Nestled in your arms is your precious gift, bundled and warm against your body. Quietly you sing a lullaby of old. In your mind, you create their world filled with love, teaching, creativity, and encouragement.
However, as your child grows you find that what you imagined for them is drastically different to their developing world. During these changes, your child discovers the magical world of imagination. This very tender area shapes the very core of who they become as adults. Here are a few ideas to encourage their imagination to grow:
Let Go
Sure, it sounds simple, and yet it is the hardest thing to do. We may understand the difficulties of falling and are quick to wipe the “boo-boo's”, however allowing your child a stint of freedom will enable their minds to open. This is the first step in which the imagination begins to formulate solutions to simple and yet concrete problems.
Visual Aids
Bright colors, funny shapes, textures, these are a few examples of tools to stimulate the mind. Crayons, paints, and markers offer the simplest form for child expression. Meanwhile, building blocks offer encouragement in the field of mechanical imagination. Mediums, such as, clay strengthens the hand-eye coordination while creating abstract thoughts and form.
Imaginary Friends
Throughout the decades, “imaginary friends” remain a subject of great controversy. “Does this form of imagination defer the child from society?” or “Is it merely an instructional tool,” I like to think of them as a form of positive creativity. Imaginary friends allow a child to express feeling and emotion that might otherwise be subject to ridicule. This becomes an opportunity for the child to “test” their approach to making friends before they enter the real world.
Reading
Read to your children as often as possible, lead by example. Show them the adventures they can take by turning a page or the mysteries to solve through cryptic clues. Stories are a gateway to new worlds, variations of reality, and life-fulfilling lessons told in a thought provoking way. Moreover, when your child is old enough to read, do everything in your power to encourage them by purchasing books for every holiday gift.
Video Games
Yes, I did say video games. In today's age, technology offers a new medium to inspire imagination. Video games offer free form expression, deductive reasoning, coordination and general education. On the market are many games, such as, art, music, sports, writing, languages, science, math and grammar; all ranging in ages as young as 1-2yrs. old to adult. The lines drawn on imagination are no longer the norm. The old adage “Think outside the box,” is the new guideline in creative expression.
Pretend Time
Allowing children to pretend prepares them for real life situations. Toy makers offer a wider range of toys to inspire, for example, costumes, household furnishings, tools and motorized vehicles. Children have an opportunity for freedom of expression in life-like situations. In this pretend time, they mimic the adults around them and become a “mommy” or “daddy”, a “policeman” or “doctor”, an “artist” or “movie star” the possibilities are only restricted to the limit of their imagination.
Communication
Communication, a dying form of expression so desperately lacking in today's average households. Communication develops a strong sense of trust between the parent and child as well as reinforces encouragement in the areas of imagination.
A day, not too long ago, I had a conversation with my son. On our drive home from school, he tells me how much he hates school. Of course, I ask why, and this is what he said, “Mom, you told me that I should imagine how I want to be treated and then treat my friends the same way, but they don't treat me any nicer.” At first, I fought back a smile, excited to know he listens, then thought carefully about how to reply.
“Son,” I said, “Imagine, for a moment that you did not have parents who love you or paid attention to you. Imagine that they neglected and ignored you. How you would feel?” He thought for a while then replied, “I would be angry and sad…” “And take it out on others?” I asked. Quietly he nodded his head. Pleased with his answer, I continued, “This is probably why your classmates behave in a negative way; they are simply starving for attention that they lack from home.”
Our ability to communicate in a healthy way, has allowed my son to gain a new perspective for his classmates by extending his level of imagination and becoming sympathetic for others at school.
Imagination is an incredibly powerful tool in a developing child's life. As we have seen, imagination enhances, creates, rewards and educates the inner core of every human being. So the next time you look into the eyes of your child, consider whether you are stimulating or discouraging their imagination and ultimately their potential growth. Take that necessary step to break down the stereotypes and promote a healthy open mind.
