I was reading a Facebook post of a friend of mine. She is a single mum who is a school teacher with a beautiful daughter and they don’t have much, but they have all that they need. Her daughter came up to her and asked if there were any clothes for her Dolly to get dressed into, my friend had to reply, no there were no clothes for Dolly. Off she went and a little while later she came back to mum to show her what she had done. She had cut her doll some clothes from paper and decorated them with purple tape and stickers. This made my friend realise that if we provide everything for our child then we take away what’s most valuable – their imagination. With all the latest gizmo’s for children do we let children use their imagination?
So, please remember that this Christmas, our children don’t need a lot, and while you’re buying all those battery operated toys don’t forget the crafts, the things that children have to actually think about doing something with, let their imagination run wild. People seem to want to give their children everything that opens and closes when all children really need are very simple things – a box with clothes for dress-ups, colouring in pencils and paper, some saucepans and a wooden spoon – let them use their imagination – they want to be pirates on the high seas? Get them out there and MAKE a sword – all they need is a stick and they’re off! Yes, yes, I know safety and all that but if you don’t give them one, they’re going to use one anyway! Go to the Salvo’s and buy some old clothes and let them dress up – don’t buy the costume! Don’t buy a cubby house, get them to help make one and decorate it. Let them use their imaginations they are so awesome at doing that and with all the gadgets that they have these days those beautiful imaginations and so stifled.
Do you let your child use their imagination? If so, how?
#letchildrenusetheirimagination