I have suggested to my children on various trips that they keep journals of their experiences on the road, and like most school-aged children, they’ve balked at my suggestion, thinking that it sounded too much like schoolwork…. and who wants to do that on vacation?
We have a couple of trips planned for the next year or two, though, and I think that having a travel journal to look back on would be something really fun and interesting for them. I’ve been looking up ways to encourage them to keep some type of journal. Here are a few ideas I’ve found so far:
Scrapbooking My kids actually like scrapbooking… probably because we’ve done it since they were old enough to hold a glue stick without eating it! While it’s a bit difficult to print photos on the road, this is something that can be done shortly after getting home. And if they know that they’re going to get to get into the scrapbooking box with all of its patterned paper, stickers, vellum, ribbons, and other various doodads, they might be more likely to willingly write down their experiences so they can more easily remember them when it comes time to put them in the book.
Lists A travel journal does not have to be a chronological telling of events. Instead, it could consist of lists like “best 10 things that happened on vacation,” “strangest things seen,” “most boring moments,” and things like that. They can add to them over the course of the trip, and it can be a collaborative effort for the whole family.
Sketches For the child who prefers to draw, or who is too young to write, provide an unlined journal and a selection of colored pencils or fine felt-tipped pens. He can sketch whatever he sees that interests him.
Autographs If you are traveling to see faraway friends or family, consider giving your child an autograph book. She can ask each person that she spends time with to write in her book. Perhaps your child can also add a memory that she shared with each person.
Postcards Every time you stop somewhere interesting, allow your child to pick out a postcard. Have him write a few sentences about his experiences, and mail each one from a local post office so it is postmarked in the town that you visited. When you get home, most of the postcards should have arrived; have him slide them into the pockets of a photo album so he can take them out to re-read them whenever he wants.
With a bit of planning and enthusiasm, you can encourage your children to keep travel journals that they can treasure for years to come. Remember to keep it low-key and pressure-free!
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