Keeping a journal is one of the best ways to express ideas, thoughts, emotions and other feelings as they come. For children especially, a journal can be a great way to self-express as they grow. Sadly, many children stare are their journals everyday with less to report home about which makes them more or less demotivated. Luckily, if you’re in the custody of such a child, the following are some of the things you can do to rejuvenate and enthuse them to become better journal writers.
Have a trademark writing style
Everyone has his or her own distinctive writing style and uniqueness. You need to look at how unique your style is. Are you a picture or poetry person? Overall, write free, break all the rules and if you must use other people’s work, make it unique by checking with plagiarism software PlagTracker. It’s always a good practice to keep your written work unique, even in a personal journal.
Kill the inner critic
A journal is a person account and therefore, how you choose to write it is nobody’s business. You need to consider everything you write as your own to ensure that the spirit to write grows.
Don’t be afraid to break the rules
One of the negative limiting factors on writing personal journals in children is fear to make mistakes; this is quite unfortunate. Children should know that writing a personal journal is not an English exam. They are free to disobey as many grammar rules as they want, so long as they make sense to them as authors.
Express yourself
The personal journal is about you and no one else. This means that if you want to sound more authentic, you need to invest more time in composing yourself and getting the right flow to express yourself. Sometimes, you may feel one word or many. Simply write what you fee because that’s your journal at the end of the day.
Choose a special place to write
Even with journals, writing everywhere is not recommended. Select a place where you’re happy, feel safe and inspired to lose yourself in what you feel.
Keep it exciting
Journal writing is supposed to be fun, creative and easy. Try as much as you can to focus your energies on writing in diversity. The writing could include using photos, stickers, caricatures and other elements that make the journal a personal statement. More color, fun and excitement added to the journal writing can make a whole lot of difference.
Take it easy
Whenever you can, try make the journal-writing look like an easy task, less of a duty or obligation. When it starts to feel this way, be sure to scale down on the work by stepping aside until you feel your passion flowing back to you.as a general rule, aim to write your journal when things seem to be flowing a bit more naturally.
Overall, you need to know that although the above rules are ideal for good journal writing, you’re free to create your own personal style and stick with it. This also expands to include children, encourage them with these, but give them room to develop their own distinct style.
Sandra Miller is a freelance writer from Brooklyn. She always uses professional editing services help to make her writing perfect.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
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I never thought about children keeping journals to be honest. But after reading this post I can see that it could be good for them. I think it could be very therapeutic for them as well.
Thanks for the helpful and informative post. I am going to do this with my niece.
I think it’s ideal to encourage kids to express themselves in words. A journal is a perfect platform to do that. I think journaling can actually help in developing self-esteem and a good idea of one’s own identity. I love all these tips because though writing English in school is regulated with proper writing style and technique, a journal doesn’t have to be. It’s kind of like an open canvas for kids to express themselves however they want to express and in a way that feels the most comfortable.
I think that journal writing is an awesome idea for the kids especially one that I have at home. He has some trouble expressing himself through writing maybe I will try this with him and see how it goes thanks for the tips.
These sound like wonderful ideas! Some kids will absolutely love this over the summer.
I like these tips. My daughter keeps a journal. She is not always great about writing in it. I think if she used some of these tips she might enjoy journaling more. Sometimes I think she is to hard on herself when she will tear a piece of paper out and say it’s not good enough.