DONT GIVE UP

 So please do not give up on yourself. You are not late, you are right on time.

Be curious

Build publicly

Take feedback

Show up consistently

Refuse to take No for an answer

Polish your communication/public speaking skills

You will be surprised how everything will compound and your life will be better than you can ever imagine.

"It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop" - Confucious

If this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

I am always sharing everything I learn along the way, I break it down into step by step details so you do not have to worry.

Follow for more motivational educational and inspirational content

PSALM 1

 

The choice we make daily (Psalm 1)

Reflections on Psalm 1: A Choice We Make Daily

Psalm 1 presents two distinct paths: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. However, the psalm is not about dividing people into opposing, fixed groups but about the choices we make. Every day, we decide which path to follow, and if we fail to recognize that we are making a choice, we risk choosing wrongly.

Rather than seeing ourselves as part of a righteous "us" against a wicked "them," Psalm 1 challenges us to consider the kind of person we are becoming. The opening verses describe an individual—the singular person who chooses to follow God’s ways. While some translations pluralize this concept ("Happy are those…"), the original Hebrew speaks of a single person making a choice. This choice defines whether they align with righteousness or are swept into the collective path of the wicked.

In the first three verses, the righteous person is not initially labeled as such but is identified by their actions—by what they avoid and, more importantly, by what they embrace. Instead of following the advice of the wicked or joining in their ways, they find joy in God’s instruction, meditating on it day and night. Their strength is compared to a deeply rooted tree, flourishing by streams of water, bearing fruit in its season.

In contrast, the wicked are likened to chaff—light, scattered, and without lasting purpose. Unlike the firmly planted tree, chaff is directionless and easily carried away by the wind. The wicked begin as a collective, following the crowd’s influence rather than seeking individual wisdom. Their path ultimately leads to instability and, in the end, disappearance.

Yet righteousness is not about isolation. Though the journey begins with an individual decision, it leads to community—the congregation of the righteous, watched over by God. The goal is not solitary virtue but belonging to a people shaped by God’s guidance.

Psalm 1 reminds us that each day offers a choice. The righteous path begins with personal commitment but leads to a greater purpose—a life rooted in God, part of a community shaped by His wisdom. The alternative is a life driven by fleeting influences, leading to an eventual fading away.

As a new month begins, Psalm 1 invites us to reflect: Which path will we choose today?

Raising a Reader

 

Raising a Reader

As your child begins to read, your goal is to nurture and sustain their enthusiasm for the written word. Encourage them to read anything – point out words on cereal boxes, street signs, comic books, or even the sports section. Using closed captions during screen time can also strengthen reading skills. Keep a variety of reading materials in the car for easy access.

Visit libraries and bookstores regularly, and let your child choose books that interest them. Consider using books as rewards for positive behavior. Early readers may prefer familiar picture books or shy away from text-heavy options—that’s okay. The main objective is to keep them excited about reading.

Read more challenging books together and keep them accessible around the house. It’s common for early readers to revisit the same stories repeatedly or stick to a favorite series. As long as they’re reading, let them explore what they love.

To make reading enjoyable rather than a chore, connect books with other fun activities. For birthdays, consider a theme inspired by a favorite story—let your child become Captain Underpants for a day or transform a room into Hogwarts. You could also encourage them to write or dictate a letter to their favorite author, fostering a deeper connection with the stories they love..

Summer Holiday fun activities continues

Engage the kids with these fun activities this holiday season.

It's no secret that kids love creating art!  And you know what I love?  Coming up with unique and interesting ways for my little budding artists to get creative. I've come up with a lot of them over the years, and today, I'm sharing with you, 25 of my favourite easy art techniques for preschoolers!  They're easy, inexpensive, super-cool, and can be done using things you have in your kitchen cupboards and around your home!

Put away those paints and paintbrushes! This round-up of creative art processes will have your kids exploring and experimenting with all kinds of different materials, substances and tools! From resist art to sensory art, from smooshing and scraping to dripping and ripping.  In this collection, you'll find lots of different ways for your little ones to get artistic and express their creativity.

