How to cultivate children's imagination

A child’s imagination is very important, even more important than learning some knowledge. After all, knowledge is limited, but imagination is unlimited. Generally speaking, imagination is an important driving force for the progress of the world. Cultivating children's imagination from an early age will greatly benefit the improvement of their overall quality. So, how to cultivate children's imagination? Let’s take a look at the method below.

Infants do not have imagination within one year old, while elements of imagination appear between one and two years old. Imagination develops somewhat at the age of two to three, but is still in the early stages. After the age of three, children's imagination has no predetermined purpose or theme and is often generated unconsciously by external stimuli. They are satisfied by the imaginative process and their intentional and creative imagination begins to develop. So, how to cultivate children's imagination? The following editor will introduce to you 8 ways to cultivate children's imagination.

1. Read for inspiration

Reading is key to intellectual development and also helps stimulate a child's imagination. Choose books with lots of colorful pictures. The text content is not important to children. Try to let them make up their own stories based on the pictures. Parents can also help their children create plots and engage in role-playing to increase fun and participation.

2. Create your own story

Sometimes, a little story about yourself can be very attractive. You can create a short story based on the surrounding environment, use your imagination as much as possible, and even let your child become a superhero in the story. Eventually, he will tell you his story, too, in which he is the hero.

3. Singing, beating, whistling

Structured music types are indeed good, but providing children with toy instruments, letting them dance to the music, singing with them, and even encouraging them to improvise are all extremely creative processes that can infinitely stimulate children's imagination.

4. Limit screen time

With the popularity of electronic products, many parents like to let their children play with mobile phones or IPADs. Playing games or watching videos can attract children's attention and reduce the pressure on parents to take care of their children. But experts recommend that parents should try to reduce the time their children spend facing electronic screens. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants and toddlers under the age of 2 should not be allowed to play with mobile phones, IPADs or other electronic products. Children over the age of 2 should limit their screen time to less than 30 minutes a day.

5. Play role-playing games

Role-playing games are not only a way to kill time, but also allow children to learn how to manage their daily lives during the performance. Role-playing helps children develop language and social skills, and even helps them express their emotions, such as sadness or fear.

Parents can help their children prepare more props needed for role-playing, such as costumes and supplies for special characters, so that children can feel more involved when playing the role.

6. Accept your child’s quirks

Sometimes children's behavior is difficult for us to understand. Maybe your child wants to wear his little cape to kindergarten one day. You may find this hard to accept, but children don't think so. When you want to object, stop and think about it. Will anyone be hurt by his doing this? No, so why can't you accept it?

7. Welcome your child’s imaginary friends

Many children have an imaginary friend. When some parents find out about this, they worry whether this will cause problems for their children and may even tell their children that the friend does not exist at all. Experts believe that this is a reflection of a child's creative thinking. When a child is afraid or worried, he will use this method to relieve his emotions. Normally, the child can be allowed to continue playing with his "friend", and when this "friend" causes the child to behave in a bad way, he should be corrected.

8. Set some limits

It's fun to break the rules occasionally, but it's important to let your child know that we have rules that must be followed, just like the imaginary train will eventually pull into the station. For example, you might allow your child to play pirate ship under the dining table, but not during mealtimes.