Archive for Journaling

4 Ways to Encourage Children to Journal with the Imagine Project

Journaling is a great way to help children record their thoughts and feelings. It allows kids to explore their interests and express themselves, especially if they’re reluctant to write or talk. Insider.com adds that writing a journal can also yield numerous mental health benefits — such as calming anxiety and coping with trauma — by using writing to help you unravel and confront fears that cause negative feelings. This is true for children, too, especially if they struggle to articulate their emotions.

If you want to nurture a habit of journaling among children, here are some tips that can help.

Create a conducive working area

An uncomfortable space might distract kids, breaking their focus and leading to an unpleasant time that puts them off journaling. Since you want to foster interest in the hobby, you must provide an area conducive to working.

One of the best ways to do this is by making the space comfortable. PainFreeWorking.com finds that using ergonomic chairs can encourage proper posture, reduce pain, promote productivity, and enhance one’s overall health and wellness. To put your kid in the right mood to journal, you can also consider having them work in spaces full of natural light while their favorite music plays. Indoor plants can also enhance their concentration: WebMD.com notes they’re proven to help children perform better in class. A comfortable environment like this makes children feel relaxed, so they look forward to each writing session.

Provide loose prompts

Since children may have little prior experience journaling, they might approach the activity in a one-dimensional or limited way. One way to stimulate their minds is by providing loose prompts that allow their thoughts to get rolling. By providing writing ideas, you teach kids to expand their minds and challenge what they think should or shouldn’t be done when journaling.

Find prompts that interest the kids you’re working with and ensure that it’s loose enough to yield creative answers. These could be questions like, “If I had a superpower, it would be…” or “If I could spend time with anyone in history, I would choose…”. The key is leaving space for kids to interpret the prompt. By fostering engaging journaling sessions, you nurture their interest in the activity. If you’re wondering how to get started, our team at ImagineProject.org provides journals that you easily download for your kids to use. These are specially designed to foster creativity by providing prompts that encourage kids to have free reign over their imagination.

Allow children to have creative control

To foster excitement for journaling, allow kids to have creative control over what they do with your prompts. Although writing is an excellent way to express oneself, some children may prefer to draw or articulate their thoughts in another way. Encouraging them to do so can be empowering since it allows them freedom over their decisions.

Try this with your own kids by letting them choose the notebook and writing implements they use. Equip them with crayons and other coloring materials, as well. You can also have them decorate their stickers to maximize their enjoyment. Doing this helps them feel they have control over how they express themselves.

Give children privacy

One of the most important ways to encourage journaling is by reassuring kids that they can maintain their privacy. Some children may have trouble opening up or expressing themselves, and placing their thoughts somewhere others can see may make them feel vulnerable. VeryWellFamily.com thus points out that kids can only use journaling as an effective outlet when they feel secure in the fact that their journals are only for their eyes.

Allow children to choose where they hide their journals. If you need to keep it with you, reassure them you will not invade their privacy and stick to that promise. Most importantly, don’t peek into their journals — even if you’re tempted to. If they feel safe journaling, they’re more likely to take comfort in it.

Journaling helps children process their emotions and thoughts. By doing what you can encourage the habit, they can develop healthy ways to understand and express themselves. You can get started right away by going to TheImagineProject.org and downloading a journal for your child.

Article written by Renee Jessa exclusively for The Imagine Project, Inc. 

Thank you Renee! Happy journaling,

Dianne

Parents Can Cure Nature-Deficit Disorder DIY-Style

Being a parent can be pretty overwhelming at times. Much of the parenting journey is super complicated, but when it comes to nature-deficit disorder, there are cures moms and dads can formulate themselves. We’ve compiled some resources to help you and your family enjoy the great outdoors together.

Time in Nature is Necessary

Being outside is good for all of us. The condition “nature deficit disorder” has been is becoming an epidemic. Every child is different, some love being outdoors and some prefer to be inside. But kids will go outside more if you are out there with them. Walking, playing with your pets, fun nature activities, or sports will encourage more outdoor time. Of course, playing with other kids outdoors offers even more benefits. A UCLA study of two groups of 6th graders at a camp showed that kids who had no electronic exposure for five days showed a significantly higher ability to determine emotions on the faces of subjects they were shown. Kids learn so much about life when they are playing with other kids and exploring the world outdoors.

Here are a few more articles about why spending time in nature is invaluable to your children’s physical and mental health, and how time outdoors can make kids more mindful.

3 Ways Your Kids Can Find Mindfulness Through Nature

10 Reasons Why Being Outside is Important

8 Eye-Opening Ways Kids Benefit from Experiences with Nature

Plan a Playdate in Your Own Backyard

Here are some great outdoor activities you can do right from your backdoor:

11 DIY Backyard Playground Ideas

Simple Picnic Food Ideas for an Impromptu Picnic
The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Camping

18 Ridiculously Awesome Things to Do with a Kiddie Pool

Ensure Learning is Part of the Plan

Kids love to learn when it’s part of playtime. Here are some great ideas to help you incorporate learning into playing outdoors:

Finding STEM in Nature: Low-Cost Outdoor Activities for Kids

Astronomy for Beginners: How to Get Started with Stargazing

Learning About Weather in Your Own Backyard

9 Great Outdoor Learning Activities for Springtime

Being outdoors builds confidence, promotes creativity and imagination, teaches responsibility, provides different stimulation, gets kids moving, makes them think, and reduces stress and fatigue. Research has shown that getting kids outside, moving, playing, and exploring will help them reset psychologically, so they are better able to cope with life.

