As Christmas gets ever closer the advertising machine goes into overdrive. There are numerous adverts on the television and other outlets for an abundance of toys and gift ideas for all the family. As I do not watch much television, when I happen to catch a stream of adverts I am amazed at the toy choices given. Why, you may ask? Well it is the lack of toys that encourage a child to use their imagination. Everything is themed or a character figurine or a ‘set’ of some kind or other.
I make the comparison with lego – when I was a child lego consisted of various shaped blocks with which you used your imagination to build a plethora of objects. Today lego blocks are in kits, which make a single themed toy. Where is the imagination element? How can a child conjure up fantastical creatures, futuristic vehicles and unique buildings when the blocks limit their creativity?
To be a ‘whole’ person, we need to explore our physical, spiritual and mental capacities, in essence to find what we love, what we are passionate about. If we are limited in that exploration we, and our future generations, will experience a imperfect life.
Take a simple cardboard box at Christmas it is the focus of young children while their expensive gifts are discarded. Why does a simple box engage so? Well, because it can be ‘anything’ – a tunnel, a car, a house, and much more because their imagination makes it that way. It is limitless in its possibilities.
Let’s look at guarding our imagination and that of our children.
What is your view on imagination and creation?
December 15, 2014 at 1:44 pm
I’m glad to see my daughter creating a variety of objects (including 3D) with paper, scissors, tape, and pencils. (Of course, she’s written and assembled a couple of books, too.)
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December 15, 2014 at 1:58 pm
I have always encouraged my children to use their imaginations but it seems putting a child in front of some sort of screen is more popular!
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December 15, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Great post. We are killing imagination in this country. There is a recipe for Legos, video games, and even dolls today. You make a very good point.
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December 15, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Thanks for dropping by. – I don’t know what the answer is but hopefully we can encourage more imaginative play in the children we know and love.
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