Raising a Kidpreneur: 9 Tips to Help Your Child Start a Business

Spot the Signs: Recognising Entrepreneurial Traits in Your Child

Today’s kids are smart, informed, and curious, much more than children of the past century. With the advent of the internet and digital technology, the possibilities are endless for many children. How about you be the parent who encourages their kid(s) to become young entrepreneurs?

A young kidpreneur calculating his earnings. (Image used under license from iStockPhoto)

Yes, young. You can guide them onto this path from the age of ten, or even younger. Do not underestimate the mindset of today’s children. They are much more knowledgeable than we adults give them credit for. Never forget this fact.

Inspiration That Shows It’s Possible

Give them a gentle push, or a shove, if you have to. Ask questions about what they love to do, make, or write about. Ask in any way you feel will make them open up, think deeply about their answers, and take each answer as a clue. You never know, you may be bringing out latent talent, creativity, or even entrepreneurial skills they didn’t realise they have.

Tips for Parents: Help Your Kid Gain Financial Independence 

Earning money on the internet has become so widespread that some smart kids have hopped on the earn-money-online train, making extra pocket money.

While some earning opportunities are not age-specific, others are, but the good news is that there are jobs even if you are under sixteen. For this group of kids, parental consent and supervision is crucial. Most jobs suitable for the 10 to 15 age groups are offline, informal jobs and spare-time tasks, but there are a few that they can do online. They include (in no particular order):

1. Garage sales. Gather together and sell old toys, books, devices, old clothes, shoes, bags (in good condition), and other no-longer-useful odds and ends.
2. Teach the elderly simple ways to use their electronic devices. Many baby boomers don’t have a clue as to how to perform simple tasks on their devices. Young kids can teach them how to, for a fee.
3. Pet sitting. A bit like being a babysitter, but only for young kids who love and have a close affinity with dogs. They can help walk dogs, provide companionship, or care for them when their owners are away.
4. Gardening. Young children can earn money as a gardener’s assistant. Help with gardening for neighbours by simple planting, pruning, and trimming of plants, for a fee.
5. Sell candy and sweet edibles. This is, without a doubt, a great way to imbibe selling skills. Loan your kid a start-off capital. $25 to $50 is good capital to invest in your child. They can sell at school during playtime. Let them find out what classmates love to snack on, then order them cheap from places like Dollar Stores, Candy Warehouse, and Walmart (on bargain days). Alternatively, making and selling homemade candy can be a fun and cost-effective alternative if your kid is so inclined.
6. Make and sell handmade crafts. If your kid loves making small crafts, they can make simple craft items to sell at local markets or on online platforms like Etsy. However, you must help your child promote their crafts through social media or word of mouth and don’t forget to teach them how.
7. Teach younger kids. Children who excel in a particular class subject can teach younger kids for a fee. This will also reinforce their knowledge of the subject while helping the younger ones.
8. Start a YouTube Channel as a kid influencer. If your kids are over 13 years old, they can operate a YouTube channel (the age limit to own one is 13 and above). However, parental or guardian permission is required before starting the channel. There are many popular kid influencers on YouTube, and there is fairly good money to be made by influencers. Find out what some of these kid influencers make on YouTube.
9. Sell T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts online. This is a great online money-making venture for older teenagers. They create illustrations, design and upload, and sell them online. Sites like Spreadshirt, Zazzle, and Printify provide such services. It is much easier than it sounds. However, with the right strategy, it can be quite profitable.

Earning extra cash by themselves will serve as a foundation for a future where they will have acquired the ability to handle financial challenges on their own.

Fostering a Lifelong Entrepreneurial Mindset

Parental supervision is key. Allowing kids under sixteen to earn money online and offline is a great idea, but it requires adult supervision. Offline jobs need to be overseen and monitored. And for online jobs, because the internet is a global community, you don’t want your kid wandering around aimlessly in the community without guidance, just as in any community.

Additionally, check periodically to ensure they are not using illegal means to earn extra pocket money. And check that they don’t get so obsessed with earning money, they neglect their studies.

(Originally published by at Medium.com by Alo Bedas on 10/3/2024)

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Creative Games, Simple Crafts, and Kidpreneurs: A Fun Space for Both Young and Old

Welcome to this space of our blog, where creativity meets connection through games, crafts, and hands-on fun for all ages. From baking cookies to playing old-school board games, testing new ideas, or making chocolate from scratch, we believe creativity should be a shared experience between the young and the young-at-heart.

