Today’s Inkling: Which Door?

This week’s Inkling, found here, asks you to imagine what happens when you choose to walk through one of the doors in the picture. Explain your choice or tell a story about what happens after you step through the door. Inktopia Kids will add one more option: Write about what happens after you step back through the door and back to the outside.

Happy Writing!

thINK thursday: Writing Gifts for Inksters

Welcome to another thINK thursday! We’re in gift giving season once more. This holiday season, help encourage your Inkster to keep writing where he or she is with these gift suggestions (by the way, no sponsorship here. We really just like these products!):

Writing Games and Kits

1. Rory’s Story Cubes: These were a big hit at our Inktopia Kids Writing Camps the past two summers, and a big hit at home. Buy all three sets: Original, Actions, and Voyages to triple the writing inkspiration. They are a great size for stocking stuffers, too.
2. Storymatic Kids: “Six gazillion stories in one little box.” What’s not to like?
3. Lulu Jr. My Comic Book: Create your own comic book and then have it professionally printed! A great way to combine writing and illustrating.

Journals and Journaling

1. Journal in a Jar: Inktopia Kids fills a jar with unique prompts and ideas for writing. Inksters can decorate their jars and make them their own. And you can request special themes (Frozen or Minecraft prompts anyone?). See our other Write Where You Are Writing Kits for more gift ideas — including card trading writing kits, Writers House kit, Letter Box, and Build-a-Book. Email inktopiakids@gmail.com for more information and purchasing.
2. Wreck this Journal: My son was sold on the name of this journal alone, designed by Keri Smith. Then he opened the journal and grew very excited with every page that invites creative messiness.
3. Rip the Page: Karen Benke has created a book brimming with creative invitations for young Inksters to write. This book is a great resource for grown-ups (parents and teachers) who are looking for ways to enhance their own writing classrooms or writing lives.

For the Smallest Inksters

1. Alex Toys ABC Keepsake Book: A wonderful kit to help support letter recognition and to capture your little Inksters earliest experiences with written words.
2. Melissa and Doug Stamp a Scene Farm Set: Children are storytellers, even before they begin to write and read. This scenic stamp collection will help little Inksters create stamped images that will prompt oral storytelling. There are different sets. We like the Farm Scenes best.

Writing DIY Style

1. DIY Mail Center: This Mail Center from Busy Bees Kids Crafts will help you create another literacy rich play option for your Inkster.
2. Sensory Writing Options: Early writers will love running their little fingers through sand, salt, and over gel surfaces as they practice writing with these easy DIY gifts.

Happy Shopping!

Inkling Monday: What is Your Gift to the World?

Dear Inksters,

Welcome to this Week’s Inkling Monday — the first one in December!

While Thanksgiving is connected with sharing what we are grateful and thankful for, December tends to be a month when we think about giving gifts. I think about gift giving a lot in December because there are a lot of December birthdays in my family and because we celebrate Christmas. Others think about gifts as part of their Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Boxing Day. But, I am usually thinking about which gift to give a particular relative or friend.

Today’s Inkling asks you to think in larger ways about gift giving. Here’s the question:

If you could give a gift to the world, what would it be?

You can think of the world as the entire world. Or your neighborhood. Or your town. Or your school community. Or any community you are a part of.

• Write about your gift in your Writing Journal. What would you give? Why do you choose to give that gift?
• Design a sign that advertises or shares with others your gift. What materials would you use? What colors would you write in? What tools would you use to write your message — crayons, pencil, pen, paint, stickers, magazine cut-outs?

Remember to share your signs and ideas right here on Inktopia Kids!

Happy Writing! Happy Giving!