What to Look for in a Kids Journal

Starting a journal with your child can be such a simple way to create a little time together.

It doesn't have to mean sitting down every evening and writing pages about their day. Especially with younger children, journaling can be as simple as answering a question, drawing a picture or talking about something that happened.

If you're thinking about introducing a journal to your child, here are a few things to look for.

1. Make sure it's right for their age

Not every children's journal is suitable for every age.

Younger children may not be ready to sit and write lots of sentences. They might prefer drawing, answering a simple question or telling you their answer while you write it down for them.

Look for something that matches where your child is now rather than something they'll have to grow into.

2. Look for prompts that give them a starting point

Sometimes the hardest part of journaling is simply knowing what to write about.

Simple prompts can give children somewhere to start without making journaling feel like homework.

A question such as "What made you happy today?" or "What are you proud of?" can be enough to get a little conversation going.

Sometimes the prompt can be the start of a little conversation between you and your child. You can talk about it together and then write down their answer.



3. Choose something they'll actually want to use

A journal should feel like their space.

Think about what your child enjoys. Do they like drawing? Do they enjoy answering questions? Would they prefer lots of pictures or something more like a traditional notebook?

There's no point choosing something that looks great on a shelf if your child doesn't enjoy using it.

Let them choose their favourite pencil, sit somewhere comfortable and make it feel like something they get to do rather than something they have to do.

4. Make space for feelings

A journal can also give children a way to talk about things they might not bring up themselves.

Questions about feelings, friendships, worries, things they're proud of or things they'd like to try can sometimes open up conversations that wouldn't happen during the usual "How was your day?" question.
And remember, they don't have to have a big answer every time. Sometimes a drawing or just a few words is enough.

5. Think about whether you'll want to keep it

One of the nicest things about a children's journal is that it becomes a little snapshot of who they were at that age.

The things they liked, what made them laugh, what they were worried about and the little things they thought were important.

Years later, those small answers can become memories you'll really treasure.

The Little Goose Kids Journal



I created my Kids Journal to make journaling feel simple and approachable for younger children.

It has 90 journaling pages with simple prompts, with plenty of space for children to write or draw. It's designed for children aged 3+ and can be used a little at a time rather than needing to become a daily task.

When I first started using it with my own daughter, I realised that she didn't always know what to say straight away. What helped was answering the prompt myself first and giving her an example.

Over time, she started getting the hang of it and began sharing little things that she wouldn't always tell me otherwise.

You don't need to make journaling complicated. A few minutes, one simple question and a little conversation can be more than enough.