Free Printable Summer Writing Journals for Kids

As a parent, you already know how important it is to keep kids writing during summer vacation, but your child may not agree. The secret to getting him to write is to provide summer writing activities that he finds appealing. Keeping a journal of specific activities-like a visit to another state or a trip to the beach--provide writing practice that also captures memories he wants to keep. Check out these creative summer writing journals to get your child writing this summer.

KMcKay Designs offers a free printable journal called "A Day in the Life". This attractive design makes a round journal with an entry for each day. This journal can be used for recording specific days, or as a journal for a weeklong trip.

Enchanted Learning provides two journals ready for printing. One journal is designed as a Vacation Memory Book, and provides graphics to make filling in the journal fun. It includes pre- and post-trip activities and is filled with simple questions to prompt children to write. The Car Travel Activity Book is ideal for those long car trips. It contains games and puzzle, as well as, an area for recording trip information.

Summer and Kids provides printable journal pages with lines ready for printing and binding into a journal. There are many graphics to choose from to allow your child to personalize her own journal.

TLS Book's My Vacation Journal is ready to print and bind into a journal. Each page provides prompts to encourage your child to fill in the journal. Prompts make journaling more fun and provide direction for those who are reluctant to write. This delightful journal is sure to encourage even reluctant writers to fill the pages with funny moments, special sights and good food found along the way.

Kaboose provides some creative ideas or decorating a pre-made journal to personalize it to the taste of the user. For those who already enjoy writing, or journaling, these ideas add a special touch to the journal. Also available from Kaboose are directions for making personalized Summer Vacation Stationery.

Encouraging your child to write during summer vacation may be easiest if you keep your requests to recording special events or trips. Take plenty of pictures to add to the journal, and allow your child to write about what interests him. Resist the urge to insist that all words are spelled correctly--save spelling lessons for another day. Criticism is likely to cause your child to stop writing. Make keeping a journal fun by keeping one yourself and discussing your journals together at the end of the day.