“You have an over-active imagination.”
“That’s just your imagination.”
“You’re imagining things.”
I’m sure we’ve all heard these statements at one time or another. I know I have and the people who’ve said these things to me, said this as if it were a bad thing. Imagination is the act of forming a mental image of something that is not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality, a creation of the mind especially an artistic one. A person is making a fanciful assumption.
The creative ability to make what is in the mind real.
Just think what the world would be like if we had no imagination, or if we did but didn’t use it. There would be no art, no music, no inventions. All of these things start in someone’s mind. Thank goodness these creative people were encouraged to pay attention to this mostly mental thing.
Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Imagination is where creativity, ingenuity, and thinking outside the box begin and thus boosts a child’s confidence.
Working with art supplies, splashing in puddles, pretending to fly can enhance your child’s development.
The imagination is a wonderful, beautiful thing. I encourage everyone to pay attention to the mind’s creative abilities. I especially encourage adults to listen to children when they talk about what they see or hear with their minds eye or ear.
Nurture children’s imaginations and take joy in their creative thoughts. Don’t worry that children won’t understand what’s real or not. A three year old understands the difference between real and pretend.
If your child says she sees faces in flowers, how lovely.
If your grandson says a bird flew up to him and spoke like a human, ask what did the bird say?
Or when your grandchildren say they see fairies in Grandpa’s garden, smile and ask them to show you where and follow them happily to the garden.