As a parent, you desire nothing more than to connect with your children. You likely have a wealth of advice and encouragement to offer them, but how do you communicate it in a way they’ll take to heart?
A special way you can show your love for them is to write letters to your children in a journal, whether they are toddlers, teenagers, or young adults. Writing the letters in a journal ensures all the pages stay together, so none of it gets lost. A sturdy cover will also keep it safe over decades and make it a beautiful, one-of-a-kind gift. Our premium leather-bound journals, like our Artisan and Heritage Collections, are made just for this purpose! And in whatever space you don’t fill, your child can begin their own journal based on the wisdom you shared—and even write letters to their children for a true family heirloom.
Below, we’ve listed six suggestions for how to write a letter to your children in a journal:
- Consider the Good in Their Life
- Reinforce Their Potential
- Share Your Best Memories Of/With Them
- Share Memories from When You Were Their Age
- Share Your Best Life Advice
- Include Photographs
The letters will look different depending on if your child is very young or older in age, so we’ve split each section into recommendations for both. If they’re older, they can read the journal right away, and if they’re still young, they’ll love reading it once they grow up. Give it as a birthday present, Christmas present, or at high school or college graduation for a gift they’ll never forget.
1. Consider the Good in Their Life
First, consider the highlights of their current life. What does life look like for them right now? What are their accomplishments—even the small ones? What positive elements make you proud or happy as a parent?
- If they’re a baby/toddler… What is their personality like in this stage? Are they bubbly? Giggly? Stubborn? What about them makes you laugh or smile with joy? Do they like certain foods or interests? Do they have a favorite animal or color yet? Do they have lots of hair? What about them reminds you of you and your spouse? Write it all down from your perspective as a parent just getting to know them!
- If they’re older… How do you see your son or daughter show dedication, whether through chores, homework, sports practice, or loving their friends? Has your high schooler worked hard on their college entry exams? Maybe math problems or soccer drills aren’t their strong suits, but do they regularly display patience or welcome others? How have you seen their character grow in good ways? Every stage of life has something good about it.
2. Reinforce Their Potential
Your child has a unique potential that only he or she can fulfill. Recognize their positive qualities, and encourage them to keep growing in those ways. Written encouragement speaks life into your child. This is especially important when they may not recognize the potential in themselves. Hearing it from a parent can help them pursue it!
- If they’re a baby/toddler… What could the personality traits they’ve already shown lend themselves to in the future? Maybe they are stubborn, but they could make a great team captain or CEO one day. Maybe they laugh a lot or share their toys with their siblings, and you know they’ll always cheer others up and make them feel seen.
- If they’re older… Remind your kids of what they’re capable of. They need to hear it from you perhaps more than anyone else, especially as the world around them can discourage them even as young adults. If they’re on a sports team, remind them they can keep going even when it’s tough. If they’re artistic, encourage them to pursue creative outlets. Don’t make them feel locked into a certain career or life path, but simply encourage them to tap into their skills with confidence.
3. Share your Best Memories Of/With Them
Sharing memories you have both of your kids as a baby and with them as they’ve gotten older helps you bond over happy moments together. They may not remember the memory, but they’ll love to hear it from your point of view. Maybe they remember it faintly, and you can bring it alive for them.
- If they’re a baby/toddler… Talk about fun things you’ve done with them. Babies clearly won’t recall their first trip to the zoo or meeting their first friend, but toddlers might remember that special vacation to Florida you took. Hearing about what they did will bring a smile to their face.
- If they’re older… Remind them of the moments you’ve loved together—teaching your son to fish or catch a baseball; teaching your daughter to ride her bike; setting up a tent in the backyard or going to the pool in the summers. Quality time strengthens relationships, and those memories deserve to be reminisced upon.
4. Share Memories From When You Were Their Age
Many kids are also curious about what you were like when you were their age. Tell them about yourself! Did you share the same interests—or even insecurities? Did you look alike? Where did you live, what was your family like, and what are some of the moments that defined who you were—the good and the embarrassing?
- If they’re a baby/toddler… Maybe you don’t know what you were like as a baby, but what was your personality as a toddler, or as far back as you can remember? What have your own parents told you about yourself at this age?
- If they’re older… Your kids will love to hear about your younger years. How did you dress? Did you have braces and glasses, too? What did clothes and hairstyles look like back then? What toys or gadgets were trending? What were you afraid of? Were there teachers you liked or disliked? When did you get in the most trouble? How did you meet your spouse, and how do you see yourself in your kids?
5. Share Your Best Life Advice
Of course, as a parent, sharing wisdom is one of the best things you can do. Kids will be grateful for it at some point. Discussing the things that have made you nervous that you’ve conquered in the past will help them believe they can overcome similar challenges, too, and make them feel less alone. At the end of the day, you have lived longer and know a thing or two about growing up.
- If they’re a baby/toddler… Share wisdom for friendships, school, and hobbies. Their life is an empty canvas right now, and hearing your advice will equip them as they start those things. Remember to use simple language they can understand even as young elementary schoolers, unless you’re planning to give the journal to them later.
- If they’re older… Recognize ways they’ve already shown wisdom or overcome challenges, and share more advice for events you know they’ll face in the future, like a first date or job interview. Let them know they’re not the only ones that have experienced their fears or uncertainties. Show your heart for them.
6. Include Photographs
Last but not least, paste in some printed photos—with them as a baby, or maybe of you when you were younger! They’ll love having this as a scrapbook to look back on. Seeing visuals of their past can help trigger special memories, and seeing you younger can connect them to you in a lighthearted way.
Writing letters to your son or daughter is an incredible activity for bonding with them. It’s a treasure they’ll be overjoyed—and intrigued—to receive, and one that will make a life-changing impact. With these prompts and a premium leather-bound journal, your words are sure to be preserved and cherished for years to come.