Encouraging and stimulating a child’s imagination is a crucial
part of development. Here are some ideas to get your children
thinking in new ways
The power of imagination can make the South Valley a very exciting place. Pirates could come storming over Hecker Pass, having taken Monterey Bay and pillaging their way east. Fairies, leprechauns and goblins would surely reside among the nooks and crannies of Pinnacles National Monument. Madrone may certainly crack open one day to reveal a sleeping giant.
Every day, children – and some lucky adults – make their lives an adventure through the power of imagination. Though their flights of fancy may seem silly, they are crucial to a child’s development, said clinical psychologist Dr. Carol Johnson-Schroetlin, who has offices in both Morgan Hill and Hollister.
“There has been plenty of research that’s given us statistics to show the benefits of a healthy imagination,” she explained. “It’s not just for fun. Imagination helps us problem-solve, it helps us be creative and cope with things. Imagination also helps children develop real-life skills. Think of how kids play ‘house’ and how they’ll practice washing dishes or cooking. It also encourages children to try different things and explore because they’ve built up their self-confidence and self-esteem through their imagination.”
Parents should actively encourage their children to use their imagination, Johnson-Schroetlin said, which is often most easily accomplished by simply encouraging them to play and read.
“My kids didn’t spend much time on imaginary friends, but I do think they spend a lot of time using their imaginations,” said Mary Christian, a Hollister resident and mother of two. “My son, Jack, is 7 and he likes to play by himself with his army guys, so I know he’s using his imagination then. My daughter, Sydney, is 4 and she loves Play-Doh. That really gives her an opportunity to be creative. And they both like to play horsey.”
Providing her children with art projects and reading books to them are also key to Christian’s children developing their imaginations, she said.
“I think it’s great when children get to have play time that isn’t overly structured,” Johnson-Schroetlin said. “When they’re watching television or playing video games, it’s very scripted and there’s not a lot to do with a child’s imagination. Board games are fun, too, but again, the imagination is lost there. When children get to go outside or sit down with a few toys and have plain old play time, they’re able to get more out of it.”
Children with strong imaginations tend to be more resilient to psychological problems, she added, and tend to be more well-rounded, well-adapted individuals.
San Juan Bautista resident Rhonda Io said her two sons spend a lot of time playing dress-up. They have cowboy hats and Ninja Turtle outfits they’ll put on and become Ninja warriors, cowboys or country singer stars. Outside, they’ll arrange their monster trucks in a sandpit and pretend they’re at a monster truck rally.
“One big imagining game they like to play is restaurant,” Io said. “Their grandfather is a chef, and he and their grandma own a restaurant. We gave them a little mini-kitchen, so they’ll play with that a lot and pretend they’re serving food, preparing food, taking orders or cleaning tables. I think any kind of make-believe is good for the boys. Imagination broadens their horizons.”
Getting back to basics and playing “let’s pretend” with your children is a great way to help kids exercise their imaginations, Johnson-Schroetlin said.
“Pretend you’re on an adventure, or that you’re all pirates and you have to find a treasure somewhere in the house,” she explained. “Become archeologists and go on a dig in the back yard, and then look up archeology on the Internet together and make the game a learning experience, too. The imagination is a wonderful thing.”
