Creative Journaling Tips for Summer Break

Summer break should be filled with sunshine, ice cream, and adventures—but let’s sneak in a little writing too! Before you hear groans of “Ugh, homework?”, don’t worry. These five super-fun, kid-approved journaling tricks will make writing feel like playtime. 🌞✍️

1. Sticker Stories—Because Writing Should Stick!

Stickers aren’t just for decorating notebooks—they’re secret writing superchargers! Have kids pick a fun sticker (think tacos, dragons, rockets… anything wacky!) and write a short story or memory that connects to it. Did a rocket take them to the moon? Did a dragon visit their backyard? Watch their imaginations take off!

2. Pick a Theme, Make It a Quest!

No boring journals here—let’s give summer writing a mission! Help kids create their own themed journal, like:

🚀 Space Explorer Log (alien encounters highly encouraged)
🌊 Ocean Adventures (mermaids? sunken treasure? yes, please!)
🦁 My Backyard Safari (discover the wilds of their own yard!)

A theme makes journaling feel like part of a bigger adventure, not just another school assignment.

3. Sentence Starters to Avoid the “What Do I Write?” Panic

Getting started is the hardest part, so let’s make it easy! Try these fun sentence starters:

• “Today I discovered…”

• “If I could invent a summer holiday, it would be…”

• “The funniest thing that happened this week was…”

Boom—instant inspiration! Whether they want to write about their latest pool cannonball fail or dream up a holiday where everyone eats cake for breakfast, they’ll be off and running.

4. Make It a Doodle-Writing Combo!

Words aren’t the only way to journal—bring on the art! Let kids sketch part of their day or doodle what they’re writing about. Did they see a bizarre-looking cloud shaped like a dinosaur? Draw it! Combining visuals and words makes journaling feel less like work and more like creative fun.

5. Get Adults in on the Fun

Parents and teachers, this is your cue! Teachers can send home summer journaling packets to encourage writing, and parents can set up a chill “journal time” once or twice a week. Want to make it extra fun? Join in! Kids are way more likely to stick with journaling when they see adults having fun with it too.

Final Tip: Keep It Chill

This isn’t school—there’s no pressure for perfect spelling or daily entries. Whether kids write a full-blown story or just doodle a silly sentence, journaling helps keep creativity flowing all summer long.

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