Sue's Imaginarium

  As children grow, one of the most important life skills they must learn is how to recognise bad influence. Every child will eventually meet people who encourage unhealthy behaviour, poor choices, disrespect, dishonesty, bullying, or dangerous actions. This can happen at school, online, in friendships, or even within familiar environments. Many parents naturally want to protect their children from every negative influence, but the truth is that children will not always remain under direct supervision. One day, they will have to make decisions on their own. This is why teaching discernment early is extremely important. Children need to understand not only what bad influence looks like, but also how to confidently walk away from it without feeling ashamed, pressured, or afraid. What Is Bad Influence? A simple way to explain bad influence to children is this: “Bad influence is when someone encourages you to do things that hurt you, hurt others, make you uncomfortable, or move you aw...

 Stories have always been an important part of childhood. Long before television, mobile phones, and the internet existed, people gathered together to listen to stories. In many African homes and communities, elders would sit with children in the evenings and share folktales, proverbs, and wisdom-filled stories under the moonlight. These stories were not told only for entertainment. They were used to teach children how to behave, how to treat others, how to think wisely, and how to face life’s challenges. Even today, stories still matter deeply in raising children. Children may forget long lectures, but they rarely forget stories that touch their emotions. A story has the power to enter a child’s imagination and stay there for many years. Through stories, children begin to understand kindness, honesty, patience, courage, responsibility, and empathy in ways they can relate to. Instead of simply telling a child, “Do not be greedy,” a story about a greedy tortoise who loses everythi...

Every parent wants to raise a “good child.” But beyond good behaviour lies something deeper — awareness . Awareness is what helps a child: Pause before reacting Understand others Make wise decisions Grow into a kind, responsible adult Without awareness, children may follow rules only when watched. With awareness, they begin to guide themselves . So instead of only asking, “Is my child behaving?” we should also ask, 👉 “Is my child becoming aware?” Let’s explore the key types of awareness every parent should teach. 1. Self-Awareness “What am I feeling? What am I doing?” Self-awareness is the foundation of all growth. It helps children: Recognise their emotions Understand their behaviour Notice how they react How to teach it: Ask: “How are you feeling right now?” Name emotions: happy, sad, angry, frustrated Help them reflect: “Why do you think you felt that way?” 👉 A child who understands themselves is easier to guide. 2. Emotional Awareness ...

  Children don’t naturally understand words like aura, energy, or presence — but they feel it every day. They know when someone is kind, calm, or happy… and when someone feels angry, tense, or negative. So instead of using complicated language, your role as a parent is to translate “positive aura” into something simple, real, and relatable. 1. Start with a Simple Definition Don’t overcomplicate it. Say something like: “A positive aura is the feeling people get when they are around you. It’s the way your heart and attitude make others feel.” Or even simpler for younger kids: “It’s your invisible light — how you make people feel when you’re around them.” Children understand feelings more than abstract ideas. 2. Use Everyday Examples Make it practical: “You know how you feel happy when someone shares with you?” “Or when someone smiles at you?” “That’s their positive aura.” Then contrast it: “And when someone is mean or shouting, how do you feel?” “That’s not a positive aura.” This hel...

  Once upon a time, in a village surrounded by tall palm trees and golden fields of millet, there lived a young girl named Tami . Tami was bright and energetic, always running ahead of her thoughts. She laughed loudly, played boldly, and sometimes spoke before thinking. In the center of the village square stood an old wooden table, and on it rested a large, beautifully carved calabash . It was smooth and polished, with patterns of waves and birds etched into its sides. The villagers used it to store grain during harvest season. But this calabash was no ordinary bowl. It had a reputation. The elders said long ago, a wise woman had blessed it with a simple purpose: it would never hide lies. Whenever someone spoke dishonestly near it, the calabash would react. Sometimes it rattled. Sometimes it shifted. And sometimes, if the lie was serious enough, a thin crack would appear along its side. Because of this, people were careful near it. Disagreements were settled honestly. Promises...

Fear is a feeling everyone experiences. It is the body’s natural response to danger or uncertainty. When something feels threatening or unfamiliar, the brain sends signals to prepare the body to protect itself. The heart beats faster, breathing becomes quicker, and the mind becomes alert. This response can help us stay safe. For children, fear is very common. Many things can make a child feel afraid. Darkness, loud noises, new environments, separation from parents, school pressure, or even stories they hear can trigger fear. Sometimes children cannot clearly explain what they are feeling. They may simply say, “I’m scared,” or show it through crying, avoiding certain situations, or wanting to stay close to their parents. Fear itself is not the problem. Fear becomes a problem when it begins to control a child’s thoughts, decisions, and confidence. When fear grows too strong, it can stop a child from trying new things, meeting new people, or trusting their own abilities. This is where fai...