Journal prompts for kids can inspire creativity, improve writing skills, and help kids connect with their feelings and emotions. We’ve created a list of twenty feelings journal prompts for kids to help them do just that!
Journal Writing for Kids
Journal prompts are questions or statements that inspire your kids to write about their thoughts related to that question or statement. They may inspire your kids to write a short story, a whole book, a poem, or just a few short sentences. Whatever these writing prompts inspire, it’s important to meet them where they are and encourage them to express their feelings without forcing them.
It can be difficult for children to understand the emotions they are experiencing and put those feelings into words. While well-intentioned parents want to help, asking too many questions can often shut children down. Giving them an outlet to express those feelings on paper allows them to do so safely without what they may perceive as judgment, criticism, or more likely, just an annoying parent.
How do you encourage children to journal?
Sometimes it can be a struggle to get your kids to kit down and write. One way to encourage them is to let them pick our their own journal and find a fun, special pen or pencil. Set a writing goal and increase it over time. For example, start with writing one sentence and slowly encourage them to write more and more each day.
While younger kids will most likely share their journals, older kids may choose to keep them private. While you may be anxious to read their journals I would encourage you to ask, but not force them to share. In my experience, the less I push, the more they share. If I ask my daughter if she wants to share her feelings and she says “no” I say “ok, I’m here if you want to talk about it.” She may approach me at another time to share.
Why use journal writing prompts with your kids?
These deep writing prompts about life can improve children’s social-emotional, writing, and communication skills. Additionally, this can offer an opportunity for parents to connect with your children and inspire communication through sharing this journal writing experience.
Here are some more benefits of daily journal writing for kids:
- Journaling is a powerful tool to cope with emotions.
- Writing about your feelings helps you process and understand the big feelings you are experiencing.
- Releasing feelings can lower anxiety, reduce stress, and help kids sleep better.
- Journaling helps process and heal negative thoughts and feelings
- Journals create a keepsake and record to look back on to see how you’ve changed
- Journals improve writing and communication skills
Teaching children to identify and express their emotions through journal prompts will help them build a strong social-emotional foundation. As they become more comfortable expressing these emotions on paper they may become more comfortable expressing these emotions with you, their teacher, friends, and peers.
20 Feelings journal prompts for kids to connect with their emotions
Here is a list of 20 prompts that encourage self-reflection and connection with your children’s innermost feelings.
- Sometimes I worry about…
- My biggest dream is…
- I feel sad when…
- My most embarrassing moment was…
- Tell me about a time you felt scared. What happened? How did you feel after?
- What would you say to a friend who is feeling scared?
- Do you feel safe? Why or why not?
- Write a list of ten things you are grateful for and why.
- Write a list of ten ways you can show kindness to others.
- One thing I wish I could change is…
- When I feel sad, overwhelmed, or worried I can…
- Take a few moments to take in the smells and sounds around you. What feelings come up for you?
- One thing I wish I was better at is….
- My favorite thing about myself is…
- Sometimes I’m hard on myself….
- How do you feel when you make a mistake?
- What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
- What would you do if you knew you would not fail?
- Describe a time you helped someone? What did you do? How did it make you feel?
- The feelings I’ve been experiencing a lot are…
To help your child use these feelings journal prompts grab a lined journal, a fun writing utensil and encourage your child to find a quiet spot where they can write without interruption. If your children are young you can offer to record their feelings for them as they share them. Practice patiently listening and allowing them to work through their thoughts as they form them into words.
To learn more about journaling and why you should use a gratitude journal with your kids check out our post – Gratitude Journals for Kids.
Writing Prompts for Kids
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