How to Encourage Consistent Journal Keeping in YOUR Child!

Creative Journaling: The Secret to Getting Kids to Journal!

Your child starts a journal with great enthusiasm, has all the intentions in the world of keeping at it, and, months later, you find the journal laying on the bookshelf covered in dust. Sound familiar?

Creative journaling makes the journal writing process more engaging, fun and creative and can help you overcome some of the barriers that may be keeping your child from consistent--maybe even daily--journaling.

FACT!

The number one barrier to regular journaling by kids is their preconceived notion of how to journal.

When presenting workshops on creative journaling, I often begin by asking the participants to describe to me what comes to mind when they envision themselves writing in a journal.

The typical and common response I receive to my question goes something like this,

"I sit and write about what happened
to me that day."

Although this is an apt description of journal writing, it does not sound particularly fun, exciting or enjoyable. In fact, it sounds boring.

This is exactly why I believe so many journals languish on bookshelves and what stops kids from choosing journal writing as a regular and consistent activity.

Integrating creativity with journal writing can transform journaling from a mundane activity to a wildly enjoyable and fun one.

The preconceived notion of journaling held by most kids is strong, however, and initially they hesitate when encouraged to get creative with their journals.

But once it clicks that they can freely express their thoughts using both words and creativity, their eyes light up!

When journal writing becomes a creative adventure full of choices and options journals cease to languish on bookshelves and kids discover a positive and powerful tool of self-expression.

As an added bonus, the completed creative journals become cherished keepsakes that can be used as tools of growth and reflection or as records of achievement and change.

Just remember to keep your journaling activity simple and to be uniquely creative, but most of all remember to make the journal writing process wildly enjoyable and fun for you and your child!

Blank Journals to Embellish

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Journaling Tips for Kids
Creative Journaling Tips
Creativity Journal
An Expanded Definition of Journal Keeping
"What If..." Writing Prompts
Unique Writing Journal