Journey into Journaling: Level 1

Journaling is an amazing way to step back and evaluate one’s day.

The benefits of journaling are well known - especially in the mental health field. Individuals who journal are more aware of the experiences they encounter in daily life and are more capable of identifying appropriate interventions they can take to encourage more desirable outcomes.

Children benefit from this mental exercise too and the latest mental health statistics from the CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) show that our kids are in a crisis. Over 6 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD, 4.5 million children have been diagnosed with a behaviour problem or anxiety, and almost 2 million have been diagnosed with depression.

In a group of six American children under the age of eight, one will have a diagnosed mental, behavioural, or development disorder.

And the numbers don’t get better as children age and their feelings and situations get more complex.

Teaching your child how to journal teaches them the expressive language they need to share their unique challenges with supportive caregivers.

Journaling with your child also gives you a glimpse into their daily experience and will alert you if professional assistance is required.

Don’t wait for your child’s crisis to be noticed by an overworked teacher.

Eleanor Ash is committed to providing every child with the resources they need to empower themselves with skills that shape resiliency. Her “Journey into Journaling” series takes users through the journal experience month by month.

Unique, never duplicated prompts encourage children to look back on their day and look forward into the near future.

Level 1 is for the youngest users and the beginners who need something simple and quick to start developing habits and nurturing daily insight. The fill in the blank style is quick, but opens the door for advanced conversations with caregivers.

Level 2 pushes users a step further and encourages them to interact with different emotions and engage with more advanced prompts.

Level 3 elevates users to recognize their own actions and empowers them to identify situations they can try to control and makes them aware of what changes they can make in their own daily lives to encourage desired outcomes.

Each journal represents one month. This allows caregivers to adjust the journal level to the needs of their child quickly when their ability changes. It also gives quick feedback and accomplishment when the journal is finished and it’s time to open a new one.

The goal of the series is to develop strong children who have the ability to look back on their day and express what worked, what didn’t, what they would like to do differently, and how they are going to control their interactions the next day.

Ideally, your child will graduate out of guided journaling and into blank notebooks and not be intimidated.

Until then, the Journey into Journaling series will teach your child the skills they need and help set a foundation of healthy habits that will last a lifetime.