What role can journalling or voice notes play after big feelings? 

Parenting Perspective 

When children experience overwhelming emotions, they often struggle to process them fully in the heat of the moment. Introducing tools like journalling or recording voice notes can give them a valuable outlet to release these feelings in a safe and private way, while also helping them to reflect on the experience afterwards. These practices help to translate raw, intense emotions into words, which makes them easier to understand and manage. 

Journalling for Reflection and Release 

Writing about an upsetting experience allows children to externalise their feelings instead of bottling them up inside. A simple notebook where they can jot down what happened, how it made them feel, and what they might try to do differently next time can turn difficult emotions into valuable learning opportunities. For younger children, combining drawing with a few words can also be a very effective approach. 

Using Voice Notes for Verbal Expression 

Some children find talking much easier than writing. Creating voice notes on a device gives them the space to pour out their thoughts and feelings without having to worry about spelling, grammar, or sentence structure. Listening back to their own recording at a later time can help them to recognise patterns in their emotions and even to appreciate how their strong feelings eased with the passage of time. 

Fostering Growth Through Expression 

The key is to frame these tools not as a replacement for talking to parents, but as an additional layer of support. You could say, ‘Sometimes writing or recording your feelings can help your mind to settle. You can choose to share it with me if you want, or you can keep it private.’ This approach honours their need for independence while reassuring them of your unwavering availability. 

With consistent use, practices like journalling and recording voice notes can teach children that their emotions are not to be feared or suppressed, but are rather to be understood, expressed, and reflected upon. 

Spiritual Insight 

In the Islamic tradition, self-reflection and taking account of one’s inner state are considered essential practices for spiritual growth. Tools that facilitate this process can be seen as a means of nurturing this important spiritual discipline. 

Reflection as a Form of Accountability 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Kahf (18), Verse 49: 

‘…And they will find that all of their deeds will be presented (on the Day of Judgement), and no one shall be treated unfairly by your Sustainer.’ 

This verse reminds us that the acts of writing and recording carry a certain weight in the spiritual sense. They help to preserve truth, encourage us to reflect on our actions and intentions, and gently guide us toward greater accountability. 

The Prophetic Emphasis on the State of the Heart 

It is recorded in Mishkaat Al Masaabih, Hadith 2762, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Indeed, in the body there is a piece of flesh which, if it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly it is the heart.’ 

This hadith teaches us that tending to the state of our heart, through sincere reflection, honesty, and expression, is central to our overall well-being. 

By encouraging children to journal or record voice notes after experiencing big feelings, parents are helping to nurture both their emotional resilience and their spiritual awareness. These practices remind them that reflecting on the state of one’s heart is not a weakness but an act of wisdom, one that serves as a step toward clarity, balance, and closeness to Allah Almighty.