In a time where social and emotional skills are as crucial as academic achievements, the power of Discovery Journals in revolutionizing emotional intelligence cannot be overstated. Danielle founder of Discovery Journal sits down with a Senior Project Worker at STEP Swindon to discuss how their journals are used to improve the mental health and well-being of the children in their care. This article will delve into the interview, highlighting how STEP works with young people, the effects of COVID-19 on mental development and the impact the Discovery Journals are having on children's emotional development.
Understanding Emotional Intelligence in Children
"So often young people find it difficult to articulate their feelings and emotions especially when they're in emotional dysregulation so the diaries are essential in helping them to identify what they're feeling"
While talking with Hayley it became clear how important learning to understand and communicate emotions was to the development of children's mental health. It's not easy to communicate feelings clearly, even in adulthood we become conditioned to reducing how we are truly feeling into "tired" or "stressed".
These foundational skills not only help children navigate their own emotions effectively but also enable them to understand and connect with the feelings of others. It's usually true that if an individual is clear and unburdened by sharing their feelings and experiences, it puts others at ease and often allows them to open up and express themselves.
"When they're not talking they're bottling it up inside and that has to come out somewhere and we're seeing it come out whether it's an angry outburst or whether it completely the opposite whether they go inwards and detach there's no healthy technique to offload those thoughts and feelings so it comes out negatively."
How the Discovery Journals have helped: "The diaries are essential in helping them to identify what they're feeling"
The emotive box is included in all versions of the Discovery Journal and is a fundamental part of the journal.
We find that by having all emotive words right there on the page it becomes easier for the user to truly acknowledge what they are feeling, using the correct term.
If an individual is asked how they are feeling often they will struggle to find the accurate way to describe themselves, and choosing instead to bypass the question by stating they are "fine".
The journal will often ask you at other stages to explain how you have felt about something for which you can refer back to the box. Practicing using this terminology will increase emotional literacy and self-understanding.
Fostering Self-Awareness Through Journaling
"Life passes us by so quickly you know the moment it can feel huge but then something else happens and you forget that moment but actually to be able to reflect back on that to document it and then reflect back it creates an awareness."
Through the process of journaling in their Discovery Journal, children are able to explore their own thoughts and emotions, leading to a greater sense of self-awareness. During adolescence our priorities become skewed and emotions become heightened. Understanding ourselves and protecting our mental well-being isn't high on the list of priorities, rather these become replaced by judgement and inclusion from peers, study stress and possible trouble at home. It all becomes overwhelming. So being able to learn self-reflection in the simplest and quickest form, such as a bullet journal is ideal, building up practice over the years, meaning later in life they will al. This self-awareness serves as a solid foundation for building resilience in kids, allowing them to navigate challenges with a better understanding of themselves and others through adolescence and into adulthood.
Seeing Success with Discovery Journals
"Some of the commonalities that we see with young people that are struggling to manage difficult situations such as bullying, parental substance misuse, anxiety, emotional and mental well-being."
Discovery Journal has been working with STEP for three years, providing them with our Teen and Neurodiverse Discovery Journals for their young people. Through the use of the journals within their intervention program, they have witnessed children developing a greater sense of self-confidence and emotional resilience. By incorporating Discovery Journals into their sessions, they have observed children processing their emotions more effectively and building healthier relationships with others.
By encouraging children to reflect on their emotions and experiences, these journals help them develop a sense of determination and strength in the face of adversity. The process of journaling allows kids to recognize their own capabilities and develop coping mechanisms, ultimately empowering them to overcome challenges and setbacks.
Discovery Journal also works with children and adults further afield.
Recently we've been working with the Tea Leaf Trust who run educational programs in the tea leaf estates of Sri Lanka.
Our journals were introduced to 13 participants, in order to become a resource they can refer to for better mental health management.
The Image to the left is of the journals being first introduced and read through.
We are incredibly proud to be working with a variety of charities and people across the world.
Implementing Discovery Journals at Home
"That's a perfect tool for example if they have an appointment with targeted or community mental health services take the diary in and express yourself from your diary because that diary creates a pattern of your mood and your thoughts and your feelings."
When implementing Discovery Journals at home, it's important to create a safe and trusting environment for exploring thoughts and emotions. Hayley and I discussed whether the journals are actively shared with parents, teachers or GPS and we came to the understanding that anyone who is gifted a journal such as this should feel it is their own private resource, rather than "homework". Kids were more likely to use it and implement the strategies they learn from it such as open communication when they don't feel pressured into it and trusted.
These journals don't need to be for everyday use, they can just be used as and when it's required; after all, that is when you start to see trigger points. This informal way of journaling might seem bizarre to some but its relaxed nature means that it doesn't become a chore to fill in instead it becomes engaging and exciting to journal.
You might be wondering how to get your hands on a Discovery Journal yourself. Well aside from our teen version we also have adult journals and neurodiverse journals available to purchase through our website.
Interested in watching the full video?
In a world where emotional intelligence is key to navigating relationships and achieving success, Discovery Journals offers a powerful tool for nurturing these essential skills in children. With charities already seeing success in implementing Discovery Journals, now is the time to start incorporating this practice into your child's routine. Take the first step today towards a brighter future for your child – one filled with emotional intelligence and personal growth. As the saying goes, "Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself." Start listening to those echoes through the pages of a Discovery Journal.
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