Nice or Naughty?

When I was younger, I published little books on how to choose the right career and what teenagers want from parents. These were amazing resources at the time (if i could say so myself)) that helped young people and families to make informed decisions. My goal was and still is to produce innovative products that make big difference in people’s lives young and old. 

Let me introduce my new invention: Nice or Naughty educational card game. This is an interactive card game designed to illustrate good behaviour to kids through play. It allows parents or teachers to engage pre-schoolers comparing good and bad behaviours as shown on the cards. 

At the ideation stage, this card game idea won first prize at University’s (UCLAN) Pecha Kucha challenge with funding to produce prototypes for testing with families. The card game was also then showcased as an innovative piece of work by a student. 

My biggest challenge has been sourcing a publisher for this card game as it differs from the conventional book production. I decided to take on this challenge through a crowdfunding campaign https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nice-or-naughty/nice-or-naughty. It has been exciting working with illustrators from the UK, graphics designer from Pakistan and printers from Hong Kong.

Nice and Naughty card game will be on Amazon in a few days and I can’t wait to see the realisation of this dream. My vision is for this card game to go into as many homes, schools, and nurseries as possible.

Old and Broken

I was happily breaking apart the old shoe rack this lovely Saturday morning, ready to cast the remains into the abyss of the recycling bin and then this happened:

T: What are you doing daddy
Me: I want to put this in the bin
T: Why
Me: Because it is old
T: Because it is old? (he asked with a puzzled look)
Me: And broken (now I am puzzled)
T: because its old and broken? He repeated as he walked away.

Now, this conversation got me thinking about how I may need to explain to the young man that not all things that are old and broken should be condemned to the waste bin. I know what you are thinking: I'll grow old someday... You get the gist...

It also got me reflecting on our attitude to the elderly. We need to treat them with dignity and respect even when they are unable to work, walk and serve like they faithfully did when they were younger.

Ageing is not a disease, it is the natural course of nature. With age comes wisdom and experience that should be treasured. What goes around comes around.

Got to go, I need to call Mama.

#KIDSPIRATION

I wonder what he's thinking.

This little lad has inspired me in more ways than I could have imagined. I used to talk about how we only get to watch kids channels since he started to pay attention to tv. However, I tend to enjoy some of the creative programs which I find entertaining and look forward to before school run in the morning.

I have found inspiration or #kidspiration from thinking about how to make life better for children like mine, and for young people and families. Hence my forthcoming award-winning educational card game for kids.

A wise old friend said to me yesterday, "enjoy spending time with your little one now, those days will never come back again".