DIY Journals for Kids
by Melanie Gasmen-Fleck & photos by Anna Killian
Journaling encourages kids to express their feelings, record ideas, and cultivate creativity. In just a few simple steps, kids can make their own one-of-a-kind journal to kickstart their journaling journey.
Featured in our Maya Angelou issue, this crafty DIY will keep their thoughts and drawings all in one place. Soon enough, they will be writing their own memoirs like Maya!
Gather these supplies:
5 or more pieces of paper
Glue
Large embroidery needle
Thread
Markers, crayons, or paint
1 piece of cardstock, same size as paper
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Align the paper and cardstock, with the cardstock on top. Carefully fold it all in half, keeping the papers even. Make a sharp crease along the fold. It should look like a book. Now, open the journal so that the papers are once again flat. Don’t unstack them. In the crease you created, write the numbers 1, 2, and 3, evenly spacing them from the top of the page to the bottom.
Step 2: With a grown-up’s help, thread the needle and then carefully push it down through the number 2 in the middle of the paper. Grab the needle from the backside of the journal and pull the thread through, but not all the way; leave a little tail of thread in the middle of the journal. Now push your needle up through the number 1 at the top of the paper and pull your thread tight. Push your needle down through the number 3 at the bottom of the paper, again pulling your thread tightly through. Finally, push your needle up through the number 2 in the middle of the journal. Tie the two ends of the string into a knot and trim the ends.
Step 3: Now it’s time to personalize your journal! Use crayons, markers, or paint to decorate it in a way that represents you. Make as many as you’d like and fill them with your dreams, imaginative stories, or everyday happenings—just like Maya did!
