imagine: part 2, the practical

Okay, so my Peter Pan and Wendy blog may nod your head in agreement but what does it look like to activley cultivate creativity and imagination? The best way I can approach this subject is through the eyes of a parent and offer several exercises, if you will, in the art of developing little imaginations.

1. SING. Sing to your child. For me this started in infancy or as early as pregnancy. Don’t be concerned about the sound of your voice, believe me I go flat a lot, do you know what though? My kids don’t really care! I started with the songs my parents sang to me as a child, this actually helped awaken a big piece of childhood in my own heart. If you don’t have memories like that, it’s okay, pick out some songs you like and start the tradition in your own home. When my second son was born he wouldn’t stop crying, Chip and I started to sing the song he heard us sing his big brother every night, he calmed down immediately and started to nurse. As your child grows it can be fun to make up your own songs together, and depending on their personality let them preform them for grandparents or friends. If they are to shy, let them write the lyrics and give them to an older sibling or parent to preform- it really is something to watch a child experience something they created, as simple as a song, being shared with attention, respect, and applause by people they love.

2. BIG CIRCLES. Children’s brains are still developing for several years after birth. It can take up to eight years before the brain has completely hard wired itself so to speak. The beauty, and great responsibility, of this as a parent is your opportunity to shape many of their filters. Something you can help with is connecting synapses. So a synapse is basically a bridge that connects the right hemisphere of the brain to the left and vice versa. One side is more analytical and one side is more creative. The more connections they have, and girls typically will create more, the easier it is for them to flow back and forth between logic and feeling. So how does this work? Glad you asked. Make big circles. Basically, any exercise that the child does that creates opportunities for the child to cross one arm up over the head and to the other side is great. So when your doing those art projects, think bigger than that piece of computer paper and get out on the driveway with sidewalk chalk, or tape big pieces of newspaper to the garage walls and paint a big mural together. A set of drums is another good cross over exercise with arms operating separate of one another in different directions.

3. AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR. Become a publishing duo with your child. This is perhaps one of my most favorite things to do with my boys. Staple a bunch of paper together like a book and let you child fill in the pictures. Ask them what it means and write it down for them. These are so fun to read together at bedtime and especially look back at as they grow up. It can even be fun when they are starting to learn to write to let them write the words themselves and then be sure You write what it actually says. These have been hilarious for the boys to look back at and see how they thought something was spelled. But more than that, this exercise, much like the singing memorializes something that matters to them. It gives them a safe place to share their thoughts and ideas. Pretty soon they’ll be writing them all on their own and bringing them to you, too fun to watch confidence grow…

4. VIDEO GAMES. Yup, you betcha. I love video games, now this not for a toddler, but one of our favorites is the lego star wars game. The 3D animation is so identical to the actual scenes in the movie it’s amazing. What I like about playing video games together is it gives you the opportunity to become part of the story. To jump into another persons imagination, props to George Lucas, and create your own adventure. To be part of the story so powerful I talk with many parents that worry there’s too much violence or whatever, that’s why I say play with them. You know your child, watch them, how does it affect them, is it too much? You’ve got to give games a chance first hand, it’s different when the control is in your hands, role play can be intimidating, you’ll know what they are ready for and when, that’s why all the lego games in my opinion are appropriate. Another classic game of adventure is the Mario Brothers games. Again, depending on your childhood, games like zelda, super mario world, and pac man can open doors to your imagination you didn’t even realize were closed.

5. BOOKS. Reading with your child obviously is a no brainer here, we all have heard the benefits of this exercise. But what I’d like to add is this angle. As soon as your child will sit still without pictures, do it. I’d say this happens between 4 and 7. Give them the chance to visualize on their own. This is huge! We have been reading a book by Julie Andrews called, The Very Last Great Whangdoodle. It’s super long, but it’s dripping with imagery. We take one chapter at a time and actually draw the pictures in a separate notebook. We each have our own versions of the Prock, the Whiffle Bird, the Tree Squeeks, and the Whangdoodle himself. This has been so much fun putting to paper what we see in our minds. A great exercise in getting the vision out on paper, and lots of fun too.

6. ART. If your child enjoys art I encourage full creativity. So loose the coloring books. If this is frustrating for your child, don’t push them, let them color in the coloring books. The most important thing here is to encourage the journey. When they feel safe they will continue to explore and learn and grow. And the funnest part is pretty soon, they will be teaching you!!! Another aspect I see is get out of the box, the art box that is. Go outside, or around the house, or in the garage, creating things doesn’t have to be just with crayons and paper- go find sticks and rocks and feather and create a great big masterpiece outside on the patio to enjoy or a centerpiece for the dinner table for everyone to admire. This teaches them to push boundaries and break rules, which may not sound good at face value, but I believe within your guidance can be excellent lessons.

7. ADVENTURES. I have met some parents who think that fantasy and make believe don’t set the child up for the real world. I couldn’t disagree more. Victor Frankel says that the last human freedom is to choose your emotions. How do you suppose one keeps a positive attitude with a mean boss, a loosing season, or in Victors case in a concentration camp…With imagination of course! the ability to “dream a better dream” (Shark boy and Lava girl) is a huge part of the real world. So, take adventures with your child. The weeping willow three in our first backyard was Tarzan’s jungle, the fort under the stairs was our protection of the great dinosaur who wanted to eat us, the coach in the den became a pirate boat that sailed to many a treasures, and underneath the covers of the bed we typically fly to outer space and emerge on alien planets unknown to human kind. Let your child build the dream if you have to, but go there with them, you won’t be dissapointed.

8. and last but not least…BE PRESENT. Children watch us more than we know, they are very good little perceivers too. They pick up on emotion and tone and know if you’re having fun, paying attention, or really even care. You’ve got to ENGAGE. Fight the urge to stand back and be a sideline parent. Jump on the slides, be the green monster that chases them, foster an environment thats safe for ideas and dreams to come alive, and make them come alive for you child, if you don’t do this for them who will?