Help Your Kids Improve Their Journaling—And Why It Matters

Want to help your kids capture more than just “It was fun”? With the right prompts and encouragement, travel journaling can become a powerful way for them to reflect, build writing skills, and preserve memories they’ll treasure for life. Here are simple ways to make it meaningful.

When we first started traveling long-term with our kids, I was excited for them to keep journals. What an amazing way to capture their experiences—right? The sights, the sounds, the unexpected moments that would make for lifelong memories.

But, as it turns out, journaling doesn’t always come naturally.

Instead of detailed reflections, I got:

"Today was fun. I had a good breakfast. We saw some stuff. It was fun."

Hmm. Not exactly the rich storytelling I’d imagined. But then I realized—like anything, journaling is a skill. And it just takes a little practice (and maybe some gentle nudging) to turn those bland recaps into colorful snapshots of their adventures.

A little prompting made all the difference. Instead of "good breakfast," they started writing, "This morning in Tokyo, I had miso soup and pickled vegetables for breakfast! I kind of prefer pancakes, but it was still tasty. Not too spicy, so that was good." Instead of "We saw some stuff," they wrote, "We took a shinkansen (that’s a high-speed train!) to the town of Nikko. The cherry blossoms were blooming, and the air smelled like spring."

With a bit of guidance, their journals transformed into something meaningful—not just for them, but for all of us to look back on. Here are some ways to make travel journaling a fun, engaging habit for your kids.

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Tips for Encouraging Meaningful Travel Journaling

Make It a Daily Ritual

Set aside time each day—maybe at breakfast or during a quiet moment in the evening—to jot down thoughts. Keeping it consistent helps turn journaling into a habit rather than a chore.

Give Them a Special Journal

Let them pick out a notebook they love (or even a digital option like a blog or a note-taking app). The more ownership they have, the more excited they’ll be to fill it.

Turn It Into a Scrapbook

Journaling doesn’t have to be all words. Encourage them to tape in ticket stubs, sketch what they see, or add postcards and photos. Little keepsakes will make their journal feel even more special.

Use Prompts to Get Them Started

Kids often need a nudge, so try simple, engaging questions to spark their creativity:

• What was the most interesting thing you saw today?

• Describe the tastiest (or weirdest!) food you tried.

• What new words did you learn on this trip?

• Draw a picture of a place or object that fascinated you.

• If today had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it?

Encourage Descriptive Writing

Help them think beyond what they saw. What did they hear? Smell? Feel? Writing with the senses makes memories come alive on the page.

Journal Together

When kids see you writing about your own experiences, they’re more likely to do the same. Share an entry, talk about what stood out to you, and invite them to do the same.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

To get past the one-word answers, ask questions that invite reflection:

• How did today’s experience make you feel?

• What surprised you the most?

• What was different about today compared to home?

• If you could tell a friend one story from today, what would it be?

Keep It Fun & Low Pressure

Remind them there’s no right way to journal. If they want to write, draw, make lists, or even dictate their thoughts for you to jot down, that’s great. The goal is to capture memories in a way that feels natural to them.

Travel journaling isn’t just about the moment—it’s about the memories they’ll revisit years from now. The details they capture today will be the stories they cherish tomorrow. And with a little encouragement, their journals will be filled with more than just "It was fun." They’ll be filled with wonder, curiosity, and all the little things that make travel so magical.