Journaling To Help Our Kids Set Their Intentions For 2020

As our thoughts turn to the kids heading back to school, we want to send them off in the right mindset, ready and open to learning. Helping our children to set their intentions for the learning year is a great way to get them focused. Journaling is a diverse approach to help our kids internalise their intention setting.

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Setting Our Intentions

Setting an intention is when we consciously define a direction or theme for our actions and thoughts for the upcoming school year. This helps us focus on our goals.

For learning we want our kids to tap into their curiosity and desire to make sense of the world; we want to nurture their growth mindset and remind them that every skill can be improved with practice. We want to guide our kids to seek different ways to review the information as it is presented to them.

So whether they need to improve their spelling, improve their knowledge of maths, or practice listening in class, setting an intention can help. The age and maturity of our children will reflect on the complexity of the intention; it can be one word, a quote or a mantra.

Words like “curious” or “adventure” or “focus” may be enough to spark that open mind that helps our kids become better learners.

Journaling Our Intentions

To reinforce intention setting, journaling can be tailored to our kids natural styles and keep their intention front of mind.

Journaling for the Writers

If your child is naturally drawn to writing then journaling is a perfect way to reinforce their intention. Writing out thoughts and feelings offer insights as to how our intention can improve our learning.

Writing doesn’t need to be lengthy – even noting bullet points or three things to be grateful for can engage our brains to look outside of our own heads and refocused on our intention.

Journaling for the Arty Ones

For the artistic child, encourage sketching and doodling; an art journal can be a place to keep those drawings. Drawing is an equally valid way to keep our intention at front of mind for those who are visual thinkers and learners.

As their enthusiasm for journaling expands it doesn’t need to be constrained to drawing alone – art journaling can become a mix of media to include acrylic paints, decorative Washi tapes, collage elements and a plethora of pens and markers. Art journaling has NO RULES so children can write and paint over, decorate and embellish their intention or mantra.

Journaling for the Not so Arty Ones

Journaling is not out of reach for our kids who aren’t naturally drawn to writing or sketching – journaling can be embraced those with some simple guidelines; bullet journaling can reduce the pressure to write to jotting down a few short sentences. Doodling and using coloured markers to create mandalas can also be equally effective by engaging the mind and allowing a few minutes of positive focus.

Children who are adamant that they “can’t draw” can embrace collage to journal their intention. With an old-fashioned blank scrapbook, glue stick and scissors, our intention can be documented with images and words from magazines.

Getting Started with Journaling

Journaling is great way to note our intention as it’s easy to get started – all we need is a notebook or sketch book, which are easily available at our local stationery stores, plus a good pen or pencil that suits your child. Add in some coloured markers and a few crafting embellishments like Washi tape and collage elements and you are ready to get started.

For parents, journaling also provides an activity to work in parallel. A side by side approach can lead to unexpected conversations while our minds and hands are distracted with journaling our intentions.

As you get the kids back to school, remember that journaling is a great way to set intentions and start the school year with a good mindset – with an open mind and a ”no rules” approach, it’s easy to get started with a minimum amount of supplies and a little know how.

When you are ready to expand on your collection of journaling materials, consider reaching out and taking a class or attending a craft show where you can be inspired by what others have created and see the breath of craft supplies available to make your journaling experience an enjoyable one.

Michelle Brown is passionate about engaging children to fulfill their dreams and enjoys sharing knowledge with others, to help them express their dreams through creativity.

Michelle is the Creative Director of From Picture to Page and Beyond Papercrafts Show. Her papercrafting and mixed media art have taken her from crafter, to craft store owner and to craft show event organiser, with five shows across Victoria, Australia each year. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram for more inspiration @FromPicturetoPage.