DIY Mom & Daughter Date Journal (with FREE printables!)
Want a fun way to show your love to your daughter? Try a Mom and Daughter Date Journal!
Spending intentional time with our daughters when they are young helps them to know they are special and creates a bond that we need when our girls reach the turbulent teen years.
If you would like to make your own Mom and Daughter Date Journal, take a look at what I’ve done to get started:
I first bought this hard bound journal in colors that I knew my daughter would like. I especially like that it has a flap and a magnetic closure for holding in any extra pages or loose items until we can get them mounted.
You can find these at discount stores, bookstores and even some dollar stores. Amazon also has blank journals here.
I glued a ribbon in the back to use as a book mark. This step is unnecessary but made the book feel a little more special.
I then printed this FREE printable poem and glued it to the first page. Click here to print one for your journal!
I use the book to write messages and discussion questions for our dates. You can print FREE Mom and Daughter Date Journal–Journal Prompts here. Even if you think you have poor handwriting, it will mean more to your daughter that you hand-write these messages.
You can also add photos from your dates and let your child decorate the pages with stickers to make it fun.
Print a list of Mom and Daughter Date Ideas here.
Remember, your dates don’t have to cost a lot of money. You can make them special by dressing up and talking about how excited you are to spend time with your daughter and how much fun you will have together.
The Mom and Daughter Date Journal is a great way to open up communication with your child and to help you be more intentional about spending one-on-one time with her. Just to keep things real, my 11 year old and I started this two years ago and have only finished 3 “official” dates so far. We do things together on a regular basis, but I haven’t made our outings as special as I would like. I am actually posting this to help motivate me to complete more dates in the next few months. 🙂
I hope you enjoy making a book with your daughter, but even if you use it only to write special messages, it will become a tangible representation of your love for your daughter and a treasured keepsake for her as she grows up.
*If you would like more date ideas, check out the book: 8 Great Dates for Moms and Daughters: How to Talk About True Beauty, Cool Fashion, and…Modesty!
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I’m actually going to use this to talk to my mom cause everything is so scripted since I’m the oldest of 5 kids and in highschool
Great idea Mila!
Love this idea! I’ve been needing something special for my little girl since her brother was born and I think this is perfect! Think I’ll DIY one instead of buying, to make it extra special
I love the idea of making a DIY notebook. I would love to see a photo when you’re done. 🙂
I love this idea! For my two daughters, as well as a gift for my mom (tweaked a little since we live far apart from each other). Thank you for sharing your ideas! <3
Yay! Thanks for taking the time to let me know Khalielah! 🙂
Thank you so much for the idea. I am going to start doing this with both of my children. My son (7) and daughter (3). I love the idea!
Yay! So glad to help. Thanks for letting me know. ?
I absolutely love this idea, so special! 💕 My daughters are only a year apart and I just made the decision to spend more time with them one on one because I feel they don’t get enough individual attention from me. This is perfect, thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad you can use this Eileen! Thanks for letting me know. I hope you have a wonderful time with them.
Thank you so much for this post. What wonderful Ideas! Thanks again.
You are very welcome Teri! Glad you like it. 🙂
this is way cheaper than scrapbooking..now i can make journal-scrapbooking to gather memories..i could also have a husband and wife journal…i love this! thanks!
That is a really great idea! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I would like to know is there any ideas for mom and son date ideas too and what about a journals for mom and son too. my son got really upset when there was not one for him so I kinda made one for him and he was kinda ok with it but not really. so how can kids at any age deal with a love one with cancer and all they want to do is spend more time with them. all my kids are dealing with me and my cancer.
Hi Amy! I am so sorry that you are dealing with cancer. I cannot imagine how difficult that must be.
I found this link for you with ideas for mother and son dates: http://smallanchors.com/20-mom-son-date-ideas/
As far as the journal, I think that the most special thing that you could do is just write notes to your son about things that you love about him, and the hopes and dreams you have for his future. I hope this helps. If there is something else I can help you with, please let me know.
I saw a “Momma and Me” journal idea on pinterest. My 7 year old daughter and I started a “Mommy and Me” journal on the last week of school. I thought it was a good way of keeping the writing and reading going on for summer in a fun way. 🙂 We even decorated it with pictures of things that each other likes… (zayn from 1 direction, the NY Giants, Walt Disney World, etc)
Even though we have only been writing in for a couple of weeks, it has brought such joy to me.. I have already learned more about my daughter in just a couple of weeks, she is smarter and funnier than I had previously given her credit for!!
I am definitely going to incorporate some of your ideas, into our journal this summer.. Thanks!!!
You are very welcome Kyra! So glad to help. 🙂
I love this idea. All though my daught is only going to be 5. I think that she will love to beabke to look back at these as she gets older. Plus it is a bonus that she will get one on one time with out her brothers. Thanks for this idea.
I really like this idea! Always trying to come up with bonding activities for my daughter and me. Homeschooling her @ the age of 20 w/AS, ADHD, and LD’s make our days challenging and sometimes stressful. I look forward to following through w/this idea!
Thanks,Lisa
I am so glad that you like the idea Lisa. Sounds like you have quite a challenge, but hopefully the journal can help you enjoy each other a little more. 🙂
I love this idea. However, I have a son. I’m thinking it may be possible to translate the idea over to activities I can do with him. Also maybe a Daddy and Son type thing.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Definitely! There is a great book: Raising A Modern Day Night that can give you some good ideas.
I absolutely love this idea! My daughter and I have a journal that we randomly write in and exchange back and forth but I like that this will be a keepsake of our special mommy & me times. Thanks so much for sharing your printables so I don’t have to create my own!
You are very welcome Denise. I hope you enjoy the journal. 🙂