Disclosure – this post includes affiliate content
Just before our schools closed and we were placed on lockdown we received a HappySelf Journal to try out at home. We’ve been fans of journal keeping and mindfulness for a few years so were looking forward to trying the HappySelf Journal during what we knew was going to be a difficult time for our family.
Mindful journaling for kids with the HappySelf Journal
The HappySelf Journal is a daily journal for children aged 6 to 12, used to help promote happiness, develop positive habits and nurture enquiring minds. Beautifully laid out with helpful prompts, we thought the journal looked visually appealing and easy to use.
My 8 year old has always enjoyed keeping a diary and has been using the HappySelf Journal for the last few weeks. It is based on scientifically proven methods that promote happiness, develop healthy habits for life and nurture enquiring minds. Beautifully illustrated and easy to use, with just a few minutes focus each day, children benefit by being encouraged to express gratitude, reflect on their emotions and think about their actions.
Each page is really well laid out. Give my daughter a blank notebook and she’ll never start it but that’s not a problem with this journal. You can see how each page is laid out with space for you to add the date you fill out the page, a quotation, place to record the top three things you are grateful for that day, an emoji to circle and a checklist to add anything important from your day.
The journal cover is cheerful and bright yellow which immediately makes you think sunny thoughts, and my daughter looks forward to filling in her journal every day. It’s a great introduction to gratitude practice, mindfulness and self-awareness. My daughter was learning about these things at school so she was really open to the idea of recording her thoughts in this way.
I think the journal is also great for encouraging a growth mindset. This concept has been around for a while but is something my children have struggled with. I find my daughter often wants to share what she has written about which is a great way of opening up some great conversations at home.
The HappySelf Journal is available to purchase priced at £19.90 (click here to buy) and currently available in English, as well as Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish! If your children are older than the recommended age range of 6-12 then you will be pleased to hear that a journal for teens is due to be published soon.
You can also get the whole family involved in some mindful journaling with the 7 Day Family Gratitude Challenge which you can download from the HappySelf website. This is a great way to get together, perhaps at meal times, and focus on the positives during these difficult days.
Win a HappySelf Journal
I’ve teamed up with HappySelf Journal and a reader of the gingerbread house can win a copy of the journal for themselves.
To enter my giveaway you must answer the question via the Rafflecopter widget below, there are some bonus entries too. The giveaway is open to those with a UK postal address only and ends on 4th May. The winners name will appear on this post.
Don’t forget to check out my other giveaways on my competition page.
I do and enjoy it
I did as a child, but haven’t done for many years
Have just started.
I used to have a scrapbook as a child but not a journal
Sometimes have a go but don’t keep at it x
never have but think it might be good to do and look back on in the future
I have tried it before.
I haven’t but I’d like to, I think it would be interesting to read back on
Always fascinated to read nouns becoming verbs …
I used to keep a diary when I was a child and found it quite therapeutic. .
Ive kept a diary since I was a teenager, I love looking back at them yrs later.
i did when i was a kid but would love to start again
I suffer from anxiety so writing a journal is a must. Getting everything our on paper is therapy. Having a book that focuses on positive things which I’m able to refer back to would be amazing.
I used to a lot as a teenager and it really did help put feelings down on paper. A happy self journal for children is amazing.
no never had one or thought of doing one xx
I did as a tween/young teenager and when travelling in my gap year. I would like to win this for my daughter who struggles with her emotions.
I tried as a kid but always felt pressure to think of something to write everyday.
I used to many years ago, but I would love for my daughter to have a go now
I have never kept a journal. I would love to record my day to day life and moods
Yes, long time ago, but loved it, just I don’t have time now 🙂
I love journals – would pass onto my neice ! Incentive to do the same
Never tried it, but wish I had started when the lockdown started, it would be great to read later and see what we did when
My grand daughter uses a journal and would love this
I have and enjoyed it because it gave me a time to think!
I started the year with a diary in which I’ve put down at least one positive for the day, no negatives allowed. Doesn’t matter how small the positive is as long as there is one
Yes. Worthwhile activity.
I have a diary but it’s more for what we have done that day than for thoughts and detailed experiences
I have done it on and off I find it therapeutic
Friends have and recommend it, and this would be a nice way to get my daughter into it
I used to every now and then but I’m not great at keeping up with it frequently
I used to when I was younger
I did write a journal a few years ago when I was feeling low and confused, it really helped, and I filled five notebooks in a couple days, sorting through my thoughts, feelings and reviewing my life. it helped so much, but I have issues that prevent me from achieving much, though did get a 2:1 Open Uni degree (with honours) in history, finished a year ago, and gave me the confidence I lacked in my 20s and early 30s, but I can’t afford an MA, and so disapppointed, know I could do it!
