When reading articles about wellness and mindfulness, one of the common suggestions you\u2019ll see is keeping a journal. When your mind is racing with thoughts in the middle of the night, the best way to clear your thoughts is to write them down. When you need a place to vent frustrations, you have a private space to share what you\u2019re thinking about. When you want to record happy memories and feelings, the journal works for that too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many adults start journaling and wish they had started the habit earlier, so the question comes up\u2014how do you get kids to start journaling when they are younger? We\u2019ve put together this guide that covers the benefits of stating this habit younger, plus a long list of journal prompts for kids of all ages. From elementary school kids that might start with some crayons and stickers to high school kids who are preparing for the next chapter of life, we\u2019ve got something for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Journaling is the simple act of writing about life in a space that is personal and private. No two journals are the same because no two people are the same. You may write your secrets or dreams for the future or you may vent anger and frustrations about things that have happened, but your journal is a place to process emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re probably familiar with a diary. Often, the two terms are interchangeable, but it is not always. A diary, for many people, is a log of things that happened each day. Journaling can be done in many areas of life and isn\u2019t as much of a chronological log of events. Keeping a diary is a good place to start a new habit, but it should be able to grow in time to include more than just daily observations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Journaling has many benefits for young children and isn\u2019t something you need to wait until you\u2019re an adult to take advantage of. There are a few incredible benefits to getting kids into journaling early. Whether they are in a traditional classroom or homeschooled, this is something that is separate from school and should be done for personal enjoyment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writing is an important form of communication throughout life, so it\u2019s good to have a strong foundation. Practice helps improve your skills, so by having a daily habit of writing in a journal, your child will already be practicing. This will help improve performance at school as well. Another skill that will improve is handwriting. Good penmanship is something that comes with practice, so having a journal gives kids a simple place to practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reading and writing go hand in hand, so any writing improvements will also improve reading skills. By following prompts, children are encouraged to learn new vocabulary and put it to use in their writing which makes it easier to retain those new words. Rereading the entries they\u2019ve written in the past will also help them locate errors and learn from those mistakes going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creativity is developed in many ways including writing. By having journal prompts to think about, you\u2019re helping your kids with problem-solving as they think about what they want to write down. It also gives them a healthy form of expression and outlet for their feelings. When having to make a big decision or handle a tough situation, it can help to write down thoughts as they pop into your head and help gain a little more clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feelings and emotions can be hard to understand for younger kids. A journal can be a good place to name your feelings about a certain situation. It\u2019s also good to reflect on things that have happened and work to see things from someone else\u2019s point of view or perspective. When you\u2019re able to define feelings, you\u2019re improving your emotional literacy, and that can start when kids are very young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building a daily journal habit is easy when you\u2019re an adult because you can set reminders on whatever calendar apps you use and track your progress. You can do the same for your kids. Make it a family affair and set time aside each day for journaling. You can all follow the same prompts or just spend some quiet time together where each person has their journal out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t set too many rules about what goes in the journal. Some days, the words will flow easier than others. You want the experience to be fun and not feel like a chore. Incorporate stickers, colorful pens, and anything else that your child is inspired to include. Let them know that it\u2019s their private space (unless you are purposely doing a shared journal) so they feel comfortable putting whatever is on their mind onto the paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, encourage reflection time where kids return to the things they\u2019ve written in the past. They can even write down reactions to past journal entries to see how their feelings about a situation or moment have changed with time. It\u2019s good practice to process your emotions before reacting whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When looking for journal ideas for your child, there are different types of journals that you can find to help get started. You can find all these journal options at local bookstores, if you want to be able to look at them before deciding, or on Amazon. It\u2019s recommended to let your child be involved in the process, so ask them to pick something out. There are many options, but these are a few of the most popular to help you get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some great beginner journals have a collection of prompts already populated in the journal with simple questions like, “What’s your favorite toy?” It will feel more like completing a book full of worksheets, but it\u2019s a good way to practice writing and have something to look back at and see what has changed over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a good way to jump in and start reflecting positively on things that have happened. Expressing gratitude is such a mood booster and starting that habit early on for kids will set them up for success in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a child that loves being outside, consider starting with a nature journal and encouraging them to document things they see or want to see. They can doodle plants and animals or keep track of the birds or flowers growing to get in the habit of carrying the journal with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most popular journals for beginners is the One Question a Day journals. Each day, there is a question to answer and five writing sections. You can fill it out for the next five years each day and see how answers change over time. You\u2019ll also have a large collection of journal prompts for the future to look back at as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some journals come with spaces for two people to write things down. These are fun especially for younger kids because you can make it a special activity that you do together. These make great keepsakes for later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Technology has come so far and many kids are spending more and more on tablets and phones now. There are digital notebooks that allow kids to use a pen to make notes on a tablet and it\u2019s saved just like a paper notebook. It is completely up to you if you want to utilize something like that. Paper works best for some people, especially with little kids, but some prefer having no paper around and want things to be locked away behind a password online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, staring at a blank page is discouraging and you have no idea where to start. Journal prompts can be a huge help. These are simply questions and writing ideas to get the creativity flowing. We\u2019ve got a good number to help your child get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This first list can be done at any age, even elementary school ages. Starting with simple questions can help create a habit that can be built upon over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve tried out some of the simple about me <\/em>type prompts, you can introduce more creative writing prompts for kids. These options will require a little more thinking, but are still good for most ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also try some story starters. These are simple sentences that you build off of. You can find free printable lists online to give you some ideas. It helps set up a scene and then the child\u2019s imagination can run wild and they can write down what pops into their heads. Get inspired by one of these examples below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Middle school kids can start to dig a little deeper into emotions and self-reflection. If there is already a habit there, you can introduce them to some journal prompts that require a little more emotional intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once kids reach high school, they are experiencing emotions in a new way and starting to deal with bigger life challenges. Journaling will shift again and be an extremely helpful tool as they process the changes they are going through. It\u2019s also a time in life filled with so many fun and wonderful moments, so having a place to document things will be fun to look back on as they grow up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us know which prompts your kids liked the best or found the hardest to think about. Each personality will be different, so there will be differing opinions on each of the sections above. Just try to keep it consistent and encourage that time for self-reflection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Need more inspiration? Check out these creative writing exercises for kids<\/a> or any of our other journaling advice<\/a>. And don’t forget that our Adventures From Scratch<\/em> books<\/a> include dedicated space to record your experiences as a family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get children interested in journaling, discuss the types and let them pick out one they’ll want to write in. Then, to get them to use it, try some journal prompts for kids<\/a>. <\/p> <\/div> Once kids learn to write, they can start practicing written communication. Journal prompts for kids<\/a> can help them get started and learn how to get their point across using words on paper.<\/p> <\/div> If you’re gifting a journal to a teen, avoid diaries geared for younger kids and find something a bit more sophisticated. Find a hard-covered notebook that suits them, and include a set of pens. <\/p> <\/div> Adventures From Scratch<\/em><\/a> includes ideas for family activities and dedicated space for writing about the experiences! You could also purchase a dedicated notebook and offer some journal prompts for kids<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you’re looking for ways to coax children into putting their thoughts into written words, these journal prompts for kids can help!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":9277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[279],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSet Up Story Starters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Self-Reflection Journal Prompts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Deeper Ideas and Journal Prompts for Older Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Get Started with Journaling Today!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n