This is a collaborative post
Not since the Victorian era has journaling seen such a rise in popularity. Back then, keeping a journal – or diary – was a well-known and popular pastime for young women in particular. Journals were quite elaborate and included sketches or paintings of wildlife, mementoes such as ticket stubs or invitations and impressions of the weather, the news and any family events.
Today, journaling has seen a resurgence and this could be partly as a response to the rise in the popularity of smart devices. The idea of spending some quality time actually writing with a pen or pencil, mindfully engaged and quietly focused is certainly an appealing one.
Even very young children can engage in journaling and a special book will encourage the child to spend some time focused on writing and thinking about what to write. As soon as your child can hold a pencil and perhaps write their name is a good time to get them a book in which they can write a few words, stick down some interesting pictures or draw some patterns.
Why is journaling good for children?
Journaling encourages children to think about their day, to consider which parts of the day they enjoyed and which were challenging. This is vital when it comes to their personal development and self-awareness.
Spending time writing down a few thoughts is an important practice for handwriting and they also have the added benefit of an interesting record to look back on in later months or years.
Journaling encourages mindfulness
For children today, the world is full of digital distractions. Games consoles and phones are almost always present. Helping children to concentrate for longer periods of time on writing and being creative, is vital.
Screen time for children should be kept to a minimum – scientific research has found that it can damage the eyes and shorten concentration spans. Journaling offers respite from electronic devices and allows for creative growth.
Let your child know that their journal is theirs – they can decorate the pages as they choose and write about what they want to write about. The only rules should be that they try to keep neat and that they write a little every day. It only needs to be a line or two for younger children.
Take your child’s journal out and about on trips so that they can spend a few moments adding to it. This prep school in Cambridge takes pupils on regular outings to cultural centres such as art galleries. Galleries are great places for children to visit with their journals as the visual stimulation will inspire them.