Each of the activities described here contains a click-able link which will take you to the step-by-step instructions.  Just click on the coloured, underlined text.

25 Unique and Easy Art Techniques for Preschoolers!

 

Make a gorgeous "tie-dyed" bookmark with Sharpies and rubbing alcohol!  Great fine-motor exercise, and a super homemade gift for kids to give a parent, grandparent or teacher!

Little ones will love "shaking up" a colourful masterpiece with this fun and energetic golf ball painting process!

Sharpies are the star again in this simple "stained-glass" art project.  You'll never guess what we coloured on to get such glossy, vibrant results.

Take your sidewalk chalk art to a new level with a little dipping pot of water!

The hooligans spent ages exploring water absorption and strengthening their fine-motor skills with this drip-art technique.

Here's a great warm-weather art project!  Little ones will love painting with coloured ice outdoors on a sunny summer day.

One of our absolute favourites!  To make homemade puffy paint, all you need are 3 kitchen ingredients and a microwave!

Dyeing coffee filters is always popular with the hooligans.  See how we used ours to make a pretty paper plate wreath.

Your child can stamp up a one-of-a-kind piece of art for his or her bedroom using a thrift shop canvas and some cardboard rolls.

Without a doubt, melting crayons to make Van Gogh's Starry Night art is one of my all-time favourite art processes for kids.

See how we turned an old thrift shop painting into a custom piece of art for our playroom using this mess-free smoosh painting technique!

Make your own gift wrap in a matter of seconds using this awesome hair-dryer painting process!

These cork-stamped flowers were my very favourite spring art project this year.  Not only because they're so pretty, but because they're so versatile!  You can use this technique to make homemade cards and wrapping paper or to embellish a wreath or a tote-bag!

Cotton-pad art teaches kids about water absorption and colour blending, and the process helps develop fine motor skills.

This "big art" post  is chock-full of ways for a little one to explore a variety of painting tools on a large art surface on the floor.

Tape resist art is so much fun!  It's simple enough for toddlers to enjoy, and older kids will appreciate the cool results.

Scrape painting is another one of my all-time favourite art techniques for kids.  The process is easy yet fascinating, and the results are always just beautiful!

Kids who enjoy messy play will love this sensory art process!  It's fun for one, but also a great group activity for the backyard.

This salt, glue and watercolour process was a really neat (and gorgeous) way to work on letter and name recognition.

Crayon resist art is always a hit with kids of all ages!  Even I can't resist a good resist-art project!

Transform your driveway art with this simple chalk and water technique!

Paint a perfect rainbow every time, with this nifty technique!

And lastly, here are three of my all-time favourite art techniques for preschoolers:

Creating stained glass art with bottle lids and washable paint.

Making marbleized prints with shaving cream and food colouring.

Creating beautiful Monet-like art with markers and paper towels.

If you're looking for another terrific round-up of kids art ideas, check out these 30 Art Techniques from Buggy and Buddy!

http://buggyandbuddy.com/super-cool-art-techniques-kids

My first blog

COP aims to tackle cybersecurity holistically, addressing legal, technical, organizational and procedural issues as well as capacity building and international cooperation. Our children are our future. This universal fact, coupled with young people’s particular vulnerability in an online environment, made a specialized initiative within the larger GCA framework a necessity. The legal, technical and institutional challenges posed by the issue of cybersecurity are global and far-reaching and can only be addressed through a coherent strategy taking into account the role of different stakeholders and existing initiatives, within a framework of an international collaborative network.

COP has been established as an international collaborative network for action to promote the online protection of children worldwide by providing guidance on safe online behaviour in conjunction with other UN agencies and partners.

Key Objectives of COP: • Identify risks and vulnerabilities to children in cyberspace • Create awareness • Develop practical tools to help minimize risk • Share knowledge and experience