How to Create a Summer Journal with Your Children (A Keepsake They’ll Treasure for Years)

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There’s something about summer that seems to slip through our fingers.

One minute we’re celebrating the last day of school, and the next we’re buying new shoes, labelling uniforms and wondering where those six weeks disappeared to.

A summer journal is one of my favourite ways to slow things down.

It isn’t about creating a beautiful scrapbook worthy of Instagram. It’s about capturing the little moments that might otherwise be forgotten. The muddy feet after an afternoon at the river. The ice cream that melted faster than it could be eaten. The feather found on a woodland walk. The joke that had everyone crying with laughter.

Those are the memories worth keeping.

Why Make a Summer Journal?

A summer journal encourages children to notice the world around them.

Instead of rushing from one activity to the next, it invites them to pause and ask:

“What happened today that I want to remember?”

It’s a lovely way to encourage creativity, writing, drawing and storytelling, while creating a keepsake you’ll all enjoy looking back on for years to come.

The best part? There are no rules.

What You’ll Need

You don’t need expensive craft supplies.

Simply gather:

• A notebook or sketchbook
• Pens and pencils
• Glue stick
• Washi tape (optional)
• Scissors
• Coloured pencils
• Stickers (if your children enjoy them)
• A small envelope for collecting treasures

That’s it.

Things to Add to Your Journal

Every day doesn’t need a full page.

Sometimes one tiny memory is enough.

You could include:

• Drawings
• Paintings
• Pressed flowers
• Leaves
• Ticket stubs
• Maps
• Postcards
• Ice cream wrappers
• Photographs
• Recipes you’ve baked together
• Favourite books you’ve read
• Funny conversations
• New words your children invent
• Lists of favourite moments
• Things they’re grateful for

Even a feather or tiny shell can become part of your family’s story.

Easy Daily Prompts

When children aren’t sure what to write, try asking:

• What made you laugh today?
• What was your favourite thing you saw?
• Did you discover anything new?
• What did you hear?
• What did you smell?
• What are you proud of today?
• Who made you smile?
• What was the best thing you ate?
• What would you like to do again?

One or two sentences are plenty.

Younger children can simply dictate their answers while you write them down.

Create Summer Bucket Lists

Leave a few pages at the front for your family’s summer wishes.

Write down everything you’d love to do, from huge adventures to tiny everyday joys.

For example:

• Watch the sunrise
• Sleep under the stars
• Build a den
• Bake brownies
• Visit somewhere new
• Climb a big hill
• Have breakfast outside
• Eat watermelon
• Paddle in a stream
• Catch a butterfly (and gently let it go)
• Visit the library
• Paint kindness rocks

Tick them off as you go.

Collect Nature

Bring the outdoors into your journal.

Tape in:

• Fern leaves
• Wildflowers
• Tiny feathers
• Interesting seeds
• Bark rubbings
• Leaf prints

It’s like creating your own little nature museum.

Keep It Child-Led

One child might fill pages with drawings.

Another might write stories.

Someone else may simply stick in tickets and leaves.

All of those approaches are perfect.

A journal should reflect your child’s personality, not anyone else’s idea of what creativity looks like.

Don’t Forget the Ordinary Days

It’s easy to record birthdays, holidays and exciting trips.

But don’t overlook the quiet moments.

The afternoon spent reading together in the hammock.

The picnic in the garden because nobody wanted to cook.

The spontaneous water fight.

The evening walk to watch the sunset.

Often it’s the ordinary days that become extraordinary memories.

Make It Part of Your Rhythm

Rather than seeing it as another task, weave it into your evenings.

Perhaps after dinner.

Maybe before bedtime with a mug of hot chocolate.

Or every Sunday afternoon while everyone chats about the week.

Ten minutes is enough.

Looking Back Together

At the end of the holidays, spend an evening reading through your journal together.

You’ll be amazed by how many little moments you’d forgotten.

Years from now, those scribbled pages will tell the story of one particular summer, not through perfect photographs or carefully posed pictures, but through muddy fingerprints, wonky drawings, pressed daisies and the voices of your children exactly as they are today.

And really, that’s the greatest souvenir of all.

A Few Ideas for Your Next Page…

• Draw today’s weather.
• Stick in a leaf from your favourite walk.
• Write down something funny someone said.
• Rate today’s ice cream out of ten.
• Make a list of birds you’ve spotted.
• Draw your favourite view.
• Press a flower.
• Write three things you’re thankful for.
• Add a photo from your favourite day this week.
• Leave a page for your future self to read next summer.

Happy journalling!