Heirloom Journals – Prompts for the Journal That You Will Leave to Your Children

Not all journals are for yourself exclusively. Some would rather leave their writings to their children as heirlooms. Here are  a few writing prompts to get you started.

Journal Prompts for a Journal That You Will Leave to Your Children (Heirloom Journals)

1. Tell your children how much you love them.
2. List and explain life concepts that you find imperative to know.
3. What is your name? What is the name of the other parent?
4. How did you meet the other parent? Describe this relationship.
5. What are your children’s names? Why did you name them this?
6. Describe something that is unique about each of your children.
7. Describe a special moment that you have enjoyed with each of your children.
8. When were you born?
9. When were your children born?
10. Where were you born?
11. Where were your children born?
12. Where did you live during childhood? Did you enjoy it? Why? Why not?
13. Where did you raise/are you raising your children? (Author’s note: The early years are especially crucial to record, since the children might not recall the details.)
14. Who raised you? What is your relationship like with your parents or parental figures?
15. Describe your childhood.
16. Describe what you hope your children will take from their childhood.
17. Do you have siblings? List your siblings. Explain what your relationship was like with them in childhood and what the relationship is like now.
18. Describe what you’ve learned from your relationship with your siblings.
19. Did you have pets as a child? How was that experience for you?
20. What were your favorite toys?
21. What from your childhood have you incorporated into your parenting?
22. What from your childhood have you not permitted in your parenting?
23. What traditions would you prefer that you children maintain?
24. How would you prefer that your children remember you?
25. Share quotes from your favorite people – e.g. relatives, authors, speakers, neighbors, etc.
26. List and explain books, songs, or other media that you want your children to remember.
27. What are your food preferences?
28. What are your dietary restrictions?
29. Are any of your food choices related to significant family traditions? Explain them.
30. Quote your children, anything that stands out to you. (Author’s note: It has been my experience that older children ask, “What was I like at the age of X? “ “Did I have a catchphrase back then?”)
31. Affix notes from your children into the journal and explain the circumstances under which you gained possession of them.
32. Who is someone important to you that your children never met? (e.g. Their deceased great grandfather) Describe that person.
33. Explain why journaling is important and why you have given this journal to your children.