Introducing Children to Journaling Through Dreams

People often ask, “What is the best way to introduce children to journaling?”  I do not know the one right answer, as all children seem to walk to the beat of their own drum; it appears to me that  the right answer would need to be as individual as each child. What I do know is that my children both demonstrated an early and natural propensity to remember their dreams.  Since this was the case for them, it seemed logical to introduce journaling to them through their dreams.

For me, this approach was relatively easy.  I am a dreamer myself and have kept a dream journal on and off throughout my adult life.  Even if I don’t have immediate access to a journal, I tend to write down my more intense or profound dreams on whatever paper or computer I have available to me at the moment.  I also like to share my dreams verbally with friends and family. Dreams are fun for me and listening to my children’s dreams is fascinating. Dream journaling seemed like a natural process to incorporate into our morning routine.

Our mornings often start with questions, like “how did you sleep?” and “did you have any dreams that you remember?”  On the occasion that one of them does recall a dream, we pull out their journal, a sketch pad, crayons or colored pencils, and a pencil; they recite their dream and I write it down in their journal while they draw pictures in their sketch book.

For us, this process is not only a great way to introduce journaling, but is a really fun and interesting way to build our relationships.  Journaling has so many great benefits, but sometimes it seems like those benefits are geared toward the introverted, with introspection and reflection seemingly highly valued.  I would say we, myself in particular, benefit from the open conversation and sharing that developed from discussing, writing and drawing out our dreams.

How have you introduced journaling to your children and how have you and them benefited most?

Love,

Sara