10 Benefits of Daily Journaling for Kids

In a world full of screens, distractions, and fast-paced schedules, encouraging your child to slow down and reflect can be one of the most powerful habits they build. Journaling is a simple tool that can help your child in so many beneficial ways.

Whether your child is 6 or 16, daily journaling offers a range of emotional, academic, and developmental benefits. It's more than just writing—it’s a doorway into self-awareness, reflection, gratitude, creativity, and growth. Here are 10 great reasons why journaling every day is good for kids:

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more info please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

10 Powerful Reasons Why Kids Should Journal Every Day

1. Improves Writing Skills

Just like reading, writing gets better with practice. Daily journaling helps children strengthen their grammar, expand their vocabulary, and become more comfortable expressing their ideas on paper. Over time, you’ll likely notice improvements in their schoolwork, too. A short five minutes per day for younger kids is a good starting point. Allow older children more time if they need it!

Recommended Journal: Simply Grateful Daily Gratitude Journal

via: Amazon

2. Encourages Self-Expression

Kids often have big feelings and wild imaginations. A journal gives them a safe, private space to share their thoughts, explore their ideas, and say things they might not feel comfortable saying out loud. It’s a powerful outlet for creativity and honesty. If your child prefers to express themselves with pictures, drawings, or doodles a journal is the perfect outlet for this type of self expression too.

Recommended Journal: Wreck It Journal For Kids

by Sora Vee

3. Builds Emotional Intelligence

Writing about their day helps children better understand what they’re feeling and why. This kind of self-reflection boosts emotional intelligence—an essential skill for handling relationships, stress, and decision-making.

Recommended Journal: How Do I Feel? Emotions Journal For Kids

Find it HERE

4. Supports Mental Health

Journaling can reduce anxiety, calm racing thoughts, remind them of what they are thankful for, and provide emotional relief. When kids get in the habit of writing through their worries or frustrations, they’re learning healthy coping skills that can benefit them for life. Journaling is also a great tool to let your child express what they are grateful for too! Keeping a list of "thankfuls" reminds children of all the positive things going on in their lives

Recommended Journal: Happy Confident Me Daily Journal

Find it HERE

5. Strengthens Memory and Comprehension

Recounting their day helps children process experiences and retain information. It reinforces learning and builds their ability to organize thoughts into logical sequences—a useful skill in both academics and everyday life.

Recommended Journal: Question A Day Journal For Kids

find it Here

6. Promotes Goal Setting

Kids can use their journals to set small goals—like finishing a book, being kinder to a sibling, or learning something new. Writing down these intentions makes them more real, and tracking progress builds motivation and confidence.

Recommended Journal: Growth Mindset Journal for Boys

via E. Sautter

7. Fosters Gratitude

Even a simple daily prompt like “What made me smile today?” can help children shift their focus toward the positive. Gratitude journaling has been linked to increased happiness, better sleep, and a more optimistic outlook for children of all ages.

Recommended Journal: The 5 Minute Gratitude Journal For Kids

via Amazon

8. Increases Focus and Mindfulness

The act of slowing down, picking up a pen, and writing about the present moment helps kids develop mindfulness. It teaches them to pay attention to their thoughts and surroundings—building better focus and emotional balance. A simple lined notebook is a great way to get started.

Recommended Journal: All The Love Notebook

find it here

 

9. Boosts Problem-Solving Skills

When children write about a challenge or tough situation, they often discover their own solutions. Journaling encourages critical thinking and emotional distance, helping them approach problems with a calmer, clearer mindset.

Recommended Journal: Me: A Compendium: A Fill In Journal For Kids

from: Wee Society

10. Creates a Personal History

Over time, a journal becomes a treasured record of a child’s thoughts, dreams, and growth. Looking back on old entries can be a joyful way to reflect on how far they’ve come.

Journaling doesn’t need to be perfect, polished, or even long. A few sentences a day can make a big impact. Whether your child prefers writing by hand, typing on a tablet, or using drawings to share their thoughts—what matters most is building the habit.

So grab a notebook, pick a quiet moment, and invite your child to start writing. You might be surprised at how much they enjoy it—and how much they grow from it.

Homemade Cherry Cinnamon Rolls

There’s something magical about pulling a pan of freshly baked cinnamon rolls from the oven. The sweet aroma of cinnamon, sugar, and butter fills the kitchen, and suddenly, everyone seems to gather around the table a little faster. 

Cinnamon rolls are one of those timeless treats that feel just as perfect on a lazy weekend morning as they do during the holidays, served warm with coffee or hot cocoa.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Also, Paradise & Pennant Food Co. provided me, free of charge, with samples of their sweetened real fruit products to test. The opinions and recipes are all mine!

