subject: A Few Ways To Foster Your Child's Imagination [print this page] When I was growing up, it seemed like "imagination," and "creativity," were my dual middle names. From a very young age, I was making up stories and even thinking up alternate worlds or cultures where anything could happen.
Unfortunately, however, I was born in such a time that imagination was going out of style. Little girls my age were beginning to think of wearing the best clothes and doing their hair in the most fashionable and pretty way.
But the truth is that imagination and creative thinking are tools for success throughout our lives! So if your little tyke is trying to conform to the norm instead of being his/her own person, it's time to put the advice I'm about to offer to good use!
The first step may seem rather obvious, but you would be surprised at how many moms and dads don't do this anymore: play with your kids! Part of this involves setting a positive example for your kids--if you are willing to make-believe, they will be, too!
Gifting toys and materials that require imagination to work is one of the best ways to get them going. For example, modeling clay and building blocks require a child to put their more abstract ideas into action.
One of the reasons for the underdeveloped imaginations of our children today is the lack of a love for reading. So let them catch you reading often. It doesn't matter what you like to read--just show them that you feel a need to always have a book on hand. Don't let bedtime stories to go out of fashion, either. Either read to them from a favorite storybook or make up your own!
Let your children play dress-up. This doesn't have to mean lipstick and feather boas. Instead, get an inexpensive trunk and fill it with old Halloween costumes, clothes you don't wear anymore, and even apparel you sew yourself (trust me, it doesn't have to be perfect). This can fuel the imaginations of both boys and girls.
Allow your children their own special play area in which they are free to be themselves. Some kids prefer having a little privacy when they put their creativity to work--that is why I suggest this idea.
You might try clearing some space in an unused guestroom or better organizing the kids' rooms, including downsizing furniture, in order to make room for toy chests and the like.
Be sure to create an atmosphere of fun throughout the special space. Soft play climbers and oversized squishy blocks, such as the ones produced by Children's Factory and other companies, can help produce a children's wonderland.
Creativity and imagination can open all kinds of new doors as your children grow. These are necessary components of every career discipline--yes, even the sciences! So help to foster their creative thinking, starting today.
by: Art Gib
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