The Power of Magical Thinking
For years, imagination was thought of as a way for children to escape from reality, and once they reached a certain age, it was believed they would push fantasy aside and deal with the real world. But, increasingly, child-development experts are recognizing the importance of imagination and the role it plays in understanding reality. Imagination is necessary for learning about people and events we don't directly experience, such as history or events on the other side of the world. For young kids, it allows them to ponder the future, such as what they want to do when they grow up.
It is important but not necessary for parents to encourage fantasy play in their children, says Dr. Woolley. If the child already has an imaginary friend, for instance, parents should follow their children's lead and offer encouragement if they are comfortable doing so, she says. Similarly, with Santa, if a child seems excited by the idea, parents can encourage it. But if parents choose not to introduce or encourage the belief in fictitious characters, they should look for other ways to encourage their children's imaginations, such as by playing dress-up or reading fiction.
Fantasy play is correlated with other positive attributes. In preschool children, for example, those who have imaginary friends are more creative, have greater social understanding and are better at taking the perspective of others, according to Marjorie Taylor, a psychology professor at the University of Oregon and author of the book "Imaginary Companions and the Children Who Create Them."
Imaginary friends can also be used to help children cope with stress, Dr. Taylor says. "This is a strength of children, their ability to pretend," she says. "They can fix the problem with their imagination."
http://www.parenting.com/article/10-easy-ways-to-fire-your-childs-imagination-21354373
10 Easy Ways to Fire Your Child's Imagination
Imagination: The very word seems to sparkle with possibility, and brings to mind a childlike energy and spontaneity that most of us know we should try to attain more often, even if we don't always know how.
As parents, we know we should foster our children's imaginations -- but our busy lives often don't seem to have a place for creativity that isn't tied to productivity. Schools, too, don't know how to tackle the not-so-tangible subject.
"I think when you present the idea of imagination to parents, they are generally in favor of it," says Thomas Armstrong, author of Awakening Your Child's Natural Genius ($15, J.P. Tarcher). "Yet when you probe a little deeper and center in on how much time parents and teachers wish to allocate to imagination in the schools, you find a very different attitude." Of course, imagination is something we should all favor. Child-development experts unanimously celebrate the benefits of a healthy imagination. A child with a good imagination is happier and more alert, better able to cope with life's twists and turns, and more likely to grow into a well-adjusted, secure adult.
"Imagination allows children to develop forces of creativity," says Eugene Schwartz, director of teacher-education programs at Sunbridge College, which trains teachers specifically for Waldorf Schools -- schools known for their systematic nurturing of imagination and creativity in children from kindergarten through twelfth grade. "And that means as adults they are going to be creative individuals."
Being a creative adult doesn't necessarily mean you're a painter or sculptor, Schwartz adds. CEOs and political leaders, too, benefit from being creative, which lets them see things in new ways and find solutions to problems others might miss. That kind of problem-solving and innovative thinking begins with the power of imagination.
How to bring more power to the imagination
Tell stories.
"You don't need a beautifully illustrated book; you don't need a video," says Schwartz. "It's the one-on-one connection, the parent and the child, with the story mediating, that takes us back to the archetype of all education, of all human relationships, in which the older generation passes on the wisdom to the next generation." Storytelling may well be the cornerstone of imaginative development, and doing it well and in a variety of ways is something you can do almost every day -- even if it is only in brief moments.
Make art.
Paint, draw, mold, build, sculpt. Tactile experiences are important, and giving young children free rein over their work is crucial -- don't force a yellow splotch on a page to be a sun, for example.
Use natural or generic materials.
Keeping kids in touch with objects from nature inherently inspires their imagination. So does play with open-ended toys -- such as blocks or sand -- that have endless possibilities.
Foster a sense of inner space.
Parents should keep young children in particular from being overloaded by images from the media, whether it's television, movies, or computers. "We have to leave kids with enough of an inner space to create their own pictures, their own vision," says Schwartz. "What goes on too often is that we are not turning children into creators; we're turning them into consumers."
Activities
Once you are armed with the above tools, try these 10 activities. Consider them a stepping-stone -- you can do as many things to foster your child's imagination as your own imagination can dream up.
1. Unpuppets.
Gather a box of assorted household items -- a strainer, a shoe box, paper cups, a flashlight, whatever you can think of that's not sharp or fragile -- and have your child create a puppet show using these objects as the "puppets." You'll be amazed at the creatures and characters your child creates.
2. Wacky photos.
Raid your drawers for old photographs that no one will miss -- the ones where someone had his eyes closed or had a bad hair day -- and let your child cut them into various bits and pieces. Then get out some glue, construction paper, and markers and have her turn the stray faces and body parts into new people, or create a fantasy picture. You might suggest a general setting such as outer space or a medieval castle, then let your child create the image.
3. Nature story.
Take a paper bag and go on a walk with your child. Try to collect at least 10 nature objects, no more than one of each thing (only one leaf, and so forth). When you get home, have your child make a story from the objects by reaching in the bag and pulling out items one by one for inspiration.
4. Big box.
You know the cliche about how a child gets a large toy for a birthday and ends up playing only with the box? Do your child the favor of skipping the toy and go straight for the box. Find a local appliance store, or buy a large, wardrobe-sized box from a moving-supply store. Set the box up in an open area in your house and let your child decide what he wants it to be -- a house, a cave, a time capsule. Provide heavy-duty markers for decoration and help your child cut windows or other shapes if he wants them.
