My Thoughts on: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Sometimes the simplest books can leave the biggest impression.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds is a children’s book, but I think it has something for all of us.

The story begins with a child who believes she can’t draw. Faced with a blank piece of paper, she feels stuck. Her teacher simply encourages her to make a mark - so she makes a dot.

And that tiny dot becomes the starting point for something much bigger.

What I loved most about this book is its simplicity.

There’s no complicated lesson or long explanation. Just a small moment, a little encouragement and the willingness to start.

And isn’t that often what we need?

We can spend so much time waiting for the right idea, the right plan, the right skills or the right moment before we take action. We tell ourselves we’re not ready, we’re not good enough, or we don’t know where to begin.

But perhaps we don’t need to know the whole journey.

Perhaps we just need to make the first mark.

What starts as one simple dot becomes an opportunity for creativity, confidence and discovery. And importantly, the child begins to see herself differently - not because someone told her she was talented, but because someone gave her the space and encouragement to try.

That really resonated with me.

So much of what I talk about through #WWZD is about getting started. Taking an idea out of your head and putting it into action. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be a five-year plan.

Sometimes, you just need a starting point.

The Dot is written for children, but I think parents will get just as much from it. It’s a lovely reminder of the role we can play in encouraging children to have a go, especially when they doubt themselves.

And perhaps it’s also a reminder to look at ourselves.

Where are we waiting for permission to start?

What might happen if we stopped worrying about whether we could do it perfectly and simply made our own dot?

I loved the simplicity of this little book and would highly recommend it for parents - and honestly, for anyone who needs a gentle reminder that every achievement has to start somewhere.

Sometimes, it starts with a dot.