Make a DIY Pet Journal With Kids

To make your own kids’ pet journal, you’ll need:

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How to Make a Pet Journal With Kids – DIY Instructions:

Use our step-by-step instructions to create a DIY pet journal with your kids, turning fun crafting time into a valuable learning experience that nurtures their creativity, empathy, and understanding of pet care.

Download and print our pet journal book pages.

Print the desired printable pet journal pages on paper or heavy cardstock (making sure to choose “borderless printing” in the printing options so the little pages print at full size).

If you’d rather not use a printable, you can use the rest of the steps in this tutorial, along with our DIY pet book prompts to create your own from scratch!

Tip: Want to add a dash of instant color to your mini books? Print them directly onto a piece of colored copy paper or cardstock.

Trim the excess along the dotted cut guideline.

Using the dotted guideline at the top, use scissors or a paper cutter to trim the excess information off the page.

Assemble your pet journal.

I’ve designed this mini journal to be as easy to put together as possible, so once you’ve trimmed the excess off the top, you can simply fold the pages into a booklet. Start by folding in half length-wise, then fold side-to-side.

Stack the folded pages, then use a stapler to join your book pages at the center fold, making one BIG book with lots of different prompts, as well as book pages.

As an alternative, you can also cut apart all of the quarter-pages, picking exactly which ones you’d like to include in your pet journals. Use a hole punch to make a small hole (I’ve found that a 1/8″ size hole punch makes a perfectly sized hole – just big enough to comfortably thread with embroidery floss, ribbon, or onto a ring).

For kids who may want to add pages along the way, a small hinged snap ring makes it incredibly easy to replace or add extra pet journal pages.

Fill in the pages of your pet journal.

Finally, the most important step: filling in your pet journal!

20 More Pet Writing Prompts

Our printable pet journal includes blank page templates your kids can customize with their own pet memories, drawings, and more.

For kids who aren’t sure where to begin, we’ve come up with a list of twenty pet-themed prompts designed to spark their imagination and help them express their unique experiences with their furry, feathery, scaly, or even imaginary friends….

1. “My pet’s schedule” (feeding time, playtime, naptime)
2. “My pet chores” (playing or walking, brushing or bathing, feeding, giving fresh water, etc.)
3. “The first day I met my pet…”
4. “The funniest thing my pet ever did…”
5. “The naughtiest thing my pet has ever done…”
6. “What I love the most about my pet is…”
7. “My favorite memory with my pet is…”
8. “If my pet could talk, it would say…”
9. “My pet’s favorite thing to do is…”
10. “The strangest thing my pet has ever eaten is…”
11. “A perfect day for my pet would include…”
12. “I have the most fun with my pet when we…”
13. “The most surprising thing I learned about my pet is…”
14. “My pet’s funniest sleeping position is…”
15. “If my pet had a superpower, it would be…”
16. “The special signals my pet gives me when it’s hungry, wants to play, or needs attention are…”
17. “My pet’s favorite spot to relax in the house is…”
18. “My pet’s best friend is…”
19. “Something I wish my pet understood is…”
20. “If my pet were a character in a book or movie, it would be…”

10 Ways to Use Our Printable Pet Journal

When putting this booklet together, I specifically designed it so it can serve a multitude of purposes, both educational and emotional.

Here are just a few of the ways this pet journal can be incorporated into your kiddo’s daily routine, classroom activities, family bonding time, and more…

1. Welcoming a New Pet to the Family

Bringing home a new bestie can be both an exciting AND stressful time for kids. A pet journal offers a place where they can scribble down how they felt when they first saw their pet, what they think their new pet might be like, their new favorite things to do together, or even their frustrations (chewed-up toys, scratches, early mornings, the WORK of it all…ha!).

It’s an excellent way for them to start bonding (and being observant when it comes to their new pal’s needs!).

2. Commemorating a Pet’s Life

Is there anything harder than saying goodbye to a pet best friend? Helping your little ones remember all the happy times they spent with their pet and creating a little keepsake they can fill with more memories or use for reflection can be a cathartic process.

They can write about the special moments they shared, why they loved their pet so much, and what they learned from them. They can even add favorite pictures and personalize their pet memory book pages with stickers to make it super special.

3. Keeping Tabs on a Pet’s Growth

Like a pet’s personal diary, your kids can jot down how their pet is growing, the funny things they do, and any changes they notice. It’s an excellent way for them to feel responsible and learn about the weird and wonderful ways animals grow.

Future veterinarians can make regular entries about their pet’s size, behavior, and diet, giving them a sense of responsibility and nurturing their curiosity about biology and life cycles.

4. Class Pet Journals and Desk Pet Projects

There are so many ways these little pet journals can be used as fun learning tools in classrooms, libraries, daycares, or after-school programs. Have a classroom take-home pet?

A journal can be printed for each kiddo when their weekend comes up. Or give students a copy to use with their desk pet!

5. Learning to Understand Pets

This journal can help your kiddos understand that pets have feelings too. They can think about what their pet might feel in different situations, teaching them to be more understanding and kind.

Parents and educators can use the journal to help children foster empathy and compassion. For example, the prompt “My Pet Taught Me…” might encourage children to reflect on how their pet might feel in different situations.

6. Unleashing Their Inner Author

Prompts like “The Best Story About My Pet” provide a simple but entertaining and relatable way to encourage creative writing. While some kids might enjoy writing narratives, others might like trying poems, making lists, or drawing comic strips about their pet’s adventures.

7. Understanding Pet Care and Responsibility

Instead of writing memories or observances, kids can use the blank page templates to record regular tasks like feeding, grooming, and walking, giving them a better understanding of the care and commitment pets require.

8. A Pet-Based Science Project Resource

Have a budding scientist in the making? This little pet journal could be their first big project! Invite them to study their pet’s behavior, draw conclusions, and present their findings.

9. Family Bonding Time

Making copies of journal pages for the whole family is a great way to share laughs, discuss memories, and deepen your bond – with each other AND your special pet. It’s almost guaranteed that every member of the family is going to have their own unique observations and experiences!

10. Helping Kids Through Tough Times

For children struggling with other issues, focusing on the care of a pet and keeping a journal about it can be therapeutic. Whether it gives them a sense of routine, or simply a bit of special one-on-one bonding time with a pet always willing to listen, it can make all the difference in how they feel by the end of the day.