Whether you’re building miniature furniture, exploring classic games, or trying simple crafts that bring the whole family together, this space is for you.

Time spent on shared activities is more than just “passing time.” It’s about:

• Strengthening communication and relationships
• Practising critical thinking and decision-making
• Keeping everyone engaged and included
• Encouraging imagination and roleplay, especially for children

If you’re a parent, grandparent, or teacher, these moments of interaction leave lasting memories, teach valuable life skills, and foster genuine connection.

 

Games: Interactive Fun That Teaches

In this section, you’ll find posts on classic games, number games, and more—designed for all ages and skill levels.

Popular reads:

• 9 Classic Traditional Board, Dice, and Card Games
• Ancient Games: How to Play Mancala

Easy DIY Crafts for All Skill Levels

Our crafts section features simple, satisfying projects you can make with materials you already have at home. They’re stress-free, budget-friendly, and full of joy. See these favourites:

• How to Make Ragdoll Toys
• Craft-Making: Rag Dolls Hair With Yarn, Rags, or Mohair
• How to Make Area Rugs from Old Clothes

A Space for Young Entrepreneurs and Creators

We also inspire kids and teens to explore creativity with confidence while learning money-making skills. It’s about encouraging curiosity, independence, and self-expression.

Check out these posts:

• Kids Are Making Money Online Testing New Video Games
• 6 Must-Have Hand Tools to Craft Dollhouse Furniture
• How to Make Homemade Traditional Girl Scout Cookies

Explore the full Youth Category.

This space is more than a collection of posts. It is a hub for connection, creativity, and shared joy. Whether you’re here to learn a new game, craft something beautiful, or encourage a kidpreneur, we hope you find ideas that spark laughter, inspire imagination, and strengthen bonds.

Ancient Games: How to Play Mancala Game

From ancient times, and even up until the 20th century, African games were crudely made from natural materials found around each locality. And though each of these games was structured simply, playing them required much thought, tactical, and strategic planning. One of such games is Mancala. It is one of the oldest games in the world and is believed to originate from Africa. Mancala games were known to be played in Egypt before 1400 BC.

Young boys playing traditional mancala (bao) games with holes dug in the beach sand (Malawi 1966).

In the ancient days, mancala games, known by many names including opon ayo, awele, and oware, were played with small irregularly shaped stones in hollow holes dug out from the earth. The stones were placed in and moved around in a clockwise manner from one hole to the other. With time, the natives developed the art of carving wood or rocks to create playing boards while replacing the rough stones with large seeds, beans, cowries or seashells, depending on the geographical region of the players. Stone mancala boards have been found carved into the floors of temples in Memphis, Thebes, and Luxor.

Despite its age and primitive origins, the mancala game is a mathematical game of tactics that can be played with whatever medium happens to be around you. Some of its more complex versions have as wide a scope as that of a Chess game. The objective of the game is to accumulate more stones than an opponent, leaving him or her with no legal move and no choice but to concede.

Variations of Mancala Games

Opon Ayo

This is a traditional mancala game played by the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria. It is composed of a wooden board with 2 rows of 6 holes each. 48 seeds are used, with 4 seeds placed in each hole. There are 2 players, and each player owns one row.

Oware

This genre of mancala is an abstract strategy game played worldwide with slight variations in the layout of the game. Though the origin of oware is not certain, it is believed to originate from the Ashanti people of Ghana.

Awari

This is another variant of the mancala game commonly played in Ivory Coast, on the west coast of Africa and is usually played by the elderly as a time-killer.

Awale

According to the Masai tribe of East Africa, awale was invented by the son of the first man, Maitoumbe, and was originally called geshe.

Awele

This is another member of the calculation game called Mancala. It is played by the Baule people, one of the largest tribes of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). It, just like other variations, requires a carved wood board with 12 holes and 48 seeds. The board comes with two additional pits called score houses.

Beautiful mancala game board with cowrie shells as playing 'seeds'. Notice the delicate pouch that serves as storage for the cowrie shells.

There are hundreds of names attributed to the game, and this attests to the fact that there is an enormous range of the game and the people who play it. Other mancala board games are known as wale (Ivory Coast), Ambala (DRC), wari (Mali), Biri (Angola and Namibia), Bao la Kiswahili (East Africa), Hawale (Cameroon), and huri (Cape Verde). All these and many more are variations of the mancala game, but the principles behind each game remain the same: tactical, calculative, and strategic.

