Do the 30 Day Project
Complete a 30 day project by doing one small creative activity each day—drawing, photo, craft, or safe experiment—and record progress in a journal.
About this activity
Complete a 30 day project by doing one small creative activity each day—drawing, photo, craft, or safe experiment—and record progress in a journal.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all your Materials Needed and set them in one tidy spot so you can grab them easily.
- 2
Step 2
Open your notebook and draw a simple 30-box checklist or calendar on one page to track each day.
- 3
Step 3
Write four fun themes at the top like drawing photo craft and safe experiment to give you ideas.
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Step 4
Assign one theme or a tiny activity idea to each of the 30 boxes by writing a word or short phrase beside each box.
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Step 5
Decide how many minutes you will spend each day and write that time on the top of the page.
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Step 6
Set a daily alarm or reminder now so you won’t forget to do your mini activity each day.
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Step 7
On Day 1 do the small creative activity you planned for that day using your materials.
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Step 8
When you finish the activity write one short sentence in your journal about what you made.
- 9
Step 9
Decorate the day’s box with a sticker or a little drawing to mark it as complete.
- 10
Step 10
Repeat doing one small activity each day and record it in your journal until you reach Day 30.
- 11
Step 11
On Day 30 choose your three favorite creations and mark them in your journal.
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Step 12
Make a one-page reflection in your journal about what you learned and which day was the most fun.
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Step 13
Take clear photos of your favorite pages or creations so you can show them to others.
- 14
Step 14
Ask an adult to review your photos and help check that everything looks ready to share.
- 15
Step 15
Share your finished 30 Day Project and photos on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I run a 30 Day Project where my child does one creative activity daily?
Start by picking a 30-day theme or mix of prompts (drawing, photo, craft, safe experiment). Set a short daily time (10–30 minutes), choose a journal for recordings, and prep a simple supply box. Each day, guide the child to complete the activity and write or draw one sentence about it. Celebrate small wins, adapt prompts if needed, and schedule a mini showcase at the end to share progress.
What materials do I need to start a 30 Day Project for kids?
Gather a simple journal or sketchbook, pencils, erasers, crayons or markers, glue, safety scissors, tape, and recycled craft bits. Add a basic camera or phone for photos and a washable paint set for variation. For safe experiments, include baking soda, vinegar, food coloring, measuring spoons, and adult supervision. Keep a labeled supply box so materials are easy to reach each day.
What ages is the 30 Day Project suitable for?
The project suits ages 3–12 with adjustments: preschoolers (3–5) need very short prompts and adult help; ages 6–8 can sketch, glue, and write short journal notes; ages 9–12 can plan mini themes, take photos, and try simple experiments. Always supervise scissors, liquids, and experiments, and tailor complexity to the child’s attention span and motor skills.
What are the benefits of doing a 30 Day creative challenge with my child?
A 30-day challenge builds creativity, routine, and confidence by encouraging daily practice and small risks. It improves fine motor and observation skills, fosters reflection through journaling, and creates a tangible portfolio of progress. Doing it together strengthens parent–child bonding and teaches persistence. For experiments, it also reinforces basic scientific thinking when done safely under supervision.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a notebook, stickers, or a good camera for photos?
If you don't have a notebook, staple or clip together printer paper and draw the '30-box checklist' on the top sheet, use colored paper scraps or marker drawings to 'Decorate the day’s box' instead of stickers, and borrow a parent's phone or tablet to 'Take clear photos of your favorite pages or creations'.
What should we do if we keep forgetting the daily activity or miss a few days?
Set a recurring alert as the instructions say to 'Set a daily alarm or reminder now', keep your 'Materials Needed' gathered in one spot for quick access, and if you miss a day complete a short 5–10 minute version and still write 'one short sentence' in your journal to maintain the streak.
How can we adapt the 30 Day Project for younger children or older kids?
For younger children make the tasks from your 'Write four fun themes' very simple, set 'Decide how many minutes' to 5–10 and use big stickers for 'Decorate the day’s box' with adult help for 'Ask an adult to review your photos', while older kids can increase minutes, pick more challenging 'safe experiment' or craft prompts, and expand the 'one-page reflection' into a longer review.
How can we make the finished project more special or ready to share?
Enhance the project by using the 'Take clear photos of your favorite pages or creations' step to create a photo collage or slideshow, add the day's 'one short sentence' as captions, ask an adult to 'review your photos', and compile everything into a single printable page or digital gallery to 'Share your finished 30 Day Project on DIY.org'.