Secrets, we all have them in some form or another. The keeping of secrets is a natural part of childhood and growing up; they can be something as simple as a dream about the future, a birthday surprise or even a moment of frustration. Having a private space to store your personal thoughts and memories can be empowering and therapeutic. Traditionally paper diaries and journals have served this purpose, filled with daily thoughts and confessions, reflections and even doodles but in today’s digital world, tech has taken over. Children these days are often more comfortable speaking than writing and video has become their preferred medium of expression. That’s where the Secret Creator Secret Video Journal, from Canal Toys, comes in. It is more than just a toy, it is a modern-day diary designed for a technology-reliant generation, giving children a safe, fun and natural way to record their thoughts, feelings and stories.
Now before I get into exploring the features of this journal, there is a very important question that needs to be asked: “is it ever okay for children to keep secrets?” A simple enough question, but the answer is far from Yes or No, it is much more nuanced. Yes, there are certain secrets children can keep, even encouraged to keep, especially when it comes to fun or harmless ones, but it is very important to teach them the difference between “safe” and “unsafe” secrets. Understanding secrecy; what can be kept secret, when to keep a secret or not, is an important part of growing up, it helps children with their emotional and social development skills. On one hand there are the “safe secrets”, the ones that are harmless and temporary, which can include things such as planning a surprise party, hiding a gift for a special occasion (birthdays or Christmas for example), or just sharing a silly joke with a friend, these can help foster trust and give children a sense of independence. But on the other hand there are the “unsafe secrets”, the ones that are not harmless or temporary, the ones that make children feel scared, uncomfortable or guilty. A key rule is that safe adults don’t ask kids to keep secrets. If someone says “don’t tell anyone” and it feels wrong, children should be encouraged to speak to a trusted adult such as a parent, grandparent, teacher or other trusted adult in their lives. Parents, and other responsible adults, can support this by reframing secrets as surprises where appropriate (it’s a surprise rather than it’s a secret), encouraging open communication and using everyday moments as opportunities to discuss safe versus unsafe secrets.
When it comes to those safe secrets, in the digital technology-packed world we live in, the Secret Creator Secret Video Journal provides the perfect outlet for youngsters to store their thoughts. Designed to look like a book, it features a fingerprint-locked cover (which ensures that only the registered user can access its contents). Once unlocked, the device has a 4-inch colour screen, 10 LED mood lights, 15 filters and frames, which allow kids to customise their entries and set the tone for their recordings. With a rechargeable battery and expandable storage up to 64GB, it provides plenty of space for months of entries, whether photos or videos.
Inside the box, children will find:
- Secret Creator Secret Video Journal
- 32GB microSD Card
- USB-C Charging Cable
- Sticker Sheet
- Instruction Manual
What makes this journal particularly powerful is its fingerprint lock; it allows only registered users to gain entry while giving young journal keepers independence and security, without the need for having to remember passwords or where they left the keys. This level of security and privacy gives children the freedom to be honest in their daily musings, while still being creative, making the journal a valuable tool for emotional expression. Setup is quick and simple and only takes a few minutes – it requires fingerprint registration (it takes 8 scans to register a print), and basic settings like language, date and time. Once ready, children can record video entries, take selfies or browse their previous recordings using the calendar function. Filters and overlays such as “Good Vibes” or “Love Hearts” add playful customisation, while the “Question of the Day” prompt helps guide children toward meaningful entries without pressure.
The “Question of the Day” prompt (press the ? underneath the screen) features questions such as “What made you smile today?” or “What’s something new you learned?” that appear on the screen when the button is pressed, guiding children toward meaningful entries while getting them used to recording their thoughts daily.
The journal also includes other practical features: a removable stand for hands-free recording, a headphone jack for private listening and a built-in speaker for playback. The charging light shifts from orange to blue when fully powered and the screen displays battery levels clearly. While the device doesn’t have a touchscreen – requiring button navigation instead (which might take getting used if accustomed to smartphones), it remains intuitive and easy for children aged seven and up to use independently.
Storage space isn’t massive, coming with a removable 32GB microSD card. This can be expanded to 64GB, and you can use as many different cards as you want when you reach capacity. This means children can keep months’ worth of entries without worrying about running out of space – a 32GB card can hold 82,000 pictures or 660 minutes of video recordings (or a combination of both).
Overall, I think that the Secret Video Journal is a fantastic device for encouraging children to keep a diary or journal as well as promoting positive habits like self-reflection and creative expression.
With a price retail price of £50, but is currently available for about £40, it is great value for money, especially as it does include a memory card. The journal is not a novelty gift but more of a tool that helps to support emotional development, self-reflection and digital literacy, as well as being fun. By offering a place for secure, fun and creative video storytelling as well as recording daily thoughts and memories, it empowers children to explore their inner world with confidence and takes diary entries into the digital age. More importantly, it provides a private recorded archive of growth, thoughts and imagination – something that children can enjoy looking back on in later life, without the need to share everything on social media and the risks that are associated with that.
The fingerprint scanner is a cool addition for a kids electronic journal. It keeps the device locked while still being simple enough for children to open, so that the contents remain private, secure and away from prying eyes. It even comes with a sheet of fun and colourful stickers, featuring fun images that include characters, emoji’s, decorative images and words, so that children can decorate the journal to suit their own tastes and personality.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £50
Available to buy from Amazon here.