Baby Mikey

Keeping a journal every day can be tricky, especially when your child is somewhat routine driven and likes to do the same things every day. On days when we were particularly boring, I sometimes glued an old picture into Mikey’s journal.

My Reasoning

1. I wasn’t clear on how much Mikey remembered from when he was little so we often used to look at photos together. He seemed to like it and I enjoyed it too.
2. Mikey was bringing his journal to school and who doesn’t love a baby picture? This one was a big hit with Mikey’s Third Grade Class.
3. It took away any pressure that might have been associated with journaling.  I could always just grab a fun old photo and Mikey could write a sentence about it.
4. Older photos allow your child to write more generally about who they are, what they like and what their experiences have been. 

If you decide to do a journal with your child, including older photos is a great way to relieve pressure while also teaching them to share their likes and dislikes.  This one is just a baby photo, but even this one has Mikey in a sea life baby swing, wearing football pajamas. Those both turned out to be things he loves!! You could use any photo that says something about your child…a photo from the zoo if your child likes a specific animal or a summer photo if your child loves sunshine. It’s great for them to practice telling people what they like and don’t like.

Why That’s a Big Deal

Expressing what you like and don’t like is the precursor skill you need to advocate for yourself.  Advocating for yourself allows you to keep yourself safe, to set boundaries and to live a life that reflects who you are…this is not a small thing at all.  So, once again, our journal is so much more enriching than it might seem! It’s actually helping to build a sense of self. Love that!