Therapeutic writing is a very powerful tool; studies have shown that writing about trauma helps release it. While it’s good to encourage children and young adults to write to a specific topic or in a specific style (see the language arts section for more ideas and prompts) try to make space and time for writing as an outlet without a specified outcome in mind. The writing can be kept, if desired, or ceremoniously disposed of (shredded, placed in a bonfire, etc.) at the end of the activity.
- Using pen/pencil on paper (if possible) do a timed write every day for a week, taking 5 minutes or longer depending on the age/ability of the child(ren). Have them write whatever comes to mind. Keep the hand moving the whole time. If no words or sentences immediately present themselves, repeat the shapes of the alphabet until words begin to form.
- If you have large sheets of paper (like reams of old dot-matrix printer paper) tape them to a wall and use a crayon for this activity. Remember that before there are sentences, there are words, before there are words, there are letters, and letters start as shapes – as visual images. Start with the shapes and letters and see where it takes you.
- Provide your child/student(s) with a topic sentence or theme word to write about, such as:
- Last week I…
- When I heard about [blank] I felt…
- To me, hope means…