This recipe makes soft, pillowy rolls with a gooey cherry and cinnamon-sugar swirl and a vanilla sugar glaze that melts into every crevice. While they do take a bit of time with the rising and rolling, the process is part of the charm—it’s a recipe that invites you to slow down and enjoy the steps along the way.

Whether you’re baking these for family brunch, a special celebration, or simply because you deserve a cozy homemade treat, these cinnamon rolls will be worth every minute. Plus, you can prep them the night before and bake them fresh in the morning, making them an excellent make-ahead option.

A Twist on Traditional Cinnamon Rolls

Using sweetened real fruit red cherries in these cinnamon rolls puts a little extra flavor and color in these rolls! The bright red diced cherry pieces look so festive and the cherry aroma while baking is just out of this world good. 

If you have never used sweetened real fruit before I highly recommend you use Paradise Fruit Co. They have a huge variety of fruits and flavors that add so much color and flavor to your baking. Also, their website contains tons of delicious recipes you will have to try!!  

So grab your mixing bowl and mixer, warm up the oven, and let’s make the kind of cinnamon rolls that disappear almost as quickly as you set them on the table. Here’s a cozy, classic recipe for Homemade Cherry Cinnamon Rolls that are soft, fluffy, and full of gooey cherry cinnamon-sugar filling.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)

• 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for rolling)

• 1 tsp salt

For the Filling:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed

• 2 ½ tbsp ground cinnamon

• 1 8oz container Paradise Fruit Co. sweetened real fruit red cherries, diced 

For the Vanilla Sugar Glaze:

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• 2–3 tbsp milk (to thin, if needed)

---

Instructions

1. Make the Dough

   • In a large bowl, combine warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.

   • Mix in sugar, melted butter, and eggs. Stir well.

   • Add flour and salt gradually, mixing until a dough forms.

   • Knead on a floured surface for about 8 minutes (or with a dough hook for 5 minutes) until smooth and elastic.

2. First Rise

• Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm spot for 1–1 ½ hours, or until doubled in size.

1. Prepare the Filling

• Mix softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl until spreadable.

• Dice the sweetened real fruit cherries into small bits

1. Shape the Rolls

• Punch down risen dough. Roll out into a large rectangle (about 16x12 inches).

• Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough. Then sprinkle the diced sweetened cherries over the dough.

• Starting from the long side, roll dough tightly into a log. Slice into 12 even pieces.

1. Second Rise

• Place rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.

1. Bake

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

• Bake rolls for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown.

1. Make the Glaze

   • Mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. If too thin add more powdered sugar.

2. Frost and Serve

   • Spread glaze over warm cinnamon rolls. Serve immediately!

PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

Optional Overnight Rolls

For overnight cinnamon rolls, prepare up to the second rise, cover, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let rolls sit at room temp for 45 minutes before baking.

These Cherry Cinnamon Rolls did not last long in our house!! This treat was definitely TEEN BOY Approved!!

10+ Mouthwatering Summer Desserts To Serve At Your Next Cook-Out

Looking for easy summer dessert recipes that don’t require you to fire up the oven on a hot summer day? No problem! These tasty treats are easy to make, whip up quickly, and will satisfy any sweet tooth, keeping you and your guests cool all summer long. 

One of my favorite things about summertime is the desserts. Warm sunny days are perfect for outdoor grilling, and in our family, we believe a cookout isn’t complete until dessert is served.

This post contains affiliate links (Amazon) which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more info please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

To me, summertime desserts should be light and refreshing, unlike the dense baked goods we crave in the fall. With an abundance of fresh seasonal fruits like strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, and peaches, your summer dessert recipes can be taken to the next level of deliciousness.  

Some of my fondest summer memories are helping my children build their own custom s’mores while enjoying a bonfire. My oldest insists on smothering a thick layer of creamy peanut butter onto the graham crackers before adding a piece of dark chocolate and a warm, gooey marshmallow, while my youngest prefers his s’more plain and simple. 

Whether you are gathered around an evening campfire assembling s'mores or digging into an ice cream sundae, summer desserts are sure to become some of your favorite memories. To help you stay cool this summer, I am sharing 10 of the best summer dessert recipes for you to try at your next cookout or party. Many of these dessert recipes are easy enough that your kids can help make them too.

10+ Summer Dessert Recipes To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Prepare these cool ice cream treats ahead of time and serve them right after dinner. 

Ice Cream Desserts

1. Cookies & Creme Frozen Pudding Pops

This kid-friendly dessert recipe is perfect for all ages. Simple pantry staples combine to make a cool summer treat.

Mix crushed Oreo cookies, thawed Cool Whip whipped topping, and chocolate pudding together until blended. Spoon the mixture into small paper cups and insert a wooden popsicle stick or plastic spoon into the center. Freeze at least 6 hours or until firm. Remove the paper cup before serving. 

2. Ice Cream Cake

This cake is a great alternative to the traditional birthday cake if you are hosting a summer birthday party. 

