Sue's Imaginarium

Kojo's phone buzzed three times before he had even finished his jollof. "Kojo, no phones at the table," said Mum. "Sorry, Mum." He turned it face down, but he was already curious. Nobody ever messaged him this much. After dinner, he hurried to his room and checked. He had been added to a new WhatsApp group: Class 6 Legends 😎 . Kojo grinned. Everyone in his class had been talking about this group for weeks, and now he was in it. He scrolled up. There were jokes about football, a funny video of a goat on a school bus, and lots of laughing emojis. Kojo sent a thumbs up. It felt good to belong. Then another message popped up. It was from Nii. It was a photo of Selasi from their class, taken during assembly that morning. Selasi had been reading the Bible passage when his voice suddenly cracked. It went high and squeaky right in the middle of a word. A few children had giggled, and Selasi's ears had turned red. Now someone had turned the photo into a sticker. Sel...

 Growing up means facing situations that nobody can completely prepare you for. Sometimes your friends may leave you out. You might make a mistake and be frightened to admit it. Someone may ask you to keep a secret that makes you uncomfortable. You might fail an exam, lose something you borrowed, receive a strange message online, or find yourself being pressured to do something you know is wrong. When these things happen, it is easy to panic, stay quiet, follow everyone else, or make a decision you later regret. That is why knowing what to do before the situation happens is so important. Welcome to Sue's Imaginarium's “What Do I Do If…?” guide —practical answers to some of the situations children and teenagers may face at school, at home, with friends and online. 1. What do I do if my friends leave me out? Being excluded hurts, especially when the people leaving you out are people you consider your friends. Before assuming the worst, find out what happened. Sometimes there may...

Dares can seem exciting. “ I dare you to do it! ” “Come on! Don't be scared!” “Everyone else has done it.” “If you're brave, prove it!” You might hear words like these at school, at a sleepover, in the park, in a group chat or while hanging out with friends. Some dares are harmless and silly. Someone might dare you to sing a song in a funny voice, dance for ten seconds or try an unusual food. But other dares can put you in uncomfortable, embarrassing, dangerous or even harmful situations. That is why every child and teenager should learn an important lesson: You don't have to accept a dare just because someone gives you one. Being dared doesn't take away your right to make your own decision. What Is a Dare? A dare is a challenge where someone asks or encourages another person to do something, often to prove that they are brave, confident or willing to take a risk. For example: “I dare you to sing in front of everyone.” “I dare you to message your crush.” “I dare you to...

  “Come on, Efua!” Nana held out the purple marker and pushed it towards her. Efua stared at it. Then she looked at the classroom wall. Mrs Mensah had stepped outside to speak to another teacher. Most of the children were busy packing their bags, laughing and talking before the final bell. But Efua, Nana and Abena were standing beside the class noticeboard. And right in the middle of the board was Mr Boateng's photograph. Nana grinned. “Just draw a big moustache on him!” Abena covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Efua didn't. “That isn't funny,” she whispered. “Oh, Efua!” Nana rolled her eyes. “It's just a joke.” “But we'll get in trouble.” “No one will know.” Nana pushed the marker closer. Efua shook her head. “No.” Nana's smile disappeared. She folded her arms. “Fine.” Efua felt relieved. Until Nana said the words that made her stomach tighten. “If you're really my friend, prove it.” The Friendship Test Efua had been friends with Nana since the beginnin...

 Most parents want to raise kind children. We teach them to share. We encourage them to apologise. We tell them to be respectful, helpful, considerate and polite. When they give up the last biscuit for a sibling or comfort a crying friend, we are proud of them. And rightly so. But there is an important lesson that needs to sit beside kindness: You can be a good person and still say no. Without this lesson, a child can slowly begin to believe that being kind means keeping everyone happy—even when it makes them uncomfortable, exhausted or unhappy. That is where kindness can quietly turn into people-pleasing . Kindness and People-Pleasing Are Not the Same Thing A kind child may share because they genuinely want to. A people-pleasing child may share because they are afraid the other child will stop liking them if they don't. A kind child may help a friend with homework. A people-pleasing child may allow a friend to repeatedly copy their homework because they are afraid to say no. A kin...

 At some point, almost every child will feel the pressure to fit in. It may begin with something seemingly harmless. “Everyone in my class has one.” “My friends said this is what we're wearing.” “Nobody else likes that.” “They'll laugh at me.” “If I don't do it, they won't want me in their group.” As parents, these comments can easily be dismissed as childhood drama. But to a child or teenager, belonging matters enormously . School is a significant part of their world, and being accepted by their peers can feel incredibly important. The challenge is not teaching children that they should never care what other people think. We are human beings, and wanting to belong is natural. The real challenge is helping children understand that belonging should never require them to lose themselves. Why Do Children Feel So Much Pressure to Fit In? Children are constantly learning who they are. As they grow, friends and classmates become increasingly influential. They notice what othe...