10 Journal Writing Tips for Kids

How to Write a Journal – Journal Writing Tips for kids plus tricks and BONUS Prompts. See and explore ten tips guaranteed to hook kids’ attention and interest in journal writing. Yes! Take a look now and enjoy.

Journal writing helps kids to process the myriad of thoughts, feelings, and emotions they experience. It’s 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 use the following journal writing tips especially for kids.

They’re guaranteed to engage a child’s imagination and bring enthusiasm to their journal keeping. Plus you can help young kids create a powerful journaling habit and encourage a love of writing.

10 Super Journal Writing Tips on How to Write a Journal for Kids

Journal Writing Tip #1 – Silence Your Inner Critic

It’s your journal and your words and however you write them down they are valuable, NO MATTER WHAT!

Tip #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.

Tip #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.

Tip #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.

Tip #5 – Go Wild with Embellishments

Use stickers, crayons, colored pens and pencils, markers, 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.

Tip #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.

Tip #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.

Tip #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.

Tip #9 – Rule your Queendom/Kingdom

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).

Tip #10 – Keep it Fun and Fulfilling

If it’s not fun and fulfilling, chances are you’ll quit writing. 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).

I hope you enjoyed these tips on how to write a journal for kids. Now, check out these…

8 Fun Journal Writing Prompts and Ideas for Kids to Journal About Right Now

Now that we’ve covered some great tips on how to write a journal for kids, it’s time to explore some ideas to write about.

1 – What if you were president?
Write as if you were president of the United States. What changes would you make? What kind of laws would you enact?

2 – Make up a holiday.
Make up your very own holiday. What would be the theme? What would it be called? What types of games, food, and traditions would be included in this holiday?

3 – Write about your favorite food.
Describe your favorite food.  Be descriptive when telling about its look, feel, smell, and taste. What does it remind you of?  How does it make you feel?

4 – What do you want to be when you grow up? Do you want to be a doctor or a carpenter? Tell why. What aspects of the job appeal to you? You can also tell what you don’t like about the job.

5 – Write about the ultimate birthday gift.
If money was no object and you could receive any birthday gift, what would it be? How big would it be? Would you use it every day? How impossible is it that you would actually get this as a gift? Another journal idea would be to write about the ultimate birthday party.

6 – Write about your most embarrassing moment.
Everyone has something embarrassing that has happened to them. Write about yours. Remember, this journal is for your eyes only, so do be afraid to be specific.

7 – If you were an inanimate object, what would you be?
This will work with anything. You could write about what kind of food, animal, furniture, or anything else you might be. Explain why you chose this object. What features and characteristics of this object are similar to yours? This is always a fun journal idea because you can let your imagination run wild and be whatever or whomever you want to be.

8 – Write about your favorite age.
If you could be stuck at one age for the rest of your life, what age would you be? Why? What do you like about this age? It can be an age you have already passed or an age you have not yet reached.

I hope you enjoyed this list of journal prompts and use them with your young writer(s) as you help them learn how to write a journal for kids.

5 Top Benefits of Journaling for Children

Journaling is a great way for children to express themselves, process their emotions, and develop their writing skills. It can also be a fun and rewarding activity that can help children learn about themselves and the world around them.

Here are some of the benefits of journaling for children:

• Improved writing skills: Journaling can help children improve their writing skills in a number of ways. It gives them the opportunity to practice writing regularly, and it allows them to explore different writing styles and techniques. Journaling can also help children develop their vocabulary and grammar skills.
• Improved emotional health: Journaling can help children process their emotions in a healthy way. When children write about their feelings, they are able to identify and understand them better. This can help them to cope with difficult emotions, such as anger, sadness, and anxiety. Journaling can also help children to develop coping mechanisms for dealing with stress.
• Increased self-awareness: Journaling can help children to learn more about themselves. When children write about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, they gain a better understanding of who they are and what they want out of life. This can lead to increased self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Enhanced creativity: Journaling can help children to tap into their creativity. When children write about their imaginations, they are able to explore new ideas and possibilities. This can help them to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Improved communication skills: Journaling can help children to improve their communication skills. When children write about their thoughts and feelings, they are forced to organize their thoughts and express themselves clearly. This can help them to communicate more effectively with others, both verbally and in writing.

If you are interested in encouraging your child to journal and are looking for ideas on how to write a journal there are a few things you can do.

First, make sure that your child has a journal that they feel comfortable using. You can buy a journal at any bookstore, or you can make your own.

Second, encourage your child to write about whatever they want. There are no rules when it comes to journaling, so let your child’s imagination run wild.

Finally, be supportive and non-judgmental. Let your child know that you are there to listen and help them if they need it.

Yes

Journaling can be a great outlet for (teen, tween or in-between) children to express themselves, process their emotions, and develop their writing skills. Plus, they’ll learn the vital life skill of self-reflection which has many great benefits If you are looking for a way to help your child grow and learn, journaling is a great option.

Ok, take a look at this…

More Writing Tips and Fabulous Prompt Lists for Your Kids

• Writing for Fun Tips and 35 Prompts
• Creative Journal Tips and Ideas Bursting with Fun + 25 Bonus Prompts
• 58 Fun & Fabulous Journal Writing Topics
• Art Journaling Ideas & 44 Art Journal Prompts
• Check out our extensive collection of creative writing prompts

The Favorites List

Now, check out this excellent and simple list of journal ideas for you to use with your younger kids.

You see…

For those reluctant writers or non-writers, we suggest you use the time-tested favorite writing prompts. They are simple ideas that nearly every writer can answer without much effort. Plus, they are an excellent way to get those creative writing juices flowing for writers of all skill levels.

Have students write about their:

• Favorite foods
• Favorite place
• Favorite book
• Favorite toy
• Favorite thing
• Favorite memory
• Favorite holiday
• Favorite season
• Favorite movie
• Favorite animal
• Favorite pet
• Favorite outfit

How to Write a Journal (Journaling for Kids) Summary

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. Above all, a child’s journal must be a safe place for them to express themselves.

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!

Ok, grab those notebooks, computers, cellphones, writing apps of favorite types of journals and get your kids writing. I know you’ll be glad you did.

Until next time, write on…

If you enjoyed these How to Write a Journal for Kids tips, tricks and prompts,
please share them on social media Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok or elsewhere online.
I appreciate it!

Sincerely,
Jill
journalbuddies.com
creator and curator

PS – not sure what type of journal is best for you or your writer? Check out 13 Best Types of Journals for Kids!