Happiness and Gratitude journals for kids - helpful or not?

[Anchi]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with journals for children. I’ve seen some ads for various journals (happy confident me, happy self, big life journal, be etc.). I like the idea of sitting down at the end of my day with my son (3 1/2 yrs) and talking about his day and writing things down, but I worry that this excessive focus on ‘happiness’ is not healthy and I wonder if focusing on feelings too much (as opposed to activities and some outward looking things) might produce rather than relieve anxiety. I was also thinking about getting one as a present for my nephew who is about to turn 7 and is a great kid but not great at dealing with big emotions. Obviously I’m not a psychologist so I’m probably talking nonsense.

Anyway, just wanted to hear some opinions and experiences from other parents or teachers and psychologists. Have you used these? Any recommendations? Any diaries which are a bit more activity focused? All opinions welcome 🤗

I’m not sure why you think a 7 year old boy would sit and write in a ‘Happiness Journal’. (He won’t, FYI!)

It all sounds a bit woo and intense to me, and at 3, how much ‘unhappiness’ is your child experiencing that makes you want to capture the ‘happy moments’ in such a way?? Just get on with living!

I think these things can foster unrealistic expectations that we should be happy all the time, and can lead to children feeling guilty if they are not happy and suppressing their unhappy feelings, which isn't healthy.
Fat better to support the child to develop resilience and overall self confidence and feelings able to express their feelings whether happy, sad or worried.

I am a primary teacher of 33 years, btw, and have 30+ seven year olds daily.

Trying to get some of them to write anything is a feat of endurance, never mind writing in a ‘happiness and gratitude journal’. Not even sure most of the girls would even do this (and they generally don’t mind writing) it’s all very ‘intrusive’.

My kids love these diaries, they don't necessarily always write in them every day but they pick them up like once or twice a month and I think it's getting them used to thinking about their feelings and some of them have fun prompts - so if they aren't too expensive I would consider buying them, several are available on amazon, my daughter has pet chickens and I have bought her "Diary For Chicken Lovers" she can also write about her pet chicken - she founds it super fun!

We’ve been trying a little gratitude/feelings journal with my 7yo and it’s actually been pretty nice. It involves a couple of lines at bedtime about “best bit”, “tricky bit”, and something they’re looking forward to or an activity to do some drawing or sketching.
It’s been a good way to calm things down before bed and get little bits of honesty about what’s going on in their head. I’ve noticed more “I felt sad when…” rather than just explosions. Doesn’t fix everything, obviously, but it’s been a small positive thing.
My only tip is keep it super short or it turns into homework and they won’t want to do it. A cute/fun journal helps too, makes it feel special. I use a UK one called The Mindful Explorer.
Hope you find something that clicks, it’s very trial and error with this stuff 😅