Summer Activities: 3 Great Reasons to Encourage Kids to Keep a Summer Journal Activities

A summer journal can encourage writing skills and help kids avoid the Summer Slide. But it's also a great way to encourage children to explore their emotions.

Our rule is to end every entry with: "I feel ____" [insert emotion]. It's helping my daughters become more aware of – and more comfortable talking about – their feelings. Plus, what a great treasure later on. How fun to read your journal from childhood summers as an adult!

There's nothing fancy required. We bought cheap notebooks and my daughters covered them in stickers! Make it fun and let kids be creative!