If you thought journaling is only something teens and adults could do, you are in for a big surprise! While it might look a little different for kids, depending on their age, they can benefit a lot by writing in a journal. Here are some of the benefits of journaling for kids.
Kids Get to Express Their Feelings in a Safe Environment
Journaling provides a safe, private, non-judgmental space for kids to write about anything they want, including what they are thinking or feeling. It is important that as a parent, you allow your children’s journals to remain private and only for their eyes unless they ask otherwise.
While your kids probably feel safe talking to you about certain things, they also need a place that is all theirs. They need to know they will not have a voice on the other end commenting on it. Kids can really flourish just being given a journal that is private, that you promise to never read unless they ask you to. You will be amazed at how journaling can help your kids become less stressed about things too.
Let them know they can write about anything and everything and that others will not read it. It is their own personal journal.
Journaling Can Improve Their Writing and Reading Skills
The more your kids write and read what they write, the more these skills are going to improve! Think about all the times your children currently write or read anything. It is probably mostly for school and homework, maybe some reading on their devices or books they love. But what about writing? Kids very rarely write much aside from schoolwork.
Journaling gives them a daily practice where they can improve their writing skills, but in a way that ends up being enjoyable for them. They answer fun questions like what their favorite animal is and if they could be any tree, what would they be? It is something fun and does not feel like homework.
Journaling Helps Kids Become More Creative
Journals have also been known to help children become more creative. Not just with the way they work out what they want to write, but in how they design their different journal pages. Kids often excel when they can use color and design on their journal pages.
You might want to try out blank journal pages without lines, so they can treat it like a doodle page. Provide crayons, colored pencils, watercolors, stencils, stickers, and different types of pens. You will be able to see where your child’s mind goes when they are using their journal.
Journaling Helps with Critical Thinking and Communication Skills
Writing in a journal can also help kids of different ages develop more critical thinking skills and even improve their communication skills. It takes a little critical thinking to answer a question asked in a writing prompt, even one that might seem simple to you. This is a wonderful skill for kids of any age to learn through journaling.
Besides all the benefits of journaling for kids, journaling can just be fun! When a child knows they have their own book that they can write in and doodle in it helps them to relax and just be themselves.
Help your child get started with journaling today and see what they can do.
Happy Journaling!
Pamela
