Children and expression of emotions

The expression of emotions is fundamental to children's psycho-emotional development. When a child expresses their emotions, they learn to recognize and manage their inner experiences, thus building self-awareness and self-esteem.

A journal of feelings and achievements provides children with a safe environment to record their feelings and achievements. This helps them to better understand themselves, manage stress, and develop problem-solving skills. It also reinforces positive thinking by acknowledging their successes and creating a sense of accomplishment and personal growth.

Keeping a diary of feelings by children, especially at school age, has been recognized as a practice with significant psychological and educational benefits. Child psychologists agree that this activity contributes to strengthening their emotional intelligence, self-awareness and mental resilience. Below is an analysis of the scientific data and the main theories that support the usefulness of this practice:

1. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to a person’s ability to recognize, understand, and manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Daniel Goleman, one of the pioneers of emotional intelligence, argues that this skill is extremely important for healthy child development, and it has been shown that children with high emotional intelligence tend to have better interpersonal relationships, lower levels of anxiety, and better school performance. Keeping a journal of emotions helps children practice these skills, as it gives them the opportunity to recognize their emotions and analyze the reasons behind them. Research shows that consciously recording emotions enhances emotional awareness and self-regulation, which is important for mental health.

2. Self-Awareness and Emotional Understanding**

Developing self-awareness is vital for children, especially during the school years, when social and emotional challenges are common. Through recording their feelings, children gain a better understanding of themselves and develop the ability to accept their emotional experiences.

3. Improving Emotion Management

Emotional journaling has been found to reduce stress levels and improve emotion management in children. According to child psychologist John Gottman, the process of consciously observing and recording emotions allows children to better manage intense emotional states, such as anxiety and frustration.

Research published in the Journal of Educational Psychology showed that children who use emotion diaries experience reduced levels of anxiety in their school and social activities, as recording helps them better process their problems.

4. Strengthening Self-Esteem

Self-esteem develops when children recognize the successes and challenges they overcome in their daily lives. By recording their achievements in a journal, they gain self-confidence and develop mental resilience. According to child psychologist Carol Dweck, positive feedback and recognition of progress reinforce a “growth mindset,” a mindset that helps children face challenges with optimism and perseverance.

5. Developing Problem Solving Skills

By recording feelings and difficulties, children develop problem-solving strategies. Over time, reviewing the recordings gives them the opportunity to identify patterns in behavior and ways to improve their responses. This is part of the process of developing the brain's "executive function," which is related to decision-making and problem-solving.

6. Improving Written Expression

Keeping a journal also contributes to children's language and creative development. Through written expression, children practice their communication skills and learn to express thoughts and feelings clearly. Research shows that written expression not only enhances creativity, but also improves cognitive functions.

References:

1. Goleman, D. ( Emotional Intelligence ), Ba 1995.
2. Erikson, E. ( Childhood and Society ), Norton, 1950.
3. Gottman, J. ( Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child ), Simon & Schuster, 1997.
4. Dweck, C. ( Mindset: The New Psychology of Success ), Random House, 2006.
5. Journal of Educational Psychology , 2020, 112(1), pp. 123-135.