A Diary for Children – 5 Good Reasons to Keep a Diary

Have you ever wondered why your child gets upset for days about a missed penalty kick, but quickly dismisses last week's spectacular goal as a lucky shot? Why does that botched German assignment stick in their memory much longer than an A in maths?

The reason is evolution. It has wired our brains to notice negative experiences much more strongly than positive ones. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, dangers lurked everywhere. For example, the venomous snake that had made itself comfortable at the cave entrance. The hungry wolf that surprised us while we were gathering wood. Or the community that might no longer like us and leave us behind because we made a mistake.

For our ancestors, it was better to have a false alarm a hundred times over and worry unnecessarily than to be eaten by a predator on the 101st time. Enjoying the beautiful flowers by the wayside or a picturesque sunset brought our ancestors no evolutionary advantage. [1] [1] Positive experiences: Rick Hanson PhD/Blog: Take in the Good Finally, as the saying goes, “Survival of the fittest" and not “Survival of the happiest".

There are people who catch fish, and those who only muddy the water. – Chinese proverb

Even in the age of smartphone-controlled plastic dinosaurs and group lessons, our brains are still wired for this Stone Age survival pattern. This focus on the negative is unhealthy for our relationships and can make us unhappy in the long run if we don't actively counteract it. But it's easy to change.

Our 6-Minute-Diary for Kids is a tool that can help your little one consciously develop a positive attitude toward life. This doesn't mean ignoring problems, but approaching them optimistically and with a focus on solutions. Through journaling, children can practise gratitude and learn to deal better with failure. The following five reasons explain how keeping a diary helps children:

1. Learning Gratitude

One of the most effective ways to outsmart the evolutionary pessimist in our heads described in the introduction is to express gratitude every day. The 6-Minute-Diary for Kids is perfect for this.

What is your child grateful for? Regularly reminding ourselves of all the positive things in our lives makes us happy and healthy: numerous studies have shown this. [2] [2] Gratitude as medicine: Robert Emmons/UC Davis Health Medical Center (2015): Gratitude is Good Medicine Children who practise gratitude are more satisfied at school and feel better integrated. They go through life more optimistically and are more likely to stand up for others. [3] [3] Gratitude from a scientific perspective: Summer Allen/John Templeton Foundation UC Berkeley (2018): The Science of Gratitude

Gratitude can be very effectively practised with the 6-Minute-Diary for Kids, in which your child regularly writes down a few keywords. You can also give them a short prompt, for example:

• What was the best thing that happened to you today?: “The pirate treasure hunt at my birthday party. Chocolate cake, gummy bears, and strawberry ice cream.”

• Who did something nice for you today?: “My grandpa, who builds model airplanes with me out of old plastic bottles.”

Your child learns to consciously notice positive things in everyday life. This way, gratitude will eventually become an automatic process that will bring your child many benefits later in adulthood. By the way, the exact wording doesn't matter that much. Renowned neuropsychologist Dr. Rick Hanson found that positive experiences must be held in consciousness for about ten seconds to make the transition from short-term to long-term memory. [4] [4] How positive experiences make it into long-term memory: Hanson, Rick (2016): Hardwiring Happiness So that a child's mind can be filled with good thoughts in the long run, it is more important to take the time and enjoy the good feeling that was felt during the experience.

2. Training a Growth Mindset

The blunder during the dance group performance. The failed attempt to style your own hair Hollywood-style. The magic trick that just NEVER works. How does your son or daughter react to failure? Does your child immediately throw everything aside? Or do they think, “Now I’ll do it even more” and do everything they can to practise?

American psychologist Carol Dweck distinguishes between two different mindsets: A rigid self-image (“fixed mindset”)  refers to the belief that intelligence and talents are unchangeable. Either you are a maths genius or a born basketball star – or you are not. Children with this attitude not only work less on their weaknesses, but also fail to fully develop their talents. For fear of making a mistake or being embarrassed, they avoid challenges. [5] [5] How our self-image works: Mindset Works Media Room: What can you do to Promote a Growth Mindset in Students

A growth mindset (“growth mindset”) refers to the belief that we can improve our intelligence and talents through practice. People with this attitude work much harder and are more successful in the long run. [6] [6] Our self-image is crucial: Mindset Works Media Room: Why do Mindset matters?

Fortunately, a growth mindset can be learned, and keeping a diary can help. Your child can specifically practise dealing constructively with failure. You can give them a short prompt, for example:

• Think of a mistake you made. What happened? And what did you learn from it?

• What are you currently stuck on? What can you try to change? Or who can you ask for help? 

The 6-Minute-Diary for Kids is designed so that your child will automatically develop a growth mindset over time. This way, your child learns not to despair over failure anymore, but to understand it as an opportunity to learn something new.

