How to Get Kids Excited About Journaling

I hated writing as a kid (how things change…).  And I mean Hated.  It.  But I did keep a diary, one of those with the cheapie metal lock that was easily picked by prying eyes.  I wrote everything private in that little book.  Boy-crushes, my worries, my deepest thoughts.  It never occurred to me the irony here:  I hated structured academic writing yet let the ink flow into a girly, flower-y volume.  The answer seems obvious now.

At school I wrote because I had to.  At home I was the boss of what I wrote.

Ba-Zinga.

Just how slow was I to realize this simple fact?  Rewind to last year during homeschool.  My son and daughter did a structured writing program that also included semi-free journaling.  They really hated the “big” writing assignments but the more they journaled, they came to not hate, then to tolerate, and lastly kinda enjoy the journaling.  Even though the journaling had a basis (describe an observation, write dialogue, etc.) the kids loved the freedom to chose a subject.  If you’d love your kids to start journaling, here’s some advice on how (without homeschooling) and also why it’s a great idea.

Getting Started (for all ages and stages)

1.  Reassure your child that his (or her) journal, inside and out, is his own.  No judgement.  Start off by taking a special trip to the store (or go online) to find a journal your child loves.  Or better yet, if he (or she) is the crafty sort, really make the journal his by making one.  
2. There is no right or wrong way to journal.  The sky’s the limit!  Your child can use words and/or pictures, doodle or cut from a magazine, write one word or 200 (grammar isn’t important here).  This is his creative adventure.  Anything goes; journaling is permission to take chances and try new things.
3. Pick a special time and place.  To make journaling a routine, let your child chose a spot where he can really get the creative juices going.  Maybe it’s his room, his backyard, or his craft corner.  Solidify the habit by journaling at the same time everyday.
4. Practice self-love.  Journaling is time to let it all hang out (especially important for adolescents) but it’s also a place for your child to cut himself some slack, too, and be kind to himself.  Remind him his journal is the place to be his own person and take the leaps he may not want to take in front of an audience.  So it’s important to reassure your child that:
5. His journal is private.  His eyes only.

Why Journaling is Great for Kids

1. Journaling gives the reluctant writer (or speaker or artist) a voice.  It helps kids build confidence in written and even verbal communication through a “no judgement” process.
2. Journaling helps kids (and adults) practice “emotional organization.”  Recording thoughts, ideas and feelings makes for practice with decision-making, identifying emotions (which allows both cathartic and theatric drama), and working through problems.
3. Structured journaling also improves academics.  It provides practice with grammar and good sentence structure and well-organized paragraphs.  And journaling is not just for English or composition class…doing so in math or science helps kids work through academic struggles (as in, here’s what I did incorrectly), record their work and communicate step-by-step processes.
4. Looking for another way to inspire your child’s reading?  Try journaling.  Journaling motivates kids to crack a book to discover new “voices” to use in their own writing.

A Journaling Idea from an Experienced Teacher

A retired teacher friend of mine (thank you, D.E.!) contributed this idea for parent-child journaling.  It’s a great way to bond with your kids, no matter what age they are:

If one wants to know their kids better, take a spiral notebook and write back and forth with your child. No subject is off limits, grammar doesn’t count and no negative comments from parents allowed. Maybe the parent’s comment is only two words, and if the child can’t think of anything to write, they can draw a picture which you can make a comment about, such as nice colors etc.

It never ceases to amaze me as to how much kids will open up on paper if they know that they are free to write what they are feeling. They also must know that no one else will see this journal but you the parent.

Try it for a month. ENJOY!!!

And as we enter a new month, I looked ahead to the next step in my Extraordinary Life series and this is what August’s task is:

No kidding.  Time to get journaling!

Sources/Links:

www.dailyteachingtools.com/journal-writing-prompts.html

www.journalbuddies.com/journaling-resources/top-10-journal-writing-tips-for-kids/

https://www.verywellfamily.com/the-benefits-of-journaling-for-kids-2086712