Whisk together ½ cup fudge ice cream topping with 1 cup of cool whip and a package of chocolate-flavored instant pudding. Unwrap 4 ice cream sandwiches and place them side by side on a sheet of aluminum foil. Spread a layer of the chocolate pudding mixture. Repeat until you have three layers. Frost the top and sides with the remaining Cool Whip, then loosely cover with more aluminum foil. Freeze for 5 hours before serving.

3. Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

This recipe is a twist on the traditional ice cream sandwich. Keep a few extras in the freezer to serve to unexpected guests who pop in for a visit this summer. 

Spoon 2 tablespoons of softened vanilla ice cream onto one chocolate chip cookie. Place a second cookie on top of the ice cream. Roll the edges in chopped peanuts. Place them in the freezer until hardened (1-2 hours). 

4. Orange Creamsicle Layered Dessert

A refreshing and creamy dessert guaranteed to become one of your favorites.  Be warned, you will want to make it again and again!

Line a loaf pan with aluminum foil. Spread 2 cups of softened orange sherbet into the bottom of the pan. Beat 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with 1 can of sweetened condensed milk and ½ cup orange juice together. Sir, in 8 ounces of Cool Whip topping. Pour over the sherbet in the pan and freeze for 4 hours. To serve, invert the pan onto a plate, remove the foil, and slice into pieces. 

No-Bake Desserts

Easy no-bake pies come together quickly and are the perfect summer dessert to share.

5. Chocolate Mint Grasshopper Pie

The refreshing and classic cool mint flavor of this pie is hard for anyone to resist. 

Mix 1 ½ cups milk with one package of pistachio flavor instant pudding & pie filling until well blended. Fold in 1 ½ cups of cool whip topping. Spoon into prepared chocolate cookie pie crust, then spread 1/2c cup of cool whip over it. Drizzle chocolate syrup over the top and freeze for 2 hours until firm. 

6. Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Pie

Lemonade and strawberries are two popular summer flavors, and when combined in this pie, they become a real sweet treat. 

Beat 8 ounces of cream cheese with ½ cup thawed frozen lemonade concentrate. Whisk 2 cups of Cool Whip into the lemonade mixture. Spoon the lemonade mixture into a prepared graham cracker pie crust. Refrigerate for 4 hours until firm. Before serving, spread 1 cup of cool whip over the pie, then top with 1 ½ cups of fresh sliced strawberries.

Delicious Non-Traditional Summer Desserts

7. Gourmet S’mores

Let’s crank this dessert up a notch from the classic graham cracker + chocolate + marshmallow to a more edgy gourmet version. Try a strawberry shortcake s’more by using sugar cookies + white chocolate + sliced fresh strawberries + marshmallow. These delicious gourmet s’more combinations are addicting!

8. Pineapple Angel Lush Cake 

Tropical and light, this dessert will satisfy your sweet tooth on a hot summer day. 

Mix 1 package of dry vanilla instant pudding & pie filling with 1 can of crushed pineapple, undrained. Fold in 1 cup of cool whip topping. Cut a prepared round angel food cake horizontally into three layers. Place the bottom layer on a cake plate, then spread with one-third of the pineapple mixture. Repeat the layers two more times. Refrigerate for one hour. Before serving, top with fresh sliced strawberries and blueberries. 

9. Berry Cheesecake Parfaits

You worked hard to get your body swimsuit ready, but you still crave something sweet now and then. This dessert is a good compromise between healthy and sweet, so you can enjoy every bite. 

Add 1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt, ¼ cup whipping cream, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract to the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on medium speed until light and fluffy. Divide yogurt mixture evenly into 4 parfait glasses, top with fresh sliced fruit, and drizzle with honey.

10. Fruit Granita

A traditional Italian dessert, with a texture similar to a snow cone, granitas are loaded with fruity summer flavors that are easy to make and will keep you cool and refreshed on a hot summer day. 

For each of the flavored granitas below, add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a shallow baking pan, cover it with foil, and freeze for one hour. Scrape the mixture with a fork to make individual ice crystals and freeze for an additional 2 hours. Scrape the granita again, then break it up into chunks to serve. 

Watermelon Granita:

• 4 cups cubed watermelon chunks 

• ⅓ cup lime juice 

• ⅓ cup sugar 

Blueberry Granita:

• 4 cups fresh blueberries

• ½ cup grape juice 

• ⅓ cup sugar

 Lemon Granita:

• 4 cups water

• ⅔ cup lemon juice

• zest from one lemon

• ¾ cup sugar

Strawberry Granita:

• 4 cups sliced strawberries

• ⅓ cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• ½ teaspoon lemon juice

The best summer desserts are those you share with friends and family. Whether you are grilling out at a backyard cookout or gathering around a bonfire, make your summer memorable and extra special with one of these tasty dessert recipes.