Generally, mancala game boards vary considerably in size, with the largest one, tchouba, with origins in Mozambique, and en gehé of Tanzanian origin. While Tchouba’s board consists of 160 holes and 320 seeds, the En Gehé is played on longer rows with up to 50 holes and 400 seeds. The smallest genres are the Nano-Wari and Micro-Wari. The nano-wari board has 8 seeds in just two pits, and the micro-wari has a total of 4 seeds in four pits.

Some other variations of the game have more rows, and thus, more holes on either side of the board. This genre of mancala is known as the 4-rank mancala board game. The 4-rank variation is played by four people and is a modern type which has become quite popular with today's players.

Cowrie shells and seeds are used for the mancala gameplay. 

How to Play Mancala

Most Mancala games share a common gameplay where the players start by placing a certain number of seeds, prescribed for the particular game board, in each of the holes.

The mancala board is typically made of carved wood, but you will also find decorative board versions sculpted from natural stones like rock, granite or marble. While some boards are carved or sculpted with basic configurations, many are intricately designed with attached stands that depict animals that range from elephants, lions, and crocodiles. Some have figurine stands of carved figures holding up the game board.

How a mancala game board is configured - Rows, holes, and seed store pits.

The board consists of 2 long rows (or ranks) with each player’s row comprising 6 holes (or pits). The board has a total of 12 holes. Some boards come with 2 store pits at each end of the board, one for each player to store their winnings (seeds).

To start the game, each of the 12 holes (24 in 4-player games) is filled with 4 seeds. The first player picks up the 4 seeds from any of the holes in his/her row and distributes them in a clockwise manner, dropping one seed at a time and in sequence into holes around the board. In the next turn, the other player follows the same pattern on his/her row of holes. This means that a turn consists of removing all seeds from a pit and placing one in each of the following pits in order.

How an opponent captures seeds is based on the state of the board and the number of seeds (2 or 4) gathered in holes of an opponent’s row. This leads to “count and capture", a phrase used to describe the play. This general sequence applies to all Mancala games. To capture more seeds than an opponent, each move must be tactical, and the player who gathers the most seeds at the end of the game is the winner.

There are a few simple rules: 

• The hole a player can drop a bead into.
• The process of collecting winnings.
• When a player's turn is over.
• Counting seeds to plot a game move.

To win the game, players must strive to accumulate the most seeds in their store pits.

Traditional and Modern Mancala Games

You can still find mancala boards that are old inheritances in some African and Asian homes. As they age over time, they have become smooth and worn through many years of use. They are mostly passed down from one generation to another and are great relics of the past. Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery have what is probably one of the best mancala boards in any British museum (made by the Yoruba and Benin people of Nigeria) in its collections.

Traditional wood-carved mancala game with 2 rows of 6 holes each, and two seed store pits.

Modern 4-rank mancala board game made from engineered wood. A 4-player genre of the game.

Modern mancala board games are made from different kinds of materials that range from engineered wood and leather to acrylic, copper, bronze, marble, and tempered glass. They come in different shapes, forms, sizes, textures, and colours and can be open-cased or open-close hinged boxed mancala games.

(Article originally published by the author at Hubpages.com on 10/18/09)

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Kidpreneurs: How Young Kids Can Earn Money as a Side Hustle

Do you know that kids can earn money online too? Earning money on the internet has become so widespread that within another decade, almost everyone will have the ability to make extra money (or even an income). And some smart kids have joined the earn-money-online train by learning entrepreneurship at a young age.

While some online opportunities are not age-specific, you will find that there are many online money-making ventures that kids can’t venture into until they are sixteen. But the good news is that there are jobs you can do in your spare time, even if you are not yet sixteen.


If you are under sixteen, you can earn money in a number of ways, but first, you'll need an adult's consent and, in some cases, expect some form of parental supervision. If you are over sixteen, there are more online jobs you can do. Some may require minimal supervision, but with most, you can go it alone.

You must be prepared to work extra hard for extra money, but you must also approach it more as a hobby or something you absolutely enjoy doing. There is a lot of hard work that goes into earning money either online or offline, and it doesn't matter if you are a kid or an adult; you'll have to start off being inspired. Then make sure you are patient and work persistently at whatever you choose to do.

Kids will need online supervision.

To Parents: Kids Online Need Supervision

Allowing kids under sixteen to earn money online is a great idea, but it requires adult supervision. They must be overseen and monitored. The internet is a global community, and just as in any community, you wouldn't let your kid wander around aimlessly in the community without guidance.

