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Author's unique journaling book a hit with elementary girls, boys by Ralph Bell

Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 -- About three-and-a-half years ago, while digging through her “childhood boxes of memories,” St. Cloud native Jill Schoenberg came across some diaries she had written as a kid.

Stirred emotionally by the glimpses the entries provided of days gone by, the 1990 St. Cloud Tech grad got caught up in one of those few-and-far-between, “eureka” moments.

“I suddenly realized how much value there is in journaling,” she said. “There's so much going on in life, we tend to forget all this great stuff that happens to us. Finding those childhood diaries really showed me how valuable journaling is as a tool for realizing our growth, realizing how far we've come.”

Unfortunately for Schoenberg, the intrigue ended all too quickly.

“None of the diaries were complete,” she said. “There were only a few entries in each one."

Why was that? Schoenberg wondered. Why, like so many other people, did she start a journal with great enthusiasm and all the intention in the world of keeping at it, then months later find the keepsake laying on her bookshelf, covered in dust?

Perhaps, she thought, the number one barrier to journaling was a preconceived, stereotypical notion of what the activity actually is. And once Schoenberg began to think outside the box, her wheels began to turn, fate set in and Journal Buddies was born.

First published in 2005 to appeal to 7- to 12-year-olds, Journal Buddies is a simple but powerful tool touted by educators and parents as a way to strengthen a child's self-esteem, build healthy relationships and create a positive outlook on life.

How Journal Buddies Works

The journal keeper (owner) and his or her journal buddy for the day are skillfully encouraged to complete one of 30, four-page entries listed in each colorful, smartly designed soft-cover book.

“I decided to do the book,” said Schoenberg, “because I think there's fantastic value in compiling information that's created in a physical form and is bound. Electronic, computerized online stuff tends to disappear, but books have tremendous staying power.”

To assist kids in getting their creative juices flowing, Schoenberg offers 89 journaling ideas in each book, along with guided journal entries, a thought for the day, and a word highlighted from the thought to be used by the journaler as a theme - or not.

“I give ideas of how to use the journal, but I don't necessarily say ‘this is the only way you can use it,'” Schoenberg said. “With Journal Buddies, I thought kids would work with other people and get creative, get different ideas that would encourage the child to complete the book. And that vision could possibly be fulfilled for that kid when this book is discovered as they grow. There would just be a fantastic insight as to what was going on when they were 9 years old.”

With a degree in youth studies and sociology and a professional background of working with youth programming doing direct work with kids of various ages, Schoenberg enjoys those “Oh my gosh, that's just so fantastic,” moments when she learns her unique journal has made a valued difference in the life of another.

“I heard just recently,” Schoenberg said, “from a mom who downloaded a sample page of the girl's version of the journal from my website and completed it with her daughter. Then she called me to order the journal, saying she and her daughter had not been spending a lot of time together lately because she'd been busy working.

“They did the sample together,” she said, “and had so much fun connecting in such an enjoyable, easy way that this mom saw how a simple activity could have such a powerful affect on their relationship. And again, when you love doing something, and you feel good about what you're doing, and your parents are watching you do it, your self esteem is going to improve, almost by default.”

Schoenberg said developing her book from scratch has been a huge undertaking.

“It became much (more involved) than I had anticipated, which I think happens to a lot of folks when they undertake big projects,” she said. “But I am still very glad I chose to do it.

“I have visions of kids finding these journals as adults and the journals are complete,” Schoenberg said. “Or at least more complete than the diaries I found. And they're going to be very happy about that.”

To contact the author, email her at Jill@JournalBuddies.com.

To download a sample journal page or learn all about an exclusive and limited time special just for educators, teachers, and counselors.