We spend so much time helping children name and understand their emotions, but how often do we pause to do the same for ourselves?
As adults, we carry the emotional tone of the environment. Whether we mean to or not, we teach children how to feel, respond, and relate to the world based on how we manage our own inner landscape. That’s why one of the most impactful things we can do for our children is simple (but not always easy): tend to our own emotional well-being.
Journaling is one of the gentlest and most powerful ways to do that, and doing it alongside your child can create something truly special.
You Matter Too
It’s easy to fall into the habit of prioritising children’s emotional needs while setting our own aside. But the truth is, when you tend to your feelings, you’re also tending to theirs.
An emotionally regulated adult raises emotionally regulated children.
That doesn’t mean being perfectly calm all the time, it means having the tools to notice your feelings, understand them, and respond intentionally. And when children witness that kind of emotional awareness in action, they begin to build those tools themselves.
What Happens When Adults and Children Journal Together?
Journaling with your child isn’t about having deep talks every day or sharing every thought. It’s about sitting side by side, each with your own page, making time to pause. To reflect. To be curious about your own feelings, and open to theirs.
Here’s what often emerges from a shared journaling practice:
1. A stronger emotional connection
Even if you never read each other’s pages, the simple act of showing up together builds trust. It says, “We both have inner worlds that matter.”
2. A deeper understanding of self and each other
You learn how your child sees the world, and they learn that grown-ups have feelings, too. It normalises the idea that emotions are part of life, not something to be hidden or “fixed.”
3. A shared routine that nurtures both of you
Even if it’s just 5 minutes before bed, journaling together creates a calm space after busy days. A moment of presence, for them, and for you.
It’s Not About Being Perfect
You don’t have to be a “mindful parent” every moment. You don’t have to have all the answers. The most important thing is being willing to sit with yourself, and with your child, through whatever feelings arise.
Some days might feel light and fun. Others might feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed. But showing up, again and again, teaches your child that emotions are safe, and that they don’t have to go through them alone.
Interested in Journaling Together?
If you’re curious about starting a shared journaling practice, we’ve created a gentle resource to support both you and your child. Our Adult-Child Twinning Journal Bundle offers two separate journals, one for you, one for your child, designed to help you explore your emotions side by side, at your own pace.