5. Fold-a-creature.
Each person begins by drawing the head of an imaginary creature at the top of a blank sheet of paper, being sure to include a neck. When each person is done, she folds down the top of the page to leave just the edge of the neck visible, then passes the paper to the person on the left. Everyone then takes the sheet of paper just received and continues to draw a body from the neck down with arms and a middle. When this part is finished, again each artist folds her paper leaving just the bottom of the middle visible. Once more, papers are passed to the left. Players then draw the bottom part of a body, including legs, on the piece of paper just received. When done, unfold the papers to see the monsters that were jointly created.
6. Art tales.
Go to an art museum -- a small, local one is fine -- and slow down for a change. Stand in the middle of an exhibit room and have your child decide from a distance which picture he likes best. Then walk up to it and look at it closely. Ask your child to tell a story about what he sees. Encourage him with open-ended questions. Find another painting and have your child create a story that connects it with the last one.
7. Junk-drawer game.
Everyone has a junk drawer (or two or three). It could be one of those spare drawers in the kitchen or the top desk drawer in your child's room. Have your child go through one drawer and pick out a dozen of the oddest, most lost-looking small objects he can find -- the less anyone knows what the things originally came from and what they were for, the better. Get a big sheet of cardboard or poster board, some markers, and some dice, and have your child invent a game using all the found pieces. Then sit down and play together.
8. Brush-less painting.
Anyone can paint with a brush. For this activity, find things around the house that your child can paint with that aren't brushes. String will work, or odd bits of sponge, broken pencils, rubber bands, strips of yarn or fabric, apples cut in half, or even a discarded action figure or doll. Spread some newspaper on a table or the floor, lay some washable paint out in small bowls or plates, give your child a large sheet of paper (at least 18 by 24 inches), and see what develops.
9. Reinventing the solar system.
The names we use for the planets come from ancient times and relate the visible behavior of the planets in the sky to the legends and stories about the gods for whom they were named. Give your child the opportunity to rename the planets according to some other scheme. What would she name the planets if she had the chance? And why?
10. Hidden stories.
Have your child spend 15 minutes hunting around the house for three objects he either hasn't noticed or hasn't paid much attention to before. They should come from one of the common rooms of the house, not from anyone's bedroom, and they shouldn't be fragile. When time is up, have him present you with the objects one by one. Your job is to tell him a story about that object -- where it came from, who it came from, where you were when you got it, why you might have kept it, and just about anything at all. Do that for all three objects. Then have him make a story -- either with words or pictures -- that ties all three objects together.
http://www.kathyeugster.com/articles/article007.htm
Currently, one of the most concerning aspects of raising children is the amount of time they spend in front of screens, whether it is TV, DVD, video, computer, playstation, etc. When children focus their attention onto a screen, it is a very passive form of learning or entertainment. Instead of using their own imaginations to learn about the world and create something, children are passive recipients of visual and auditory stimulation that may or may not require some response using fine motor skills. However, this is a very artificial way of learning about the world and does not engage children in a kinesthetic manner using their entire bodies.
Imaginative and creative play is a more natural way for children to learn about the world and does involve the whole body. Children manipulate and touch various play materials. They express themselves through play both verbally and non-verbally. They use all of their muscles and senses to move around. Actively using their large and small muscles as well as their different senses in play, children develop healthy, strong, and complete neurological connections in their brains.
http://www.1stplace.uk.com/the-importance-of-imagination-and-creativity-in-childrens-development/
Why imagination matters so much, and how it can influence your children’s development
Make up stories
Creating your own stories is a great way to spark your children’s imagination and enjoy a family activity, similar to reading a book. Start crafting a story and ask your children to fill in the details. Why not encourage them to become the main characters and create their own adventures?
Use props and toys to make it more interesting
There are so many household items that can be used to create a story. From empty boxes that can become cars and airplanes to dressing up like superheroes, all you need to do is foster creativity in your children to help them grow emotionally and socially. Even small items that can be found in kitchen cupboards or around the house can fuel your children’s fantasy and motivate them to create their own story.
Open-ended toys like wooden blocks or water tables are among the best options as they can be used in many different ways based on your children’s imagination to create castles or entire cities. At 1st Place our approach is inspired by Reggio Emilia and our programme includes activities with open-ended materials to support children’s cognitive and social development. Click here for more information.
Visit a museum or gallery
You might think that galleries and museums are adult-oriented, but a painting or a photo can be the beginning of a story for your children. Observe them and find out what captures their attention. Images are a form of visual storytelling so you can build a story around the artwork and fill in the gaps with your children.
Origami creations
Arts and crafts are not only for the super creative! Challenge yourself and learn a new art like origami or paper cutting. You will be able to find different shapes that are appropriate for your children’s age and have fun while enhancing your children’s and your imagination at the same time. Learning the basic Origami techniques will allow your children to improve coordination and concentration skills.
Limit screen time
Children have now access to a wealth of information and images online. They can see pictures of extinct animals and watch documentaries recorded in distant counties with different cultures. There are also a variety of quality TV programmes. But since videos are already visualised stories, it’s best to use these resources as a starting point for your own story and always spend time discussing the content of the video with your children.
Scientists suggest that since this is the first generation of children that grow up with mobile devices it’s difficult to predict the effects of screen time on their brain, but most of them advice parents to use technology thoughtfully and set limits to screen time.
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