When it comes to raising happy and healthy children, parenting is complicated in many ways. However, one simple cure is to spend more time outside together. You can shut down the effects of nature-deficit disorder, DIY-style!

The Imagine Project is dedicated to helping children overcome stress and trauma through expressive writing. If your child is struggling with any challenging life circumstances, download The Imagine Project journals and walk them through the healing 7-step process. You can even do it with them. Both of you can write and Imagine story about life that will help them (and you) have clarity, and move forward with any issue. You can do this process in or outdoors if you’d like. And once they Imagine new possibilities you can discover and even act them out during playtime! Click here to download the free journals.

Be well and thanks,

Dianne

(Thanks to Amanda Henderson for contributing this blog)

Dianne is the founder and CEO of The Imagine Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps children K-12 (and adults) process and heal from difficult life circumstances through expressive writing. Dianne has her Masters in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, has written multiple books, is an international speaker, lives outside of Denver, CO, and has 3 grown children. Learn more about The Imagine Project at www.theimagineproject.org.

Teach Your Child How to Enjoy Making Healthy Choices

Written by: Amanda Henderson

Showing your children how to make healthy, safe decisions is one of the most important lessons a parent can teachtheir child. It’s easy to help them make these decisions when you are right there by their side — but it’s those intimidating moments when you’re not around that you want to feel confident they are making good choices.

Unfortunately, you won’t always be there physically to support your child when they are offered alcohol, reach for their phone while driving, or sit on the couch all day playing video games. However, you can make the most of the times that you are there — in ways that will impact their decision-making for the rest of their lives. Here’s how:

Saying No to Drugs and Alcohol

Your child will be faced with the temptation to try tobacco, alcohol, and drugs at a much earlier age than you probably realize. In fact, studies show that many kids try their first sip of alcohol between 11 and 13 years old. On average, exposure to marijuana happens just a few years later. Since your child’s brain is still developing until the age of 25, it’s important they learn how to confidently say no to peer pressure. Plus, some of these habits, like smoking tobacco, may seem harmless at first, but can quickly turn into a lifelong habit with serious health consequences. Teach them to turn away from temptation by:

  • Using an excuse like “I have to be up early in the morning” or “I’ve tried it before and that stuff makes me sick.”
  • Encouraging your child to participate in team sports or school activities where both coaches and teammates create a drug-free support system.
  • Empowering your child to speak truthfully to peer pressure by practicing phrases like: “Do you know what that stuff does to your body? No, thanks!” or “Go ahead and destroy your mind. I’m good.”

Staying Safe on the Road

When your child starts to drive, you may not always be there to remind them of good habits. In fact, there might even be others there trying to pressure them into bad habits. Teach your teen road safety by:

  • Putting away phones while driving. Never, ever text and drive — not even at a stop light.
  • Monitoring and celebrating responsible driving by using a safe driving app.
  • Keeping a two-second cushion (about two car spaces) between their car and the car in front.
  • Calling you to come get them if they are overtired or distracted.
  • Using high beams when driving on country roads where wildlife is prevalent.
  • Slowing down and breaking earlier in weather where roads may be icy or snowy.

Searching for Balance

We all have days where we want to veg out on the couch, watch TV and eat macaroni and cheese — regardless of age. And days like that are okay, as long as they are infrequent. Teach your child how to be healthy now and in the future by showing them how to strike a balance between vegging out and exercise, healthy meals and sweet snacks, and playing on the tablet and reading a book. You can give them the tools to make lifelong good choices by:

  • Giving them occasional structured “veg out time” where they can choose which activity — like video games, TV or tablet — they want to do. Of course, make sure you have the right tech (whatever technology you need, you can find affordable options) and an internet connection that can keep up with everything!
  • Following up “veg out time” with something productive and social, like going for a walk, riding a bike or playing a board game with the family.
  • Allowing them to help you in the kitchen, making decisions together about meals and exploring healthy ingredients and recipes.

Encourage Them to Journal

Journaling helps everyone work through emotions so we aren’t bogged down by difficult life experiences that can preoccupy our minds. Children can enjoy these benefits too–especially those who have suffered stress and trauma. Giving children an avenue to express themselves can be a powerful tool to support their mental health by processing and letting go of negative or overwhelming thoughts so they can make better decisions. For a simple and effective form of journaling, download a free journal from the and encourage your child to write down their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Using The Imagine Project writing process can relieve short-term stress, ease depression and anxiety, and improve their academic performance.

Teaching is Doing

We’ve all heard the old adage, “Monkey see, monkey do.” In the 20th century, childhood psychologists proved that it wasn’t just a game — it’s how children learn and decide which behaviors are right and wrong. By showing your children which behaviors are appropriate, you set them up for success into adulthood. When you demonstrate all of the above behaviors your child will watch and learn. You can even take online classes yourself or together if you share a common interest—teaching them a good work ethic and commitment.

There is no manual for good parenting. There are, however, a lot of studies, theories and common-sense information that can help guide you along the way. As long as you are coming from a place of love and respect, you are well on your way to teaching your child resilience and self-reliance in any situation.

Thank you Amanda for writing this blog. Stay safe out there!

Love,

Dianne Maroney, RN, MSN

Dianne is the founder and CEO of The Imagine Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps children K-12 (and adults) process and heal from difficult life circumstances through expressive writing. Dianne has her Masters in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, has written multiple books, is an international speaker, lives outside of Denver, CO, and has 3 grown children. Learn more about The Imagine Project at www.theimagineproject.org.

 

Please think of The Imagine Project during the giving season. Donate Here