Posted on 11/15/2016
No, your child doesn’t need all the toys. Or clothes. Definitely not all the electronics. Not even all the furniture or all the books. So what three things DOES your child need?
A Healthy Imagination
“The imagination is absolutely vital for contemplating reality, not just those things we take to be mere fantasy,” explains Paul Harris, a development psychologist and Harvard professor who studies imagination. Sometimes we as parents can get too caught up in how we present imaginary characters (such as the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus) and encourage our kids to ask questions to help discern reality from fantasy. Most children naturally develop that ability, and parents need not be concerned. Instead, they should be concerned with a child who has no fantasy life or imagination. Not only do preschool children with imaginary friends prove to demonstrate greater creativity and empathy than others, but they can often better cope with stress. As Dr. Taylor, psychology professor and author of the book Imaginary Companions and the Children Who Create Them, explains, “[Children who pretend] can fix the problem with their imagination.”
Imagination isn’t just about fairy tales, though. It’s needed to envision anything a child can’t directly experience, such as history or their own future. Inventors and artists alike need active imaginations in order to succeed. It’s also important for emotional health and relationships, as a person imagines a situation getting better or tries to see things from another person’s perspective.
Time To Be Bored
Among the many issues related to being over-scheduled, children who lack down time also lack some of the main raw material needed in order to grow a healthy imagination. Alvin Rosenfeld, author of The Over-Scheduled Child, says that while extracurricular activities can be beneficial, “The problem is, we’ve lost the ability to balance them with down time, boring time.” Another psychologist and author on the topic, says that “Children really need that time [they’re spending in many scheduled activities] to lie around, play more freely and have periods when they are side-by-side with their parents in the same room, being ‘alone together.’ ” He goes on to recommend an antidote: “Spend time with no goal in mind,” he said. “That will communicate to your child that you love them. And if a child feels loved, life can present them with hardships, but these setbacks will never defeat them.”
Privacy To Pretend
Even preschoolers need a little bit of privacy to create fantasy. Outside, they can play beyond the tree line separating themselves from parents, who are still close enough to hear them and know they’re safe. When kids feel the freedom to explore, their imaginations can really soar. But sometimes indoor options are needed, and that’s when The Bedroom Source can help. This Hideaway Loft includes a secluded area, as do Maxtrix® Loft Beds and Bunk Beds when you choose coordinating Top Tents and Under-Bed Tents.
To learn more about fostering imagination through literacy, continue reading (next blog post coming soon!).