Daily journal writing can be an excellent tool of self-expression and self-discovery for kids of all ages!   

Journal Writing: Ten Tips Guaranteed to Hook Kid's Attention and Interest!

Journal writing helps kids to process the myriad of thoughts, feelings, and emotions they experience.  It is also an excellent form of creative self-expression. 

But, when faced with a journal full of blank lines or with the task of remembering to write each and every day, some youngsters are simply overwhelmed and unmotivated.

YOU can help encourage the healthy habit of daily journal writing by your child.  Simply check out and use the following journal writing tips. They're guaranteed to engage a child's imagination and bring enthusiasm to their journal keeping!

Top Ten Journal Writing Tips for Kids

1. Silence your inner critic -- It's your journal and your words and however you write them down they are valuable, NO MATTER WHAT!

2. Break the rules -- You can break all the rules of grammar and spelling (or follow them if you prefer). It's your choice!  Either way, there is no such thing as right or wrong when journaling.

3. Go with the flow to express yourself -- Take some time and tune in to how you feel. Do you feel like writing a lot or simply feel like writing one word. Believe it or not, even writing ONE WORD across the page IS considered journaling!  When you go with the flow your journal writing comes easily and feels great.

4. Pick a special spot to journal -- Choose a place where you feel safe, happy, and secure and where you feel inspired to lose yourself in your journal writing.  

5. Go wild with embellishments -- Use stickers, colored pens, magazine pictures, drawings or photos to jazz up your journal. Being creative with your journal keeping makes your writing experience more colorful, exciting, and fun.

6. Keep it simple -- If your journal writing begins to feel like a task you must accomplish, scale back or take a break. Just remember that your journaling experience is always more enjoyable when it feels spontaneous.

7. Discover your writing style -- Ask yourself if you like to use only words (no pictures or stickers) or if you prefer to combine writing and drawing. Maybe poetry dominates your journal or maybe your preference is to break all the rules and simply free write.

8. Create a theme journal -- You can create a dream journal, a wish journal or a journal of family, friends and best moments in life.   Be creative in choosing themes and if you run out of ideas you can always research new journal writing ideas online.

9. Rule your Queendom  --  Celebrate, vent, accentuate, complain... it's up to you what goes on to your journal pages.  Please remember though to always, always, be kind to yourself (because cruelty hurts, and it makes you sad).

10. Keep it fun and fulfilling -- If it's not fun and fulfilling, chances are you'll quit writing. So jazz up your journal by giving yourself permission to try new journaling techniques.  AND, keep it fulfilling by focusing on a wide range of topics (not just sad or bad ones, but happy and exhilarating ones as well).

Remember this:  All the journal writing tips in the world can only guide you, and in the end you must choose your style based on what works best for you.

Daily journal writing is a wonderful tool of expression for preteens and teens but they must feel invested in their writing.

The best way to get them -- and to keep them -- invested is to encourage the free expression of their uniqueness and creativity.  

Let them choose the journal writing style that best suits their personality and unique tastes and you are guaranteed that they WILL start (and continue) journaling!

Happy journal writing!

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Jill Schoenberg is the creator and author of the innovative journaling books Journal Buddies for girls and for boys. 

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