Dear Diary: Teaching Kids the Power of Talking to Themselves

Today, something touched me deeply.

I’ve been teaching kids HTML and leadership skills this holiday. Our last class was an introduction to HTML and the art of journaling. Each child now has their own journal and has started jotting down little pieces of their daily lives.

While checking on Jehiel’s journal – he is the youngest in my class – something caught my heart. He started his entry with “Dear Diary.”

It melted me. Right there, I realised he didn’t just understand the lesson. He embraced it. By personifying his diary, Jehiel showed a commitment to himself. He sees his diary as someone important, someone he must report to each day.

What moved me even more was that he wrote it again on his second and third day. It wasn’t just first-day excitement. He was building a habit.

I thought about why this mattered so much. Journaling is not common among kids here. Growing up, I never kept one myself. Yes, I remember many things from childhood, but I know I would have remembered them even clearer if I had written them down. Who I am today is made up of so many small experiences I never documented.

Research shows journaling builds self-regulation in children. It helps them reflect, organise their thoughts, and express emotions clearly. When Jehiel writes “Dear Diary,” he isn’t just filling up pages with words. He is learning emotional intelligence – recognising and naming what he feels. He is learning reflective thinking – analysing his experiences each day. And he is building accountability to himself, knowing he must report his day somewhere, even if it’s just on paper. These are leadership skills at their purest.

Today, I told the class, “Journaling is like talking to yourself. Telling yourself how your day went, the challenges you faced, and the solutions you found or hope to find. It’s reporting yourself to yourself.” I reminded them that they will be the only person they spend their entire life with. So, it’s important to build a strong relationship with themselves. Start a lifetime love affair with your most noble nature.

Some might wonder why I teach journaling alongside HTML. My reason is simple. Technology teaches them to build the world. Journaling teaches them to build themselves. Without self-leadership, technical skills alone cannot create the leaders and problem-solvers Africa needs.

When was the last time you truly talked to yourself? How are you helping your child build their reflective and emotional skills alongside academics? What might change if you journaled daily for the next 30 days?

Watching Jehiel write “Dear Diary” reminded me of something simple yet profound. The relationship we build with ourselves is the foundation for every other relationship in our lives.

As an educator, I believe integrating reflective practices like journaling alongside STEM training nurtures children to become more than just coders or designers. It helps them grow into confident leaders grounded in self-awareness.

Nurturing Leaders from Early Years

At KidzHub English Nursery & Primary School, we believe education is more than just academics. It’s about raising confident, self-aware learners who are ready for tomorrow. That’s why our programs integrate emotional intelligence, reflective journaling, leadership skills, and strong academic foundations.

If your child needs specialised care and learning support, Special Gems Special Needs Center offers a loving, structured environment with trained professionals who understand and celebrate every child’s unique abilities.