You should check periodically to make sure they are not using any illegal means to make money on the internet. They should also be observed to guard against them getting obsessed with making money online and thus neglecting their studies.

Earning extra cash by themselves will serve as a foundation for a future where they will have acquired the ability to handle financial challenges on their own.

Ways to Earn Money Online if You Are a Kid

If you are under sixteen, before you decide to earn money online (or offline), you must understand that you can only work in your spare time. An online job must not affect your schoolwork in any way. Secondly, you must get adult consent, and this is equally important.

And if you are a parent and you’ll like your kid to learn some money-making skills or simply learn how to make some pocket money, here are some ideas to consider:

• Selling T-shirts
• Selling candy
• Writing (freelance)
• Taking paid surveys
• Tutoring
• Selling on eBay

1. Selling T-Shirts Online

Whether you are creative or not, you can do this and earn good money online and even offline too. Designing and selling t-shirts online for money is not so hard, but you will need to learn how to use T-shirt design software. Sounds difficult? Not really.

Kids who earn money online can earn it in two ways. Sell your designs by uploading them to a marketplace like SpreadShirt (it's free). Creating your designs is not hard and can be anything from cartoon-like characters to doodles or any other simple type of sketch.

You can learn to use simple software like Microsoft Paint to create your designs and have them printed on t-shirts you can sell online or offline. Your parent or an older sibling can help you out with transactions and how to get the money you've earned.

If you are over sixteen years, you can open your own free T-Shirt store online and sell not only tees but caps, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, sportswear, sweatshirts and more. People who buy from you will come from all corners of the world, from New Jersey to New Zealand. When they buy from your online store, it's at the click of a button.

Additionally, creating an online store means you can sell your products to other kids at school or the people in your neighbourhood.

2. Selling Candy

This may appear like an offline job for kids, but it involves some online buying too.

For as little as a $15 investment, you can make money by selling candy at school. This is a good example of "physical" selling offline. With your little investment, which you can loan from your parent or relative, you can buy a large variety of packs of candy (or other edibles) online from major wholesalers like Costco or Sam's Club (Macey's costs a bit more).

You buy wholesale and sell the individual pieces at regular market prices, less a few cents if you wish. A kid can earn money by doing this every school day, five days a week.

You can also sell games and cards to your schoolmates because many kids love games and cards and will willingly buy from you. There are game companies that will offer their affiliates a free store to sell their products. Amazon and eBay are two large companies that allow you to sell their products. You must be eighteen to be able to join Amazon or eBay, so again, you'll need the help of an adult to set up an account on your behalf.

3. Writing (Freelance)

You can earn money online by writing for other people. This is called freelance writing.

There are many freelancing services out there, and depending on your reading and writing skills (and what you've been asked to write about), you may be qualified enough to write for people online or even offline.

Some kids who are 7th-grade level and above can write and get their messages across. Complex writing may not be necessary as long as there are no typing errors, the grammar is fine, and you get the points across, which is primarily the main goal.

Some students need to write out their essays or do a report on a school project, and they may need your help. It shouldn't be for free. You can use your expertise as a good writer to create reports on a subject you are passionate about and sell them online for a small profit. The reports need not be more than 7 to 20 pages long and should only contain content that young people or other kids can use.

4. Taking Paid Surveys

You can make money online by filling out paid surveys. It is one of the easiest online jobs to do, and you need zero experience to do it. If you do surveys consistently, you will always earn a bit of pocket money on the side.

Both the young and adults fill out paid surveys every day, and this is a legitimate opportunity for you to make at least $2 an hour, depending on what goals you wish to achieve. With some online survey sites, you also earn free stuff for your opinion about their products, and it can involve anything from games and gift cards to packs of edibles. It's very easy to do a few surveys each day, and it takes roughly a quarter of an hour to complete one.

Know which websites to use and how to use them, and if you need guidance on how to succeed in paid surveys, you may want to try reading a guide on how to take paid surveys to make extra cash.

5. Tutoring

Yes, it's true. You can earn pocket money teaching or writing essays for other kids online or offline. Today's younger generation is more computer savvy and technologically smarter than their parents and grandparents. So, when it comes to using computers, notebooks, and smartphones, being on the internet is like being in a second home.

The older kids can actually tutor other kids. Some are known to offer tutorials to the older generation, teaching them how to use the internet, apps, and any operating system.

