We all know that ‘it’s better out than in’ when it comes to some emotions. Whether you prefer shouting about it, scribbling it down on paper, or blogging the pants out of a situation, out is best. It helps us to feel calmer, more in control and more often than not can help us to understand what we are actually feeling, see how we reacted and help us to move forwards in a positive way. But it takes a good while to figure all that out doesn’t it? That getting things out – highs and lows, good times and bad – can make us feel better. Happier. More confident. The journal starts by introducing itself as a space for them to write down their thoughts and feelings. As a parent, I really like all the positive language used to reinforce the idea that feelings are valid and important. There’s even a lovely, light hearted section on ‘how to be happy’. There is an activity for each episode that should be done soon after watching the episode and before beginning the next. Very soon, I’ll be getting involved in a ‘learning from your mistakes’ activity with the kids, them seeing me make mistakes too will help bring the message home. That all feelings are valid and are messengers that help humans understand themselves and others better.

That’s when I remembered a family member had sent us the Happy Confident Me Daily Journal. I saw this as an excellent opportunity to help her reflect, reframe the day and have an outlet to begin to feel better. To live in harmony, with a sense of community, shared goals, and spirits is key to a great society. We exist on this planet together and living a compassionate life is key to our happiness. Using psychology-based techniques, kids will discover the 10 key character skills (we call them powers) that will help them thrive through life with self-belief, optimism and compassion. Children don’t cope well with failure as opposed to seeing mistakes as part of a journey in learning. They live in fear of failure which can prevent them trying new things or rising to challenges. The Happy Confident Me Super Journal instills life-changing, positive daily habits. Developed by psychotherapists and parenting experts, in consultation with kids it:Using a structured format for only 5 minutes a night, they’ll develop a positive daily habit that will increase their happiness and confidence. Happy Confident Bee’ is a character that appears all throughout the journal and acts as a guide through each day. For any littler ones who struggle with the abstract idea of writing ‘dear diary’ style, we think that the bee is a great character to have a chat to, on paper, each day instead. At the end of each week there is a weekly activity spread. My little one decided to start there, and completed the task of ‘what makes you happy’. A picture of me! *I was totally chuffed to bits. Offering 10 weeks of daily structured journaling the Happy Confident Me Super Journal is the perfect partner to HCMtv, providing a way to apply each of the powers on a daily basis.

I bought it for my 7 year old daughter, and she is enjoying filling it in and having space to write, draw and express herself. Start each week learning about the new power and enjoying activities to be done alone or with friends or family. Join Emma Willis, a team of primary and secondary children and a crazy professor for a 10-week virtual journey inside the brain, right from the comfort of your own home.

They’re not all the way through their journals yet – I believe in letting them go at their own pace with it – but I have started to see themes that they’ve covered in the journal already work their way into their everyday thought processes. For example, my daughter (whilst discussing something that was worrying her slightly) said she felt she should try to be more optimistic and work out what her happy, confident voice would be saying to her about it instead.

Kids will love this transformational course developed together with therapists, parents, children, and schools, delivered in a TV programme format across 10 meaty, but bite-sized episodes. Although the journal is straightforward, I do want to share some of the things I found helpful when introducing it to my kids #01 Please don’t force it What you think, leads to how you feel, which leads to how you behave. If we have negative thoughts, then this leads to a more negative outcome. Hosted by Emma Willis, together with children aged 6-18, and a crazy professor, HCMtv takes viewers on a 10-week journey into their brains, and bodies, to learn more about themselves and others. She would describe an awkward feeling in her tummy that didn’t feel like the friendly, excited for something good to happen butterflies, rather, pretty unhappy tummy-dwelling creatures intent on making her feel uncomfortable & sad. These were big feelings coming out, and I knew we had to explore them in a supportive and helpful way.

The verdict: Kids’ journals

The Happy Confident Me Journal is a daily journal for kids with a very clever twist up it’s sleeve. It’s been especially crafted by parenting coach Nadim Saad and psychotherapist Annabel Rosenhead to encourage a wealth of important skills in children, including self-awareness, positive thinking, resilience, growth mindset, confidence, mindfulness, kindness and gratitude. I know it might sound a little complicated on paper, but it’s actually very simple and a lovely end of the day activity to encourage your little ones to take part in. Journalling is not my son’s natural territory. He’s 11 going on 15, and if something’s not on YouTube, I’ll be honest, it’s a hard sell. Placing the journal on day 1 in his hands and saying ‘ get on with it’ wasn’t going to work. So I just had it out in the house where he would see it and encouraged his natural curiosity to take over. Without perseverance we lose strength of self, strength of conviction and nothing great can ever happen. We lose pride in the things we do as they are all ‘easy’ or simple.