We were lucky to catch up with Janaya Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.
Janaya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
As someone who understands firsthand the impact of lacking confidence as a child, I’ve made it my mission to create a positive change for kids. Where every child can discover their strengths and believe in their potential. Knowing who you are as a kid sets the foundation for future success, and unfortunately, I was once the kid who struggled with self-assurance. Instilling confidence in children is not just about building them up for the present but also an investment in their future. There’s nothing more gratifying than witnessing the transformative power of confidence in children. For me, the heart of this mission lies in creating those ‘lightbulb moments’ where kids realize their capabilities. These moments become the guiding lights that illuminate their path toward a brighter, more self-assured future.
Janaya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
In childcare, I noticed it was uncommon for children to have confidence. The children who did obtain it excelled at everything. They weren’t afraid to try new things and when faced with a challenge they were able to persevere. In the attempt to change the environment, in the childcare center, I received a lot of pushback. Doing things the traditional way wasn’t okay with me. We took a leap of faith and created our preschool. From that preschool is where Naya’s Learning Corner seemed. Through a combination of videos, activities, and events, we aim to make your at-home learning experience enjoyable and enriching for children. The book ABC Affirmations is helping build a foundation on positive self-talk in homes. Opening the door to the conversation to allow families to see how their child feels about themselves matters. I encourage families, teachers, parents, and anyone who has any influence on a young child to take a moment and reflect. Think of a time as a child or an adult. Where someone made you second-guess yourself. Or you didn’t try something because it seemed to hard. Or how you felt the first time you spoke negative about yourself. What did that feel like after? What would you tell yourself then if you had a chance? If you know what you know now would it be easier to keep going? All those feelings that come up to those questions is why it’s important to have confidence. It starts in early childhood and builds up. As we continue to grow with more books and events, the goal is to continue the conversation and boost children’s confidence. So when faced with those same questions they have different answers.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the finished product. When I can step back on a project and see the vision I had in mind come to life. The journey to get there and get other people to understand what you’re trying to portray is hard. The feeling of satisfaction when it all pays off and is received by others is so rewarding.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was expecting everyone around me to like what I was doing. I do receive a lot of support, I don’t want to neglect sharing that because it is so appreciated. Every once in a while my goal is met with comments and questions that aren’t genuine. I had to be okay with that and not let it change the confidence I had in this or my main goal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nayaslearningcorner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nayaslearningcorner/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nayaslearningcorner
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW0eQcW11gIl6nmgBqC6TCA