Because confidence and joy start on the inside.
Guest blog from The HappySelf Journal
At HappySelf, our mission is to equip children with tools that help them grow up with confidence, resilience and joy.
It’s a purpose we proudly share with Micro Scooters. While their award-winning scooters empower children to move freely and develop physical skills and strength, our award-winning journals support the emotional side – encouraging reflection, self-awareness and daily habits that build inner strength and lasting happiness.
Here are six powerful ways journaling nurtures children’s wellbeing, from age three through to the teen years and beyond:
1. It teaches children to look for the positives
Gratitude practice is powerful, and the science is clear: it works. Our journals gently encourage children to reflect on the good parts of their day, whether it’s a calming cuddle with a pet or a high-energy scoot to school with friends! Over time, they learn to actively look for and focus on the positives in life. It’s a simple but transformative habit that helps them feel more content in the moment and better equipped to deal with life’s ups and downs.
Practising mindfulness strengthens the parts of the brain that support empathy, memory and emotional regulation, leading to less stress, better sleep and more focused, attentive behaviour. The simple act of slowing down to write or draw in a journal is mindful in itself, but our daily pages also include age-appropriate prompts that guide children through other mindful and grounding activities, like breathing exercises or noticing what’s around them.
3. It boosts resilience
Journaling helps children build emotional resilience by creating a safe space to reflect on tricky moments. When they think about how they felt, how they responded and what helped, they develop essential coping strategies they’ll draw on in the future. Over time, this reinforces their confidence in dealing with challenges, helping them bounce back more quickly from setbacks and feel stronger.
4. It promotes digital wellbeing
With screens now a constant part of children’s lives – and their link to poor mental health well documented – it’s more important than ever to create moments for calm away from digital distractions. Journaling offers a daily opportunity to unplug, reflect and enjoy the freedom of doodling, scribbling or writing in a safe, screen-free space. Our journals also include prompts around a mindful use of technology and screen-free family time, helping children adopt healthier digital habits.
5. It fosters kindness
It’s scientifically proven that giving, receiving and even witnessing acts of kindness have a powerful impact on our individual happiness. Our journals help children recognise this by prompting them to notice kind actions, be kind to themselves and think about times they’ve shown compassion to others. This builds empathy and teaches them that kindness is worth celebrating.
6. It builds self-awareness
Journaling helps children tune into their thoughts and feelings, giving them the space to reflect on what’s going on inside. Our ‘emoji of the day’ prompt encourages this daily check-in, helping children recognise and name a true range of emotions. Over time, this builds emotional insight, helping them understand what lifts them up, what challenges them and when they might need support.
For happy minds, think HappySelf
Just as a few minutes of physical activity each day can bring big benefits to children’s health and wellbeing, a few minutes of daily journaling helps them thrive emotionally, socially and mentally.
If you’re keen to discover the power of this small but mighty habit, head over to HappySelf Journal and check out our tailored journal editions for preschoolers, juniors and teens.