One of my greatest delights is observing my children’s imaginations at work in creative play. My five year old daughter and three year old son play happily together for hours. It always amuses me to see who they pretend to become, where they go on their adventures, and what the ordinary objects around them transform into.
Raising imaginative children isn’t something I intentionally set out to do, but there are several policies we’ve adopted that seem to facilitate it. If you’re tired of hearing “I’m bored mom!” or breaking up sibling squabbles because the kids don’t seem to have anything more constructive to do, I hope these ideas will help!
Cut back on toys
In my experience, the less toys a child has the more they will play with what they have. I feel it as an adult every day; if I have one hundred options, I mentally shut down. It’s what makes stores like Aldi so brilliant- one choice! We periodically purge toys and keep only the kid’s absolute favorites. I particularly like to keep toys that promote creative play. Which brings me to my next point…
Be selective about the toys you keep
As a rule we avoid light-up, noise making toys. The less a toy plays for a child, the more the child will actually play. Almost every toy in our home fits into one of these three categories; building materials, dress-ups, or figurines. Foam building blocks, lego, and train tracks are {literally} the building blocks for a child’s imagination. Dress ups allow them to become someone else in an adventure. Dolls, animals, and other little figurines can act out a million stories. We also keep play-doh and markers and paper in abundant supply to fuel artistic creativity.
Turn off the t.v.
You knew this one was coming, didn’t you? I’ll keep it short since you’ve heard it all before. Screen time allows our minds to shut down and hibernate… which is exactly what won’t fuel a delightful imagination.
Allow lots of time for unstructured play
From the time my daughter was a baby, I made a point of 1) not entertaining her, and 2) keeping our schedule very light. Kids need time to be bored in order to uncover the treasure trove in their own brains. Giving them lots of white space in their day for play is truly a gift. The more I limit extracurriculars, outings, and play dates, the better for my sanity and my kid’s imaginative play time.
Kick them outside
There’s no better place for imaginations to unfold. Big open space, not a lot of visual clutter or distraction, fresh air and all of nature to explore. What child doesn’t love to make mud pies, jump in puddles, or collect acorns in a bucket? Playgrounds are the perfect place for kids to explore their imaginations and have fun, but it’s important to ensure safety with proper Playground Resurfacing.
Read good books, and lots of them
We read tons of books as a family, and some of the kids best games have been inspired by stories. Checking blogs for children’s book recommendations, hitting up story hours at your local library, and setting aside a good chunk of time to just snuggle up on the couch and read together are great ways to fuel a literary culture in your home while simultaneously inspiring your child’s imagination.
Be willing to be inconvenienced
Saying yes to creative play often means saying no to my personal preferences. Giant forts that take up the entire living room, muddy clothes and footprints, play-doh crumbs strewn across the kitchen, and interrupting my task for the hundredth time that morning to help a child into another costume can be totally inconvenient. I’m not always good at this, but I’m trying to remember that giving my children the freedom to get messy is a wonderful gift. Creating a spring board for their imaginations is completely worth the little sacrifices of more laundry, muddy entryways, and craft clean ups.
My kids are having great time- and witnessing their imaginations at work, I’m having a great time as a parent too.
Rachel
Latest posts by Rachel (see all)
- The Beginner’s Guide to Making Homemade Popsicles - October 5, 2024
- The Ultra-Frugal Elementary Homeschool - October 5, 2024
- 4 Awesome Ways to Bless a New Mom - October 5, 2024
- Cardboard Inspiration for Rainy Days - October 5, 2024
- 5 Fun Construction Books for Kids - October 5, 2024