Making money by offering tutorials online may require that you source initial financing to buy a good-quality headset and webcam. Here is where your parents or relatives can help you start your tutoring business online. You can always pay them back from your earnings.

If you want to spread the word about your work, make some flyers and distribute them in your locality. Your grandparents or elderly relatives can also help advertise your skills among their friends and acquaintances. They will certainly love to do you that favour.

6. Selling on eBay

Who said online selling was only for adults? If you are over eighteen, you can sell on eBay.

Though eBay doesn't allow minors to set up an account, your parents can create an account for you. Once the account is set up, you can start to create items such as handmade crafts, artwork, t-shirts with your designs, caps, mugs, and simple stuff like this. There are always some people out there, anywhere in the world, who will like your products, and some will buy.

If you make crafts like rag dolls, beaded bracelets, paintings, or pottery, you can sell them on eBay. Discuss your creative abilities with an adult and ask them to show you how to translate them into cash.

You can also sell your used or unused school supplies that you no longer need on eBay. Or you can sell toys and stuffed animals you've outgrown, as long as they are in great condition.

If you have gifts you got at Christmas, for instance, sell them on eBay too. Basically, presents, supplies, and unwanted items are some of the things that can be sold online. You can also sell items you find at garage sales, boot sales, garden sales, thrift stores, or any other items you can get at giveaway prices.

Kids Can Earn Money Online with Encouragement and Guidance

Starting early to learn entrepreneurial skills has its advantages. Working for a couple of hours each day means spending less time watching television, playing video games, or generally being idle. The feeling of earning money for themselves will boost their confidence even further and help them learn to become future entrepreneurs.

Who knows, a kid who is inspired to do these things may become the next young millionaire. It does happen. Parents or mentors can further check online websites or books that write about ways for kids to make money online and discuss the possibilities with them.

(Article originally published by the author at hubpages.com on 06/22/09)

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Slow-Living Hacks: Self-Care, Mindful Spaces, and Personal Development

Today, slow-living is more than a trendy concept. It is a mindset shift that helps us reconnect with what truly matters in life.

Rooted in mindfulness, intentionality, and simplicity, slow living is about creating space for peaceful stillness and growth.

From our daily routine to inner reflections and how we style our homes, this post will tell you how to find actionable slow-living hacks that can bring peace, balance, and purpose to our lives.

Peace and tranquillity.

The Fundamental Ideas that Guide a Slow Living Lifestyle

The three key aspects of the slow-living movement are:

1. Presence and mindfulness. Being present in the moment.
2. Essentialism. Focusing on what truly matters and eliminating excessive and impulsive actions.
3. Connection with people and our natural surroundings.

These three all work together and are interconnected to create a more balanced, intentional, and fulfilling way of life. Here you will find actionable slow-living hacks to help you cultivate peace, balance, and purpose.

Wellness: Self-Care Routine and Mindfulness Practices

At the heart of the slow-living lifestyle is mindfulness, a practice of being fully present and aware of the moment without judgment. When you combine mindfulness with intentional self-care, you create a powerful tool that reduces stress and enhances overall wellness.

Morning Rituals for a Mindful Start

Ideas for intentional self-care and mindful morning routine:

• Start your day without your phone.
• Do not check your emails or social media notifications.
• Do 5 minutes of deep breathing exercises, or if you can, meditate. This helps set a calm tone and keeps you from immediately slipping into reactive mode.
• Drink a warm glass of lemon water.
• Stretch or practice gentle yoga.
• Read a page from an affirmation book.

Build a Mindful Evening Wind-Down

Create a digital sunset. Build boundaries between digital activity and personal time by intentionally disconnecting from all electronic devices.

• At the same time, preferably an hour before bedtime, switch off your phones, laptops, TV, and other devices.
• Focus on activities that ease your nervous system. These include journaling, reading, drinking some herbal tea, or having a relaxing bath.
• Use essential oils like lavender or chamomile in a diffuser. This tells your body that it's time to wind down.

These practices help to improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and create a healthier work-life balance.

Home: Organise Your Home for a Calmer Mind.

Our physical environment reflects our mental state. For those living in apartments or compact homes, intentional organisation becomes even more crucial. Clutter leads to mental overwhelm. When you simplify your living environment, your home feels spacious and organised and promotes clarity and peace.

