Journaling

Journaling is not for adults only. It is a great way for kids to express themselves and practice writing. It a safe place for them to be creative with their personal ideas. Journals are also a great way to preserve memories.

So, you might be asking, “How can I help my child start journaling?” Here are a few tips:

• It must be fun for your child or they won’t do it.
• Take them to the Dollar Store and let them pick out funky tablets; neat notebooks; fun pens, pencils, and markers; and even stickers. Tell them they can use the new supplies to not only decorate their new journal, but to also make entries in it.
• Allow them to write about whatever they choose. Only supply prompts if they ask.
• Tell them their journal is their to write down their thoughts, and it is NOT homework. Also, let them know it is private. They do not have to show it to anyone unless they want to.
• Tell them they do not need to worry about grammar or punctuation. This is a place to get the thoughts out of their head and on to paper.
• If they are not good at writing much just yet, have them draw pictures to represent what they want to say. Encourage them to write words under the pictures.
• Tell them they can cut out words from old magazines and newspapers to use in their journal.
• Model journal writing to your child by letting them see you write in yours, or better yet, the two of you can set aside a time to write in your journal together.