summer?

  4. Stephanie says

    May 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Some other ideas for journals. Write your prayers for your kids down and keep the book for them. For older kids, start a conversation journal with them. Write a prayer, a thought or even a question to your child and leave it on their pillow. Tell them to respond by writing something and leaving on your pillow.

  5. mandi says

    May 24, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    LOVE this Amanda!! Evan just came home today with his writing journal for the entire year. I have never seen it before b/c it doesn’t come home. It was so fun to read through so I know a summer version of things we do together will be LOTS of fun!! Also linking to this article on a Summer Guide I’m publishing tomorrow – so double thank you!!

  6. Kathy says

    May 25, 2012 at 4:04 pm

    We put topics on slips of paper and put them in a jar (google journal jar for like a gazillion topic slips!) and the kids pulled one out each day and wrote about it. If they didn’t like the first topic, they could try for another but that was it; no digging for the “best” or “easiest” one in the jar 😉

  7. janis meredith says

    May 30, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    I love, love, love this idea! I am big on journals. I started journals for each of my 3 kids when they were born. I finished my oldest daughters when she graduated college and I plan on giving it to each one when they have their first child, along with an empty journal for them to do one for their child.

    • ohAmanda says

      May 30, 2012 at 4:29 pm

      How sweet! What a precious gift. 🙂

  8. Kristen says

    June 6, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    Super idea. I’m a big fan of summer journals; just blogged about them today in a post about summer schedules. We have done them for two summers (I have a rising 3rd grader and a rising Kindergartener, plus a little scribbler), and I’ve found journaling to be a great way to keep writing skills in tact while tracking our fun. The kids started their 2012 journals today using the second half of last year’s journal, and they loved re-reading their entries. Such fun to see their growth! Definitely say go for it — maybe my post will inspire some new ideas for you. http://shewhodelights.blogspot.com/2012/06/reality-of-summer.html

  9. Marilyn says

    June 11, 2012 at 9:25 am

    Hi!! I’m a preschool teacher at Colegio Americano in Quito, Ecuador. I too love journals and have had my little students draw on their journals what they did on the weekend with their family. The children have enjoyed showing their peers their journals and what they did with their family.
    I loved the idea of sending it for the summer too!!
    Great website!
    Marilyn

Welcome!


I like to think of fun ways to lead my kids to Jesus and I like to share them with you. If you're new here, start here for some fun family-time ideas!

Keep In Touch

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

By Topic:




Featured Content

When God Used a Tattoo

Follow ohAmanda's board 2016 Book List on Pinterest.

Archives

  • ►2021 (3)
    • ►March (3)
  • ►2020 (12)
    • ►November (1)
    • ►September (1)
    • ►June (2)
    • ►April (1)
    • ►March (1)
    • ►February (3)
    • ►January (3)
  • ►2019 (11)
    • ►December (1)
    • ►November (2)
    • ►September (1)
    • ►August (1)
    • ►June (1)
    • ►May (2)
    • ►April (1)
    • ►January (2)
  • ►2018 (8)
    • ►December (2)
    • ►November (2)
    • ►August (2)
    • ►June (1)
    • ►March (1)
  • ►2017 (9)
    • ►December (2)
    • ►August (2)
    • ►July (1)
    • ►June (1)
    • ►April (1)
    • ►March (2)
  • ►2016 (20)
    • ►December (5)
    • ►November (2)
    • ►August (2)
    • ►July (2)
    • ►June (3)
    • ►April (1)
    • ►March (3)
    • ►February (2)
  • ►2015 (39)
    • ►December (3)
    • ►November (3)
    • ►October (1)
    • ►September (1)
    • ►August (1)
    • ►July (1)
    • ►June (3)
    • ►May (1)
    • ►April (4)
    • ►March (9)
    • ►February (8)
    • ►January (4)
  • ►2014 (73)
    • ►December (6)
    • ►November (5)
    • ►October (4)
    • ►September (3)
    • ►August (5)
    • ►July (8)
    • ►June (9)
    • ►May (6)
    • ►April (3)
    • ►March (9)
    • ►February (9)
    • ►January (6)
  • ►2013 (189)
    • ►December (18)
    • ►November (17)
    • ►October (25)
    • ►September (41)
    • ►August (9)
    • ►July (8)
    • ►June (11)
    • ►May (14)
    • ►April (11)
    • ►March (13)
    • ►February (12)
    • ►January (10)
  • ►2012 (190)
    • ►December (10)
    • ►November (15)
    • ►October (19)
    • ►September (12)
    • ►August (14)
    • ►July (15)
    • ►June (15)
    • ►May (12)
    • ►April (9)
    • ►March (21)
    • ►February (26)
    • ►January (22)
  • ►2011 (333)
    • ►December (19)
    • ►November (24)
    • ►October (45)
    • ►September (24)
    • ►August (19)
    • ►July (31)
    • ►June (27)
    • ►May (25)
    • ►April (25)
    • ►March (34)
    • ►February (29)
    • ►January (31)
  • ►2010 (550)
    • ►December (38)
    • ►November (33)
    • ►October (42)
    • ►September (44)
    • ►August (50)
    • ►July (53)
    • ►June (47)
    • ►May (51)
    • ►April (54)
    • ►March (52)
    • ►February (46)
    • ►January (40)
  • ►2009 (500)
    • ►December (70)
    • ►November (45)
    • ►October (48)
    • ►September (45)
    • ►August (55)
    • ►July (53)
    • ►June (26)
    • ►May (22)
    • ►April (31)
    • ►March (34)
    • ►February (32)
    • ►January (39)
  • ►2008 (451)
    • ►December (39)
    • ►November (45)
    • ►October (42)
    • ►September (41)
    • ►August (41)
    • ►July (35)
    • ►June (29)
    • ►May (47)
    • ►April (37)
    • ►March (34)
    • ►February (28)
    • ►January (33)
  • ►2007 (391)
    • ►December (36)
    • ►November (37)
    • ►October (38)
    • ►September (36)
    • ►August (45)
    • ►July (45)
    • ►June (31)
    • ►May (41)
    • ►April (32)
    • ►March (36)
    • ►February (14)

Hi there!


I like to think of fun ways to lead my kids to Jesus and I like to share them with you. If you're new here, start here for some fun family-time ideas!

Help you find something?

Keep In Touch

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2022 · Amanda White · Design by Archer Creative