An imagination is like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. Early childhood is the best time for children to start exercising their imaginations. An easy way to help them is to model curiosity and ask open-ended questions.
Go on a slow walk together and look around carefully. Notice all the amazing wonders nature provides, like the treehouse entryway and tiny, talented bug— pictured here.
That looks like a door to me! Who do you think lives there? Where do they go to school/work? What do they do for fun? Where do you think they’ll live next?
What a beautiful, lacy leaf! Can you find who created it? Who do you think taught him to do that? Do you think she did that by herself or with another bug’s help? Who helped? What else can they create?
Asking open-ended questions sparks curiosity and imaginative thinking. There are no right or wrong answers. Once you and your child get the hang of it, there are no limits to the fun you’ll have together playing make-believe and strengthening your imaginative minds! Our world needs more imaginative thinkers because imaginative thinkers become wonderful, out-of-the-box thinkers and problem-solvers.
