The power of imagination is how to get a private jet when your current ride is a scooter...
"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." - Albert Einstein.
Albert Einstein also said, "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."
Walt Disney said, "If you can dream it, you can do it."
The world of make-believe is the soil of invention. It's more than child's play. It reaches beyond limitations to create perfect worlds that don't currently exist and solutions out of thin air. It's a testing ground for problem-solving that is only limited by one's willingness to pretend. Teach a child to use their imagination and you give them the tools to surpass limitations!
Here's a simple exercise parents and educators can use anywhere, any time that helps your child/student see beyond what they can see with their eyes to find potential in even the most innate objects.
Take any old item, like a broom or a stick and say, "This is a broom (pretend to sweep it), but I see a guitar." Then strum it like a guitar to create a visual connection between what it really is, and what you are pretending it is. Now pass the object to a child and have them repeat your answer then add their own like this:
"This is a broom (sweep it like a broom) but you see a guitar (play it like a guitar) and I see an elephant's trunk (hold it like an elephant trunk and make its noise). Keep sharing until you run out of ideas... then switch objects and do it all over again.
The more you randomly do this, the more your child/students will begin to look into their imaginations to supersede the physical limitations of the object. Of course, this is easier for the child that lives in the world of make-believe then for the logical child that can only see a broom. Keep playing! The more we promote pretending and exploring "What if" questions, the more we open a world of endless possibilities for our children. This includes role-playing, dress-up, drama, science experiments, art, etc.
Step #4 - Train your brain to imagine!
To put this into a real-time application, help your child develop the habit of keeping a tidy room. To solve the problem of messiness help him/her imagine it clean. To create that image, clean it with them for a while to show them where everything goes. The more they see it, the more they can visualize it. Have your child draw pictures of their “dream” room. Where does everything go? Do you need toy bins? Can they reach their hangers, or do you need clothing baskets? This is your child’s space; surround them with things that inspire them, such as a dinosaur theme, castles, and princesses, or a farm. Turn it into an imagination incubator. The more they love their room, the more ownership they’ll have, and the more vested they’ll be in keeping it clean.
Use these tools with the Championeers! ESE Unit, Cowpie County to teach children how to solve problems, think happy, healthy thoughts, and discover their incredible worth!
For Happy, Healthy Schools and Homes!
Deanna
Deanna Rhinehart, Championeers! Emotional Safety Education Systems
www.championeers.com | 4 of 12 Cowpie County ESE Adventures!
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