The Significance of Creativity

Before embarking on her entrepreneurial path, Psaila discovered her love for sewing as a hobby. “I began sewing because my Auntie Lynnette sews and creates amazing costumes,” Psaila shares. “A year later, my mom suggested I start my own business.”

Monica Candy, Psaila’s mother, emphasizes how these creative ventures facilitate quality bonding time. “I cut fabric, and she sews. It’s been a wonderful way for us to connect,” she notes, mentioning how focusing on sewing rather than screen time has improved their communication. “Creating together is incredibly therapeutic.”

Why Creativity Matters

The advantages of being creative extend far beyond the surface for children (and people of all ages). Here are several compelling reasons to embrace artistic expression.

Enhanced Motor Skills

Activities like drawing, dancing, and sewing nurture fine motor skills, improve self-awareness, and can bolster a child’s self-esteem.

Improved Critical Thinking

Encouraging creative play offers children a chance to explore and understand the world around them. Engaging in artistic activities allows them to think critically about their creations.

Increased Intelligence

While you may have disliked piano lessons in your youth, studies show that musical training can elevate a child’s IQ. Other creative endeavors that require focus and discipline may further enhance cognitive development.

Becoming a Young CEO

Psaila’s initial business, Sew-Awesome, began with creating handmade gifts. “We made bookmarks for Ella’s classmates during Christmas,” Candy recounts, “and it has evolved from there.”

Her online shop (sewawesomedesigns.com) features various hand-stitched products like cards, bookmarks, and pouches—items that are manageable to produce. More intricate projects are saved for her friends, who each receive a special gym bag on their birthdays.

Psaila conceptualized her upcoming nonprofit, Cause WE Create, during her involvement in Lions’ Lair, an intensive six-week training program provided by the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Cause WE Create aims to serve as a children’s version of Etsy, where young creators can market their crafts, fostering what Candy describes as “a supportive community for creative children.” The platform (causewecreate.org) is expected to launch in early 2018.

The Purpose Behind the Venture

However, Psaila mentions an important stipulation: children who join Cause WE Create must donate a portion of their sales to charity. She and her mother are currently reviewing charities that resonate with their values and are relatable for children.

Giving back is at the heart of Psaila’s entrepreneurial mission. She contributes 25 percent of her sewing earnings to Sewing Seeds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and children across regions such as Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Peru, and Mexico through various sewing programs.

“Every time I sell a bookmark and donate the proceeds, it fills my heart with joy,” Psaila shares. “Many kids miss out on that experience since they don’t have businesses. I want to inspire children to feel that fulfillment.”

Being a young entrepreneur brings challenges as well. Psaila’s evenings are often packed with business strategy sessions, sewing, highland dancing, Girl Guides, and of course, her studies.

Nevertheless, her mother believes the effort is worthwhile. “Witnessing her hard work and the donations she makes is profoundly moving,” Candy reflects. “As a parent, it’s incredibly rewarding to teach these values to your child, and I find I’m learning just as much along the way.”