Declutter with Purpose

• Follow the “One In, One Out” rule, which states that for every new item brought into your home, you remove a similar item. This helps to maintain a consistent level of belongings and prevent clutter from accumulating.
• For every new item you bring into your home, donate or sell an existing one. This prevents buildup and encourages mindful consumption.

Small Space Organisation

• Use vertical storage like floating shelves, wall hooks, etc.
• Choose multi-functional furniture, like ottomans with built-in storage space.
• Rotate seasonal items to keep closets light and fresh.

Design for Calm and Clarity

• Creating zones within interior spaces by designating areas for work, rest, and play can bring structure and calm.
• Use rugs, lighting, or shelving to define these zones.
• Keep surfaces clear, and use natural elements like wood, linen, plants, and soft lighting to create a cosy atmosphere.

Personal Growth: Journal Prompts for Personal Growth

Slow living isn’t just about your environment. It is also deeply rooted in inner transformation. This is where journal prompts for self-discovery come into play.

Journaling is a powerful, accessible tool for self-discovery, emotional regulation, and goal-setting. It allows you to reconnect with yourself beyond the noise of the external world.

• Make journaling your daily routine. Practice it consistently and diligently.
• Combine it with an existing habit, pairing it with your morning coffee or evening tea.
• Just five minutes a day of writing in your journal will give you profound results.

Journal Prompts for Slow Living & Self-Discovery

Use the following prompts as examples to guide your inner work and mindfulness practice:

* What does slow living mean to me personally?

* Where in my life do I feel rushed or out of alignment?

* What activities make me feel truly present?

* What am I holding onto that no longer serves me?

* How can I create more space for rest and reflection?

These prompts help you notice patterns, release mental clutter, and realign with your values.

Bonus Hacks for Embracing the Slow-Living Lifestyle

Here are a few more slow-living hacks to integrate throughout your day:

1. Single-task instead of multitasking
2. Focus on one thing at a time—whether it’s sipping tea, writing an email, or folding laundry.
3. Digital detox. Dedicate tech-free windows throughout the day to reconnect with nature, people, or silence.
4. Eat slowly and mindfully. Appreciate tastes, flavours, and food textures without distractions. This also aids digestion and reduces stress.
5. Practice gratitude. Write down three things you're thankful for each day to cultivate presence and positivity.

Why Slow Living Is Worth It

Slow living is not about doing less just for the sake of it. It’s about doing what matters *more intentionally*. It’s creating a lifestyle where your mind, body, and environment are in harmony. It is simple living.

Whether it’s refining your self-care routine, turning your small space into a peaceful sanctuary, or going deep into journaling and inner work, slow living allows you to breathe, reflect, and live fully with intention.

Take these slow-living hacks and make them your own. Start small. Be consistent. And remember: the pace of your life should reflect the pace of your soul.

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Life Reflections and The Power of Looking Back: How Our Stories Shape Our Lives

We are all walking storybooks. Page by page, our lives unfold through experiences (good and bad), mistakes, victories, and lessons. Sometimes, we move so fast trying to reach the next goal that we forget to pause and reflect on the chapters we've already written.

But the truth is that our stories are more than memories. They are like maps, pointing to patterns, values, and truths. These are what guide and propel us forward.

In this cornerstone post for the Stories & Reflections category, we explore the deeper meaning of reflecting on personal stories, why they are important for emotional growth, and how to start writing or rewriting your narrative with intention.

Why Our Stories Matter More Than We Realise

We often think our past is a fixed sequence of events cast in stone, but our interpretation of those events is anything but. There lies the power of reflection. It allows us to re-evaluate, learn from it, and heal.

Whether it’s a story of heartbreak, career failure, childhood trauma, medical conditions, or unexpected joy, every story has its deep meaning. If nurtured, it can grow into deeper understanding, purpose, and even transformation.

Am I Going to Die? - A patient’s story about a dark time in her life.

What Do Our Stories Do For Us and How Do They Impact Our Lives?

• They shape our identity. We define ourselves by what we’ve experienced in life.
• They offer tools for growth. When we reflect on past challenges and how we overcame them, it builds resilience and confidence for future storms.
• They connect us to others. Honest stories help others feel seen, heard, and less alone.

So why do we avoid reflection? Often, it's because we’re afraid of what we’ll find. But as inspirational writers, therapists, and spiritual guides remind us, the only way out is through telling our stories.

Personally, writing has helped me untangle some pains I had carried for far too long. I cried, I reflected, I forgave, and I grew stronger. Writing and sharing my stories became a turning point in how I saw myself.

