I was just thinking,
When I was a kid my parents and grandparents used to play all kinds of pretend games where I would have to imagine a magical world. One time, when I was 4 years old, my mom asked me to help her set up the table on our verranda. I didn’t want to because I wanted to play and setting up the table didn’t seem like such a fun activity for me. So she asked me to pretend that when I’m walking back and forth from kitchen to the table, I was flying instead of walking. She told me to imagine that there were hungry bears right under the verranda and that we should walk on our tip toes as if we were flying so we don’t wake up the bears.
Children today can take part in an endless variety of activities. From computer games to piano lessons, and from soccer practice to karate, there is no shortage of skills for kids to learn. However, children also need regular playtime that is not focused on structure, skill building or electronics. While those things are all good for children, too much can crowd out the kind of play that is essential for developing one of the most amazing gifts of childhood: Imagination
According to Dorothy Singer, professor of psychology at Yale University, children who actively use their imagination reap a host of benefits, such as playing cooperatively and being successful in school
Do children still have the time and initiative today to fight pretend dragons, have an imaginary friend, or dress up as a fairy tale princess? Or is plain old imagination fighting a losing battle with iPods, video games, organized sports and T.V. shows?
Tell us what you think about the influence of technology on today’s children’s lives.
Sabine.J
