Jeffrey Patrick Kinney was born in Fort Washington, Maryland, the second of four children. He grew up in a family that encouraged creativity and artistic expression.

As a child, Kinney enjoyed drawing comics and cartoons. He was inspired by cartoonists like Charles Schulz (Peanuts) and Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes), which fueled his interest in creating his own comic series.

Kinney attended elementary and middle school in Fort Washington. During these years, he continued to develop his artistic skills and a sense of humor that would later define his writing.

Kinney attended the University of Maryland, College Park. Initially focusing on computer science, he later switched to criminal justice. More importantly, he created the comic strip 'Igdoof' for the university newspaper, 'The Diamondback'. 'Igdoof' ran throughout his college career and helped hone his comedic timing and storytelling abilities.

After graduating, Kinney found it difficult to break into the world of cartooning. He spent several years working in various jobs, including newspaper design and online publishing, while simultaneously developing his 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' concept.