I havent yet tried it, but I have heard about how relaxing it can be. I would use it to de-stress and get my mind in order!
Tell me if you’ve ever tried journalling or, if not, why you would like to try it.
l used to keep a diary in my teens and l have yst taken it upagain
I have tried writing in a diary before but then I kept forgetting to write in it so I stopped
I did when I was a teen but haven’t recently. x
Yep, I love journalling, its great to look back on!
I havent tried journelling but would be lovely to keep precious thoughts and memories xx
Yes it’s a lovely thing to look back on
I did as a teenager, thought it might be fun to try again.
I’ve not but heard many good things about it x
I haven’t tried it yet, but think it would be good for mental health.
Hello, no I haven’t tried journaling but I think it would be a good way to relax. Thank you for the chance to win.
I haven’t journalled before but I keeping a diary now we are in lockdown.
I have tried it, I love it! It really helps!
I used to keep a journal, it definitely helped letting me express myself
I do it every now and then
I used to do it as a child but haven’t done it for many years
no i dont now but used to as a kid x
I tried journalling when I was in my early teens and would love to start doing it again
Yes, and I left it behind a plastered wall in my previous house for someone to find someday
i have and really helped putting thoughts and feelings down on paper
I’ve tried journalling, I start my day with a cup of tea and my journal – it’s my quiet time before the rest of the household wakes up. It really helps me prepare for the day, I love it and would love my daughter to get the benefits too.
I used to have a scrapbook, but not a journal
I’ve kept a diary but not done proper journalling, but it is something I’d enjoy. Especially adding photos/magazine scraps.
I did as a child and am now trying to get back into the habit to help with my life management.
i enjoy journalling myself and this looks like a good one for kids especially at the moment.
No, I haven’t but maybe now is the time to start! 🙂
I enjoy writing in a journal, helps me!
Never tried it but would love to. I have a terrible long term memory so would be lovely to have something to look back on and remind me of good times.
I did as a child and would like to try it again to look back on. I think it would be helpful.
I used to keep a journal as a teen but my brother read my journal and told all my family my business
I used to keep a diary as a teenager, but I didn’t have much to say!
I did as a teen but not as an adult, I think I would like to try again!
I have tried several times. I always benefit when I manage to keep it up
I did when i was a teenager
Not since I was a teenager, but I think it would make me calmer.
I used to write a diary/journal on and off as a teenager. Now I’d love to get my daughter into keeping a journal.
I have a journal but I’m not very disciplined with filling it in. This is a fab idea for kids tho – especially like my son who struggle with ‘big’ emotions
No I haven’t tried it before, but with so much spare time currently I’d like to try it.
I haven’t journaled before although I imagine it is quite theraputic
Yes, I’ve been journaling on and off for many years.
I kept a diary as a child but family were very nosy so couldn’t put too much in it not done since
I’ve kept a diary and had planners, but not really a journal (I’m like to try though).
I always did when I was younger, it would be great for my son to start.
I love bullet journaling but haven’t been so motivated to do so since we have been in isolation
I have started multiple journals over the years, never kept one going for very long
I’ve never done it consistently, but it is something that I’d enjoy xx
I used to have one at school but havent for years. I find ir hard to work thorugh my emotions and writing them down would defo help!
no, but i would like to
I’d love this for my daughter Sophie – she’s 7 and I think it’s the perfect age to think about how she is feeling and trying to understand why. This is a great idea!
Yes and I find it very therapeutic
Yes when I was traveling, I love reading them back
Never tried as not really had the time but I guess now is the best time to try!
I have a mum and daughter journal.
never have but think it might be good to do now to look back on
I used to write journals all the time. I’ve still got some of them, including my very first one written when I was 11. It was about the time the secret diary of Adrian Mole was on TV, which was my inspiration! I’d love to get back to it.
I haven’t since I was young – it is something I would love to start again to document everything!
I used to between the ages of 16-26 on and off. Should really do it again but I think rely on photos to remind me of things now but it’s no substitute for actually writing down feeling.s
I have and love to start one
I haven’t but I think it would do me good to write my thoughts out since I lost my sister suddenly in June. I could write to her each day letting her know what I’d been up to with her 2 year old nephew
Yes as I have memory issues ,so it helps a lot
When I was a kid I used too