Journal Writing Exercises for Kids
Getting kids to write in their journals is quite easy: with some targeted journal writing exercises for kids, you will be on a roll to getting your kids excited about writing. Sometimes, teachers want to have students come home from school and write reflectively about their experiences during the day. Sometimes, parents want to boost the writing and thinking skills of their children outside of the classroom. Either way, there are lots of journal writing exercises for kids to fit your needs.
What Supplies Do I Need to Get Started?
Before you begin, make sure that you have all the supplies you need on hand.
Make sure your child has a computer to type their journal or a notebook in which they can write all of their materials. Some kids really like to have a notebook because it feels like a prized personal possession and kids enjoy feeling like their notebook is a special, safe place. Some journals even come with a little lock and key for their notes to be protected.
You want to encourage your child to keep his or her writing in a notebook - it's convenient and, especially in a classroom setting, it is important to find something cost effective. A simple ruled notebook does just the trick.
Goals for Parents and Teachers
Journal writing for kids has several benefits.
- It teaches them to write and read more fluently and critically.
- Kids get a chance to practice new styles and practice using new vocabulary words that really enhance their writing skills.
- It helps them learn to formulate strong opinions. Kids have a chance to explore, on paper, what their thoughts and feelings are – and they are given the opportunity to voice their opinions in a controlled way.
- It helps kids boost their confidence. They learn to be proud of their writing skills, and they begin to develop their own little creation – their journal – that is representative of their personal work that they are proud of.
Foster writing skills in your child today by introducing him or her to the power of journal writing. While you’re at it, pick up a pen and paper yourself, and keep a journal of your kids and their progress.
Journal Writing Exercises for Kids
Here are a few writing exercises to get you started on your journaling project with your kids:
- Have your kids write about their favorite things – each day, they can write a journal entry about another one of the things they like the most, describing what it is, and why they like it.
- Have your kids write a story a day. They don’t have to be long, but they can become the new stories your kids share at bedtime – beyond the books they already have. Watch your child’s confidence soar with this one.
- Write a poem a day. The form doesn’t matter, nor does the rhyming attempt – just challenge your kids to write meaningful poems with beautiful words that they like.
Helping Your Kids Keep a Journal
Try encouraging your students to write once every day for at least 5 minutes. Even if it is the five minutes between breakfast and the bus, or five minutes after dinner and before bed, it gets kids in the habit of writing. In school it is often easier to schedule more writing time into the lesson plan. At the same time, it can be helpful to have writing be an important, required part of one’s daily activities.
The truth is, the more writing kids do, the more they seem to want to do. Get them started on small projects, and soon you’ll see them eager to write more and more. With these journal writing exercises for kids on hand, you’ll have a lot of ideas to get your kids excited about writing.