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 How Creative Writing Benefits Children’s Emotional Well-Being

A friend once asked me, “Do you write to express or comprehend?” I was stumped and I found myself ruminating over her question long after our catch-up had ended. This is a common trope – in books, movies, and literature – a child, wrongfully admonished, storms off tearfully and pours his heart out into his diary. A heartbroken teenage girl sobs as she unloads the sorrow of unrequited love onto the pages of her journal. 

Don’t people write to express?

Now picture the afore-mentioned child – as he writes, he is compelled to examine the incident closely. He gains clarity on the issue as he relates the series of events leading to his outburst. His role in the problem becomes very apparent. What was once an internalised jumble of anger and indignance transforms into something he comprehends. 

However, to achieve that level of awareness, a child needs the right tools. A rudimentary grasp of the English language would be inadequate in expressing themselves; even more so when trying to understand a complex situation. Unpacking an issue through writing with limited linguistic ability could counterproductively result in even more frustration.

EXPRESSING EMOTIONS – Children are often unheard. As much as we strive to embody the traits of perfect parenting – to be endlessly patient and unwaveringly attentive – there are days (and more than we’d like too) where tending to every tantrum and investigating every cause behind creased brows is simply impossible. As much as it’s hard to admit to, parents can be dismissive and unavailable at times.

Frustrated at being ignored, they lash out. Because they are unable to articulate their emotions, they are expressed in the form of teary, red-faced screeching; some thrash on the ground, even destroying possessions and property. Adults see these outbursts as them “acting out” for no reason and grow exasperated. But when a child is given tools that enable effective communication, they are able to channel their emotions in a healthy way. They have the vocabulary to express themselves if they are strong at language. Children throwing tantrums are a result of a break in communication wherein they do not feel understood or heard. The chances of them being heard are higher if they are effective communicators, both written and spoken. 

SENSE OF CONTROL AND PSYCHOLOGY – Creative writing enables one to regain control. Children who feel voiceless or helpless can turn to creative writing. Through this process, a sense of autonomy is established. They have free reign of the world they’ve built. The characters do their bidding and the happy outcome they’ve yearned for can come to life. Learner autonomy and self-directed learning are key building blocks of our curriculum at Learning Journey. There are some successful English Enrichment Centres in Singapore that choose the rote learning approach where students are taught to predict the likelihood of certain topics being tested in national exams and encouraged to memorise model compositions verbatim in a highly-controlled environment. 

Teachers at Learning Journey vehemently oppose this rigidity, instead opting to ignite the love for the written word through immersive story-telling, zany writing prompts with a focus on spatial-kinesthetic learning. Learning Journey aspires to be a creative safe space, where we understand the importance of not having teachers look over your child’s shoulder and barking instructions. Sapping the pleasure from learning is a surefire way of causing disinterest and resistance in students. Some studies have found that, over the course of primary school, a student’s sense of autonomy and innate motivation to learn steadily decreases. Psychologist at the University of Rochester, Dr. Richard Ryan says ”When one is watched too closely or constrained too much, autonomy becomes a psychological impossibility” and we at Learning Journey are firmly of the same belief. “Force-feeding facts may produce a child who gets higher achievement test scores, but the more a student feels controlled from outside, the less pleasure he feels from inside. He ends up being turned off to learning,” Dr. Ryan concludes. 

INTERPRETING LIFE’S NUANCES – While many schools emphasise how crucial school readiness is, I am of the mind that future readiness is a concept most paramount in a child’s holistic development, which encompasses skills and values outside of academia. Navigating human relationships and their complexities; understanding that not everything in life is black and white, helps a child comprehend the subtleties of human existence. A core component of creative writing is reading. Widely. At Learning Journey, students are exposed to a variety of written works. In consuming all manner of poems and prose, the child understands that a “happily ever after” is desired but not always a given. The villainous big bad wolf can also be seen as a wretched creature, starving and pitiful; only doing what he must to survive. As award-winning author Jackie French puts it, “They can cope with unhappy things, and we do have to show that good does not necessarily triumph – but at least that good sneaks around the edges, and is still there when you look for it.” 

This kind of emotional maturity can shape a child’s response to being chided by a teacher or parent, resolving tiffs and disagreements in social situations and personal relationships, and later on in life being reprimanded by bosses or criticised by colleagues. They are better able to evaluate information intelligently, that there are shades of grey in interactions, and they learn to not categorise data restrictively as “good” or “bad”. A more developed worldview gives children multiple perspectives to examine an issue in a less simplistic manner and they help them to be less fearful of ambiguity. 

CONCLUSION – As we ponder the crucial journey of preparing our children for the ever-evolving world, we find that nurturing their emotional intelligence and embracing the spectrum of human experience are of paramount importance. At Super Writers™ creative writing classes, offered by Learning Journey, we grasp the profound influence of literature and creative writing in cultivating emotional maturity and shaping resilient individuals.

Enrolling your child in our classes goes beyond academic excellence—it equips them with the essential tools to navigate intricate human relationships, both present and future. Through a rich blend of literary works, we guide children to comprehend life’s complexities, where shades of gray intertwine with notions of good and bad. As they immerse themselves in narratives that celebrate the human spirit’s tenacity in the face of challenges, they acquire the capacity to gracefully confront life’s obstacles.

Let’s embark on this transformative journey together. Join us in nurturing future-ready leaders and compassionate individuals.

Enroll today to inspire your child to navigate life’s intricacies and, in doing so, illuminate the path for all.

Click here for more information on Learning Journey’s classes: https://www.learningjourney.edu.sg/creative-writing-english-paper-2-tuition/
Call/Whatsapp for more information: http://wa.me//96252102