CCC. Tweens

I just loved reading this from another page. Such true words of wisdom.
And I was once again reminded why I do what I do with my reflection journals for tweens... just like that 🩷 💚

A seed may look small, insignificant, and easy to overlook—but what you plant today can become something much greater tomorrow.

Every prayer you pray is a seed.
Every act of obedience is a seed.
Every word of encouragement is a seed.
Every sacrifice made for God is a seed.

You may not see anything happening immediately. You may even wonder if your efforts matter. But seeds don't become trees overnight.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to grow weary in doing good, because in due season we will reap if we don't give up.

So don't despise your small beginnings.

Keep praying.
Keep believing.
Keep serving.
Keep planting.

One day, you may look back and realize that what you thought was “just a seed” became a testimony.

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We shouldn't wait until girls are teenagers — or adults — to teach them emotional awareness.

- Give her the language for her emotions now.
- Give her tools to understand her thoughts now.
- Give her permission to express herself now.
- Give her the confidence to know herself now.

Because the girl who learns to understand herself today is better equipped to navigate the woman she becomes tomorrow. 🩷

That is the heart of SEL.
And that is the heart of CCC Tweens.

..and what better way than our Reflection Journal for tween girls!!!!

"Behind every emotion is a thought waiting to be understood." 💭💖Kids' emotions are always valid. ❤️

Many of us grew up hearing things like:
"Stop crying."
"There's nothing to cry about."
"Toughen up."

But what about the thought that created that feeling in the first place?

Every child interprets situations differently. Two children can experience the exact same event and feel completely different emotions because of the meaning they attach to it.

Instead of telling a child they shouldn't feel sad, angry, worried, or afraid, what if we became curious?

💭 "What were you thinking when that happened?"
💭 "What made you feel that way?"

When we understand a child's thoughts, we can gently help them see the situation from a different perspective. As their thoughts begin to change, their feelings often change too.

We don't help children by dismissing their emotions.
We help them by understanding them first.

Feelings are messengers. Listen to them. Then help children discover healthier, more helpful ways of thinking so they can respond with confidence and resilience.

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What an amazing morning we had at Valhalla primary school in Cape Town!!!

A heartfelt thank you to Dagny for including me in this beautiful initiative and for all the wonderful communication before and throughout the event. Your passion for making a difference is inspiring.

To Sonja and the incredible Living Through Learning (LTL) team—thank you for the amazing work you do in our communities. Your dedication to empowering young people is creating a lasting impact.

Thank you to the wonderful Valhalla Primary School, the well-behaved, beautiful girls, and the loving, caring staff who welcomed us so warmly. It was an honour to spend the morning with you.

A sincere thank you to Radio Cape Pulpit for being part of this special day and for helping share a message that truly matters.

It was a privilege to introduce the girls to the CCC Tweens – Confident, Caring & Congruent journals, sharing simple life skills, calming techniques, and reminding them that our thoughts shape our feelings, our feelings influence our actions, and our actions create our future.

May this be the beginning of many more opportunities to inspire young girls to grow into Confident, Caring and Congruent young women—young women who lead with kindness, make wise choices, believe in themselves, lift others up, and become positive role models in their families, schools, and communities.

Together, we are planting seeds today that will grow into a brighter tomorrow. 🌸💕

.tweens

🩷 💙

When your child says: "I'm bad at this."

Try saying:

"You're still learning. Your brain is like a muscle; the more you practice, the stronger it becomes. You may not be able to do it yet, but with time, effort, and practice, you can improve."

🌱 Growth Mindset Reminder:

Replace "I can't do it" with "I can't do it yet." Small changes in language can help children build confidence, resilience, and a willingness to keep trying. 💚