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Collect the Stories of Childhood: Summer Journal Project

SummerJournal_Blog Do you remember the summer when you were four years old? Not many of us do—the details of childhood are easily lost to time. That’s one reason why making a summer journal is such a fantastic summer project for families.

Journals help you literally collect memories of your family’s warm-weather adventures. Collages, writing, pictures of places and friends, scribbles, major milestones, petals glued to the page: A journal can collect the feelings, textures, and experiences that enriched our families’ lives.

In fact, we believe in the power of journaling so much that at KinderCare, every child ages three and up has a journal of their own for the summer season. It need not be fancy; a few pages stapled together will do. Here’s how to tell your story of summer 2015!

Materials needed:

  • Paper
  • Pencils, crayons, or other writing tools
  • Stapler (for use with adult supervision)
  • Things to decorate your journal

What to do:

  1. Have your child help create the journal by folding together several sheets of plain paper.
  2. Create a front and back cover by folding a piece of construction paper around them.
  3. Staple the paper together along the fold to bind the cover and pages together.

Together, think up a title for your child—and let your child’s imagination take the lead!

If your child has begun writing, help him write the title on the front cover.

Add stories, pictures, and drawings of your adventures as the summer progresses. Stories and pictures of ballgames, swimming lessons, family outings, and backyard barbecues all make great journal subjects.

You can also add mementos, such as ticket stubs or pressed flowers from a hike. If you are spending time with relatives, invite your child to draw pictures of Grandma’s house and the special activities they do together, like walking to the ice cream store or gardening.

Have fun remembering your family adventures!

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