DIY Prayer Journal for Kids

This is an amazing guest post by a blogger I have admired for a long time, Janna from Mustard Seeds:

These journals work great for my 5 and 3-year old who always ask to do their Bible study when they see me writing in my study book or in my prayer journal.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16

At the front of the journal, I created a list of activities things do if they need a jumping off point: Draw a picture of what you are most thankful for today? Who do you know who needs prayer? Write down a prayer and draw a picture of them. Or, I might pose a question related to the Bible story or devotion that we just read to together and have them respond by drawing a picture.

I love they will be able to look back on their journals one day and see their pure, “child-like” faith recorded in their own handwriting/pictures.

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-3

I also love that this journal is about them and Jesus, not just me reading something to them. It invites them to activitely participate.

You can read more ideas and thoughts on developing “quiet times for kids” in this post. But in the meantime, keep reading and learn how to make a journal customized to your child’s age and style.

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A TUTORIAL: Quiet-Time Journal for Kids

Materials:

• sissors
• large paper cutter
• vintage children’s book
• paper (blank, ruled, etc.)
• coloring book pages
• 1-inch binder rings
• pen and ruler
• 2 clamps
• drill with small drill bit and a larger drill bit (large enough to make a hole for the binder ring)

1. Take your vintage book apart. (Many of my books were already falling apart.) Remove the original pages. I use sissors first so that I can carefully take it apart without tears or damage. Then I used a large paper cutter to cut the left edge smooth.

2. Select paper for the inside of your book. Find things that are age-approriate. For example, for my 3-year-old, I put in a lot of blank sheets for drawing and for my 5-year-old some handwriting paper that she can use to make her “thanks” list.

I use pages from Bible coloring books, plain white paper, ruled paper.

I also inserted a few original illustrated pages from the vintage book. You can use these to divide sections of the journal if you wish.

Order the book as you please. Trim all the pages to fit the size of your cover.

Note: Be sure to save any extra pages you have from the vintage storybook. You can use these for future projects (decopage, as framed art, etc.)

Also, here are a few PDFs that I’ve created. Print these out and add them to the book.

Cover page

How to use this journal

3. Bind your book. I attempted to get my journals spiral bound at office supplies stores, but they said the hardcovers were too thick for their machines. So my hubby and I got creative and got out our drill. If you aren’t super handy with a drill, ask someone to help. This may seem overwhelming to some. But truly, it’s not as hard as it look and you will feel cool using a power tool.

I think the best part about binding the book this way is that you can refill the pages since you can open and shut the binder rings. Still, it has the feel of a journal in the way a normal binder doesn’t.

• Mark where you want your hole drilled. (Don’t go more than 1/2 inch from the book edge)

• Clamp the book together.

• Use the small drill bit to go through all layers of the book, including the hard front and back covers.
• Then, use the slightly larger bit to go through the top cover and the pages, stop short of the back cover.

• Turn the book over and drill through the layers from the back side. Doing the drilling in these two steps will prevent the cardboard covers from getting too marred aroudn the holes.

• Use an exacto knite to clean up the holds (if needed).

4. Give the book to your child. Explain what it is for. Let them sit beside you as you do your Bible study. Remember, they love to imitate us. If you want your child to love the Lord, give Him thanks, and love his Word, then they need to see you practicing it too!

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Janna created Mustard Seeds?Growing a Big Faith in my Little Sprouts –a blog born out her desire to teach her children about the Lord though creative activities and crafting. It reflects her daily life–sometime mundane and routine, sometimes creative and inspirational. She live with her husband and three young children in Colorado where they enjoy camping, gardening, crafting, reading Golden Books, watching Mary Poppins and making pie.