Many times, writing our truth is more important than being heard.

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How to Begin Reflecting on Your Own Story

Reflection doesn’t necessarily require therapy or journaling, although they do help at times. However, you can begin reflection by asking yourself a simple question: “What is a moment in my life that changed me, and what has it taught me? Use the following framework to help guide you through reflective storytelling. 

1. Choose a story that sticks. We all have moments we replay with pride, pain, or curiosity. That’s usually a sign that there’s more to let out.
2. Break the story into parts. Like any good story, it should have a beginning (the situation), a middle (conflict or emotion), and an end(was it resolved or not?).
3. What is your takeaway from it? Did it teach empathy, did it create space for reinvention, or something that made you start to believe in yourself?
4. What do you want to do with the lesson taught?

The Science of Storytelling & Healing

Telling your story isn’t just emotional, but is also neurological. When we reflect on and reframe past experiences, we are rewiring our brains. This process is called neuroplasticity. It helps us:

• Reduce anxiety and trauma triggers.
• Strengthen self-awareness.
• Build resilience.
• Fosters our ability to manage our emotions.

In fact, narrative therapy is now a widely recognised tool in psychology that helps externalise problems, separating the person from the traumatic experience.

So yes, telling your story isn’t just expressive, it is also transformative.

And If the Story Still Hurts?

Some stories don’t have happy endings. Many don't. Some memories still sting, even many years later. So, if your story feels unfinished or unresolved, here's a gentle reminder:

• Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means facing pain with more courage, clarity, and support than before.
• It is okay to revisit the story over time. As you grow, your interpretation will shift, and so will its power over you.

Dads Who Abandon Their Kids are Scumbags, Period: And my father, God rest his soul, was one.

Letting the Story Shape Your Future

Stories only become transformative when they guide new decisions. Awareness is the first step to change. Here are a few ways to move from insight to impact:

• Write a new narrative. Instead of feeling you've messed things up, try to learn from my mistakes and grow wiser.
• Share your story through a blog, a voice note, or a conversation with a friend. Narrating your story out loud can be healing.
• Practice self-compassion. Growth doesn’t come from shaming the past. Rather, it comes from understanding it.

Stories Worth Telling: A Closing Reflection

Your story matters, not because it's perfect, but because it is yours. In telling it, you just might find someone else who can relate to your story and see their own reflection in your words. Importantly:

• Revisit your past with compassion.
• Tell the truth, even if your voice shakes.
• Let your story illuminate the path forward for you and others.

We are not just the things that happen to us. We are the stories we choose to tell.

Your Turn to Reflect and Share

Before you leave, take a moment to reflect on these three points:

1. What’s one story you’ve never shared but has shaped who you are today?
2. What would it feel like to write it down?
3. Who might need to hear it?

Feel free to share your reflections in the comments or submit a guest story. We would love to feature your voice in this growing collection of lived wisdom.

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How to Make Rag Doll Toys

Making rag doll toys is easy and fun. One need not be creative or talented to create raggedy dolls. And they make wonderful toys for children because they are soft, cuddly, and washable.

Rag doll toys, also known as raggedy dolls, are soft toys made from cloth fashioned into dolls. Hundreds of years ago, and even till today, these soft toys were created at home as crafts, and were made from discarded, worn, or spare pieces of materials, and were stuffed with the same.

Ragdolls are one of the most ancient children's toys ever crafted, and relics of it have been found in a child's grave dating as far back as 300 BC.

It is easy to make a rag doll. It is a fun craft that both children and adults love, and because they can be made in all shapes, sizes, configurations, and colours, you don’t need to be creative, skilled, or talented to make a great raggedy doll.

Characters to use abound, even in our subconscious minds. We can always imagine what character and features our rag doll will have. Long skinny arms and legs, a fat or skinny torso, a huge oversized head, stumpy arms and legs, or a simple yet proportionately shaped doll. If you can imagine it, you can make it.

Ideas for rag doll toys can also be found in children's books, comics, and on the internet. There are also free doll patterns and templates that you can download online.

They make wonderful soft toys for children because they are flexible, warm, and cuddly, but because they are soft toys that can harbour bacteria, as long as the right fabric scraps are used, they are washable.

How to Make a Rag Doll

Before you begin your craft, you must decide on what type you want, its body shape, and whether you want to make a large, small, or miniature doll. Once you have decided on that, you want to choose the appropriate fabric colours to suit your choice.