It is a great advantage in life to make mistakes from which you can learn as early as possible. – Winston Churchill

3. Handwriting is Good for the Brain

Doing a puzzle on Mum's smartphone in the dentist's waiting room and then sending a selfie to your best friend. Playing a little with the game console before dinner or baking a virtual pizza on Dad's tablet. Screen time has long been part of everyday life for most children. However, too much of it can impair your child's development: Thinking and learning abilities as well as short-term memory suffer. [7] [7] Too much time on the phone leads to learning difficulties in children: Tagesspiegel (2018): Not so smart because of Smartphone And too much screen time at such a young age can also lead to a range of developmental disorders. [8] [8] Poorer concentration due to too much screen time: Reichel, Chloe/ Journalist’s Resource (2019): The health effects of screen time on children: A research roundup

Keeping a diary has the opposite effect. Studies have shown that handwriting strengthens creativity and memory. For example, scientists compared two groups of university students who took notes during a lecture, either by hand or on the computer. Those who typed their notes were able to remember individual terms better. But those who used a pencil and paper were able to better reproduce the content connections. [9] [9] Handwriting vs. Computer: Estibaliz Aragon-Mendizabal, Candida Delgado-Casas, Jose-L. Navarro-Guzman, Inmaculada Menacho-Jimenez, Manuel-F. Romero Oliva/Study (2016): A comparative study of handwriting and computer-typing in note-taking by university students

Handwriting activates several areas of the brain at once, unlike typing [10] [10] Benefits of writing by hand: Welt (2018): Handwriting Day: Schreiben with the hand is important for the brain and also helps children improve their reading ability, among other things. [11] [11] Why handwriting should continue to be taught: Karin James, Virginia Berninger/Learning Difficulties Australia (2019): Brain research shows why handwriting should be taught in the computer age

4. Space for Creativity and Ideas

A clothespin becomes a shark with sharp teeth. An empty kitchen roll becomes a telescope. And Mum's new silk scarf can be repurposed as a superhero cape. Anyone who has ever observed children playing knows that they are naturally creative.

This is even scientifically proven. Studies have shown that 98 percent of all five-year-old children are highly creative. In comparison: Only two percent of us adults are considered creative geniuses. The reason is our habit learned in school to immediately evaluate and critically examine ideas. This prevents our brain from working creatively. Fortunately, we can train creativity like a muscle, and through targeted practice, you can help your child avoid losing innovative thinking altogether. [12] [12] The importance of creativity: George Land/TED Talk (2011): The Failure of Success

With the 6-Minute-Diary for Kids, you create a space for ideas that no one will mark up with a red pen. Your child can come up with crazy things, write little stories, or design a blueprint for a spaceship – without anyone judging them.

Imagination is more important than knowledge, because knowledge is limited. – Albert Einstein

5.  Time Travel into Your Own Childhood

Do you still remember the summer you holidayed with your parents in a small village in Tuscany? Your very first attempt at riding rollerblades? Or the circus performance you practised with your friends for weeks and then proudly performed in your parents' front garden? [13] [13] The younger generation prefers experiences: Harris Group/Study (2014): Millennials fueling the Experience Economy Beautiful memories are one of the most important things we can give our children, and they make them happier in the long run than material gifts. While no one keeps old phones or tablets, you give your child an analogue keepsake that they created themselves. It is a unique testament to their wishes, thoughts, and experiences at that time. Imagine if you had filled out such a diary as a child. What would you give to be able to hold this keepsake in your hand now? You are currently on your way to giving your child a treasure chest of memories. As the Roman poet Martial said almost 2,000 years ago: “He who enjoys the past lives twice.”

Conclusion: Diaries for Everyone

Did you also have a diary once? Maybe one with a horse head on the front and a little gilded lock? Or a worn and tattered copy that you hid at the very back of the wardrobe? Journaling is not just for children, but has many positive effects for people of all ages. The 6-Minute-Diary for Kids combines all these effects in a unique way. Ask your child if they would like to start one of the most effective positive habits at the same time as you and pick up a pen together.

I never travel without my diary. You should always have something exciting to read with you. – Oscar Wilde

_________________

This post was written by Maria Röckmann. While studying journalism Down Under, she one day held a microphone up to a man's face, fell in love with him, and stayed there. When she's not exploring the playgrounds in Brisbane with her children, she writes for the 6-Minuten-Verlag or works on her first novel.

Sources:

[1] Positive experiences: Rick Hanson PhD/Blog: Take in the Good

[2] Gratitude as medicine: Robert Emmons/UC Davis Health Medical Center (2015): Gratitude is Good Medicine

[3] Gratitude examined scientifically: Summer Allen/John Templeton Foundation UC Berkeley (2018): The Science of Gratitude

[4] How positive experiences make it into long-term memory: Hanson, Rick (2016): Hardwiring Happiness

[5] How our self-image works: Mindset Works Mediaroom: What can you do to Promote a Growth Mindset in Students

[6] Our self-image is crucial: Mindset Works Mediaroom: Why do Mindset matters?

[7] Too much time on phones leads to learning difficulties in children: Tagesspiegel (2018): Not so smart wegen Smartphone

[8] Poorer concentration due to too much screen time: Reichel, Chloe/ Journalist’s Resource (2019): The health effects of screen time on children: A research roundup

[9] Handwriting vs. computer:Estibaliz Aragon-Mendizabal, Candida Delgado-Casas, Jose-L. Navarro-Guzman, Inmaculada Menacho-Jimenez, Manuel-F. Romero Oliva/Study (2016): A comparative study of handwriting and computer-typing in note-taking by university students

[10] The benefits of writing by hand: Welt (2018): Handwriting Day: Schreiben mit der Hand ist wichtig fürs Gehirn

[11] Why handwriting should continue to be taught: Karin James, Virginia Berninger/Learning Difficulties Australia (2019): Brain research shows why handwriting should be taught in the computer age

[12] The importance of creativity: George Land/TED Talk (2011): The Failure of Success

[13] The younger generation prefers experiences: Harris Group/Study (2014): Millennials fueling the Experience Economy