6 Reasons Why a Diary Is Great For Children's Mental Health (And How To Get Them Started)

By Ross | Parents, Teachers, Top Tips, Writing Tips

Writing for children's mental health

Keeping a diary or a journal has been shown to have many benefits for mental health, especially in children. With the increasing pressure and stress that kids face in today's world, it's more important than ever to provide them with healthy coping mechanisms. Here are some of the benefits of keeping a diary for children's mental health:

1. Promotes Self-Reflection and Awareness

Writing in a diary allows children to reflect on their thoughts and emotions, which can help them better understand themselves and their feelings. Writing down their experiences can also help them find patterns in their behaviour and emotions, leading to a deeper sense of self-awareness. This can help children feel more in control of their thoughts and emotions, and better prepared to handle stress and anxiety.

2. Helps Control Emotions

Writing about negative emotions and experiences can help children manage their emotions and reduce their intensity. This can be especially beneficial for children who struggle to express their feelings verbally. A diary can be a safe space for them to explore and process their emotions without fear of judgment.

3. Improves Problem Solving Skills

Writing in their diary can also help children develop problem-solving skills by allowing them to mind map and reflect on possible solutions to challenges they are facing. Writing down their thoughts can help explore and understand their thinking giving them a sense of control over their problems.

4. Boosts Creativity

A diary can be a fun and creative outlet for children, allowing them to express themselves in unique ways. It can be especially helpful for children who struggle with traditional forms of expression, such as talking or drawing.

5. Promotes Gratitude and Positivity

Encouraging children to write about the things they are grateful for each day can help them develop a more positive outlook on life. Research has shown that people who practice gratitude tend to experience lower levels of stress and anxiety and higher levels of happiness and well-being.

6. Strengthens Writing Skills

Keeping a consistent diary can also help children improve their writing skills. By writing regularly, children can develop their writing style and increase their vocabulary. Additionally, it is a low-pressure environment for children to practice their writing skills, which can boost their confidence and lead to better writing in other areas – such as creative writing and expressing feelings, ideas and imagination.

Guiding Children and Pupils in Keeping a Personal Diary

So now we know why a diary is a good idea for children, but what about actually writing it? While there is no right or wrong way to keep one, here are some tips that can share to help your children or pupils on writing in a diary!

1. Choose the Right Diary: Choose a diary that children or pupils will love and be excited to write in. This can be a notebook with a fun design, bright colours, or inspiring quotes. Encourage children to decorate their diary in any way they like to make it truly personal.
2. Set Aside Time Each Day: Encourage children to set aside time each day to write in their diary. This can be first thing in the morning, before bed, or during a quiet time in the afternoon. The key is to make writing a regular habit.
3. Write About Their Feelings: Encourage children to write about their emotions. They can reflect on what they are feeling, why they are feeling that way, and how they can manage their emotions better. This will help them to process their emotions and increase self-awareness.
4. Reflect on Their Day: Encourage children to write about their day, including both the good and the bad parts. This will help them to reflect on what they learned and what they can do differently tomorrow.
5. Start a Gratitude Diary: Encourage children to write about things they are grateful for each day. This can be anything from their friends and family, to the little things like the sunshine or a good meal. Practicing gratitude has been shown to increase feelings of happiness and well-being.
6. Be Creative: keeping a diary is a creative outlet that allows children to express themselves in any way they choose. Encourage them to draw, write poems, or simply jot down their thoughts and feelings. The more creative they are, the more likely they are to enjoy the process.
7. Make it a Habit: A diary is most effective when it becomes a regular habit. Encourage children to write in their diary every day, even if it's just for a few minutes. The key is to stick with it and make it a part of their daily routine.
8. For children with learning difficulties: Try to help them structure their diary entry by adding in a sentence with blanks for them to fill in – you can also use word-clouds to help them with suggestions. For example: Today I felt ______ (happy, sad, tired, bored) this can help them to expand their vocabulary and learn to better express themselves.

Wrapping it up!

Writing a diary is a simple and effective tool for promoting mental health and wellbeing in children. By allowing them to reflect on their thoughts and emotions, and supplying a creative outlet for expression, keeping a diary can help children develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, problem-solving skills, creativity, gratitude, and writing skills. Encourage your children to start one today and watch their mental health and well-being soar.

Help is available!

If you need support with children’s mental health, there are some great resources available from the following websites

• NHS England
• YoungMinds