For instance, for different skin colours, you want to choose colours like cream, brown, tan, sand, or pink. For the extremes, you can go for black or white. The rag doll’s body must be a solid colour, without a pattern or any particular texture.

Materials required

You don’t need to buy new fabrics to make a rag doll, but you can if you wish, as long as what you purchase are fabric remnants, in which case, you may not need to spend more than a couple of dollars. If you intend to use old materials around the house, instead of discarding them, recycle them and make them into soft dolls. Ensure that you wash and iron them before cutting them into pattern pieces. It is best to use cotton. Do not use stretch materials either.

• Scraps of cloth or old pillowcases, bed sheets, clothing, or curtains
• Needle and thread
• Tailor’s chalk
• Polyester filling or soft fabric scraps
• Buttons (for the doll’s eyes)
• Paint Pens
• Elastic
• Fabric glue

Tools Required

• A pair of scissors
• Pins
• Safety Pins
• Sewing Machine

A rag doll toy can be any shape, size, type or configuration that you desire. There is no hard and fast rule as to how one should look.

The doll’s head and body patterns are easy to make with a sketch and simple measurements if you decide to DIY. First, practice sketching its outline on paper until you get it right. The head’s shape can be round or oval. The torso is easy. All that is required is to again, practice with a sketch on paper. The shape can be square or rectangular, but it is best to keep the torso rectangular.

The arms and legs are even easier to shape out. For the simplest-to-make rag doll toys, just sketch, again on paper, four cylindrical shapes, two longer (legs) than the others (arms). Try to make all the parts as proportionate to each, as possible, but there is no hard and fast rule about that.

If you find this too time-consuming (it isn’t), you can order rag doll patterns from online art and craft stores.

Once you are satisfied with your patterns, it is time to transfer the shapes onto your cloth by drawing their outlines. Follow these eight guidelines: 

1. Include a seam allowance of at least 1 inch. It’s important to start off by making rag doll toy shapes a little larger than you want the finished doll to be. There must be ample allowance for stuffing.
2. Double the material. Remember to keep the right sides of the fabric together and on the inside. Cut out your pattern along the outermost (allowance) line.
3. Stitch with hand (or sew with a sewing machine) the outline, but leave an opening where you will pass the filling through.
4. Relieve the seams around all curves and corners by cutting triangular notches in the seam allowance. You will find these in the arm joints, between the legs, the corner of the neck and shoulders, and the head.
5. Turn the doll inside out.
6. Start to stuff with polyester filling (recommended) or scrap soft cotton fabrics. Make sure you fill it until it feels very firm to the touch.
7. Stitch to close the stuffing opening by turning the edges towards the inside and then stitching it closed by hand or with a sewing machine.
8. To form flexible limbs, stitch straight across the arms at the shoulder points and the legs at the hip points. This allows the rag doll to swing its arms and legs with ease. It will also make it comfier and warmer to hug and hold.

A ragdoll pattern showing the different body parts. 

The Exciting Part of Rag Doll Making

Decorating these cloth dolls is one of the really exciting and fun parts of making rag dolls.

The face – Use bold buttons for the eyes, and glue or stitch them into position. Use a different button for the doll's nose. You will find millions of buttons appropriate for these. You can also paint on the eyes and the nose. Alternatively, if you are good at embroidery, you can embroider the eyes and the nose. For the doll’s mouth, use felt material cut out in the shape of lips.

Clothing - You can sew plain, pretty, or chic clothes for a rag doll using leftover or recycled textile materials. If you can't find old clothes to recycle or the ones available don’t look cheery enough to make and dress up the rag dolls, you can source fabrics to use in other ways. Ask friends or family, you never know, they may have what you need, and even decide to join in the fun of rag doll making.

Hair – Attaching rag dolls’ hair can be a bit of a challenge, but it is not as hard as you may believe. Materials to use for hair include knitting wool, yarn, or thin strips of fabric. Choose whichever hairdo you desire for your doll: hair, Goldilocks waist-length hair, crazy Afro hairdos, crimped, cropped, kinky, twisted, or plaited. Your new ragdoll needs to have a personality, and what better way to achieve this than with its hairstyle?

Footwear – Choose a colour to complement the dress. You can use felt or textured material for ragdoll shoes. They are easy to make and can be made to be fixed or removable.

(Article originally published by the author as Great Gifts for the Orphanage: Rag Doll Toys at hubpages.com on 11/20/09)

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