When I look back on my childhood, some of my favorite summer memories aren’t of vacations, days spent by the pool, or busy summer activities--they’re of sitting under a shady tree with a good book or a notebook in my lap. I’d spend hours reading, scribbling out stories, and doodling. Those notebooks were my playground where I could give life to my daydreams. It’s that same sense of freedom, discovery, joy, and peace that I want to pass on to the children who use this summer writing journal.
This summer writing journal focuses on so much more than simply practicing penmanship and academic skills. This journal should be a space where children can explore their creativity, quietly reflect, and discover the power of their words and voice. With carefully designed prompts, creative story guides and exercises, and space for drawing and coloring, this workbook will encourage your kids to express themselves freely and fully.
Beyond the academic benefits, this journal will also cultivate emotional growth. The summer months tend to be less structured than the rest of the year, which can lead to restlessness and hard-to-process feelings. The simple act of writing in this journal can create a sense of routine and personal achievement, but you will also find gratitude exercises to help your children learn mindfulness. By writing their thoughts down on paper, they will have a way to process feelings and experiences in a healthy and constructive way.
Creating this journal has been a labor of love. If your children have taken a creative writing class with me, you know that I firmly believe that every child has a story to tell. Sometimes, all they need are the tools and encouragement to tell it. My hope is that this journal will be more than just another workbook. My hope is that it becomes a keepsake full of imagination, growth, and joy. Just like my childhood notebooks, I hope this one finds its way into backpacks, nightstands, and maybe even the shade of a good tree.
The Summer Writing Journal 1 is 170 pages and contains 30 creative writing prompts, over 80 vocabulary words for children to practice, 10 drawing + writing exercises, 10 “choose 3” writing prompts, 4 different kinds of gratitude exercises (16 total pages), 20 mindfulness writing prompts, brain dump pages, and extra blank writing prompt pages and lined pages.