Sue's Imaginarium

  What if your child ran the house for a day? Not in a Lord of the Flies kind of way — but with structure, responsibility, and just enough freedom to make decisions that affect the whole family. It’s called “Kid CEO Day” — and it’s one of the most eye-opening, character-building activities you can do as a parent. Not only is it fun, but it also teaches leadership, empathy, planning, decision-making, and teamwork. Best of all, your child learns that running a household isn’t as simple as it seems. What Is a “Kid CEO Day”? Kid CEO Day is a full-day family activity where your child (or each child, if you have more than one) takes on the role of being “in charge.” They make the schedule, delegate tasks, plan meals or activities, and lead the household — with your support as their assistant or advisor. It's not about letting them do whatever they want. It’s about giving them responsibility within a safe, guided framework. Why It Works Kids often live in a world where most deci...

  When our kids were little, fixing their pain was often as simple as a hug, a snack, or a colorful band-aid. A scraped knee or a playground squabble could be soothed in minutes. But as they grow, the wounds become less visible—and much harder to mend. Adolescence brings with it a surge of emotional storms: anxiety, identity confusion, friendship drama, academic pressure, social comparison, and more. As parents, we can feel helpless. Our instincts may push us to problem-solve, to fix. But most of the time, what our kids truly need isn’t a solution—it’s us. They need us to stay . To be present. To listen without judgment. To provide quiet strength when their world feels like it’s crumbling. So how do we actually do that? How do we support our older kids when our usual toolkit no longer works? Here’s a grounded, practical guide—seven clear steps—to help you be the calm in your child’s storm. 1. Shift from Fixing to Holding Space The first step is mental. As parents, we’re wired to w...

  Long ago, in a small African village where children played under baobab trees and the river sang every evening, there lived a boy named Kofi. Kofi was cheerful, clever, and loved by everyone. But Kofi had one weakness: he spent everything he had as soon as he got it. If someone gave him three cowries, he would run to the market and spend all three on roasted maize. If his uncle gave him a calabash of groundnuts, Kofi would eat and share them all before the day was done. His grandmother often warned him, “Kofi, my child, money and food must be cared for like seeds. If you eat all your seeds today, what will you plant tomorrow?” But Kofi only laughed. “Grandmother, the market is full every day! There will always be more!” 🌱 The Magical Calabash One evening, while walking by the river, Kofi found a beautiful calabash floating gently in the water. It glowed faintly in the moonlight. Excited, he carried it home. When he reached his hut, he set it down and said, “If only this c...

  Long ago, when animals could talk and lived together in a big village, there was a small but clever tortoise. He was known for his big dreams and even bigger appetite for things he didn’t really need. Tortoise loved collecting shiny objects—cowrie shells, beads, feathers, anything that caught his eye. While other animals worked hard to gather food or build homes, Tortoise was always running after the next “special” thing. One night, as he lay on his back staring at the sky, his eyes fell on the big, bright moon. “Ohhhh!” Tortoise gasped. “That is the shiniest thing I’ve ever seen. I must have it! If I own the moon, everyone will respect me. They’ll come to my house just to admire it.” The next morning, Tortoise marched into the village square and declared, “Friends, I have decided to buy the moon. It will be mine, and I will hang it above my hut for everyone to see.” The animals burst out laughing. Monkey nearly fell from his tree. “Buy the moon? Tortoise, are you serious? T...

Empathy isn’t just a feel-good word — it’s a critical life skill. It’s what helps kids connect with others, resolve conflict, show kindness, and build healthy relationships. It teaches them to slow down, listen, and care about how someone else feels — even when it’s hard. The good news? Empathy can be taught. And you don’t need a book, a workshop, or a fancy curriculum. You just need words — the right ones, spoken at the right moment. Everyday conversations can become powerful tools for helping kids stretch beyond their own point of view. Here are five conversation starters you can use with your child to build empathy — starting today. 1. “How do you think your friend felt when that happened?” Kids are naturally wired to focus on their own experience. That’s not selfish — it’s developmentally normal. But with the right nudge, they can begin to look outward. Let’s say your child tells you, “We didn’t let Ava play the game because she was being annoying.” Instead of jumping in wit...

  Once upon a time, in the heart of a lively jungle, there lived a playful monkey named Milo . Milo loved bananas more than anything else in the world. Whenever he saw a banana, he would grab it without thinking, gobbling it down before anyone else could have a taste. One day, Milo’s grandmother called him over. She pointed to a tall banana tree in the middle of the jungle. “Milo,” she said kindly, “this tree only grows golden bananas once a month. Whoever waits until they are fully ripe will taste the sweetest banana in the jungle. But if you eat them too soon, they will be sour and hard.” Milo’s eyes sparkled. A golden banana? That sounded amazing! He promised his grandmother he would wait. The next morning, Milo ran to the tree. High up, he saw a bunch of shiny bananas. His tummy rumbled. “Just one won’t hurt,” he whispered. He climbed quickly, grabbed a banana, and took a bite. Yuck! It was sour and hard, just like Grandma had warned. But Milo shrugged and ate it anyway. Ev...

  Competition is everywhere—from sports fields and classrooms to playgrounds and dinner tables. Kids quickly pick up on it. Who’s the fastest? Who got the best grade? Who has the newest toy or the most screen time? While a little competition can push children to try harder and build confidence, it often turns into something else: comparison, jealousy, resentment, and even conflict. One child’s win can easily feel like another’s loss. And that’s not the kind of environment we want kids growing up in. What’s often missing in all of this is cooperation —the ability to work together, support each other, and build something greater as a group. Cooperation helps children feel connected, not compared. It lays the foundation for empathy, teamwork, and long-term emotional resilience. Let’s talk about why cooperation matters, and how you can help your child build that mindset—starting at home. Why Cooperation Is So Important Cooperation is more than “playing nice.” It’s a critical life...