DS always so negative

[Odearr]

DS is 7 and a very kind sweet funny boy, but he is so negative all the time it's started to really worry me, he always seems to look for the bad that has happened and even the most minor inconvenience happens he will say it's the worst day ever.
If I ask him for example what his favourite thing that happen at school today was, he will say "well I will tell you what WASNT
my favourite thing.."
he had a school trip the other day that he was really excited for, I asked if he enjoyed it and he said "not really it was too hot"
At the park yesterday when I said it was time to go "I didn't even have ANY fun" (he did, I saw him playing with his friends laughing and enjoying himself etc)
how can I help him to be a bit more positive? I don't want him to think everything is bad all the time

Following as my 6yo is similar! I’ve started telling him to be more positive and asking / making him tell me one nice thing - and I do likewise. Not sure how much it’s helping so far!

Maybe he has learnt that he gets positive attention if he is sad or complains as people will try to cheer him up. So maybe focus less on the negatives bit. I think that a lot of kids can be like this tbh, especially if they are overtired, so i wouldn't worry about it too much.

Kids mask, they keep their feelings in all day and the negativity spills out when they get home. It’s because he feels safe to tell you how he feels, it’s actually a positive thing

Its draining though

Is he observing this from an adult?

I'll be honest my DD does have a friend like this and i can tell when she has spent time with her. And as they have got older it sounds more like criticism. Of DDS clothes, room, our home, other kids.

So, i think it is worth trying to tackle. I think id aim for a gradual shift. Maybe he is also going to be a glass half empty fellow. But could you reframe the question and allow him to tell you one positive thing and one negative thing? So he is allowed his space to vent. Or make the scope of the question bigger- to tell you something good that happened today? (Not about a particular part of the day). Or a gratitude journal (in a simplified age appropriate form) that you both complete together at bedtime. And you take turns. So he sees it modeled from you. If you ask him for 2/3 things maybe do one each taking turns. You may find his first one is negative toned but his second one is better. It may also improve over time.

Id also watch out for if what he sees just needs tweaking. 'Well noone bullied me today'. Could become 'Today people were kind and we had fun'. Or 'noone was played up in class today' becomes 'today everyone concentrated and worked well together and we had great lessons'.

It might take time, it might take practice. It might not work at all. And some days he will have just had a stinker. But if you want to try thats what i think id give a go.