I have a fascination
with imagination. I marvel at how children uniquely channel their
imaginative spirit in creative ways.
Two weeks
ago, I began an eight-day assignment as an art instructor for
grades K - 5. Being an artist myself and passionate about fostering
imagination and creativity in the educational setting, I jumped
with joy for this opportunity.
The lesson
plans created for these 2 weeks were limiting and mundane. A change
was vital! I gathered a variety of materials for open-ended activities
and set up centers, where children were free to choose their materials
and create their personal projects. And I might add, no two projects
were alike!!! I facilitated learning with questions requiring
genuine thinking, problem solving and self-evaluation.
What resulted
was the opening of a floodgate of flowing imagination!!! I watched
with awe how children of all ages put their imagination into action
with amazing creations. Using simple materials like masking tape
and paper, or Popsicle sticks and glue, or manipulating play dough
using only their hands as tools, scrapbooking scissors and scraps
of paper, aluminum foil and tissue paper, textured paints, etc.
There was an energy in the room that was indescribable. What fun!!!
The room was abuzz with turned on and tapped in children involved
in design, construction, exploration, excitement, exhilaration,
enthusiasm, positive and supportive social interactions, inquiry,
attention, completion, self-direction, full engagement, inventiveness,
self-reliance, investigation, joy, cooperation, generosity, process
focused, etc. By simply igniting imagination, a vast array of
skill sets were attained. These vital life skills are not readily
accessible through the routine paper and pencil tasks that dominate
classrooms today. Perhaps that's what Einstein meant when he said
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
WHAT IS
IMAGINATION?
Think back to when you were a child. Do you remember playing with
cardboard boxes for hours creating a house, car, bus, cave or
games? Do you recall having a best friend over and playing cowboys
and Indians, heroes battling alien forces, visiting magical places,
dressing-up as family members, storybook or movie characters?
Remember when your stuffed animals had mysterious powers or became
students when you played school? These unstructured, play-filled
activities were and still are essential for cultivating imagination.
Imagination
is the eye of the mind. It's the formation of mental images that
allows us to see absent objects or situations as being present.
Imagination makes it possible for us to think differently about
what is, what has been, and envision what may be. It's what enables
us to think outside the box of our perceived reality creating
a world without boundaries or restrictions. Imagination is the
Aliveness within that allows us to live in infinite possibilities.
Imagination
is like movie-making in the mind. Think about when someone is
telling you a story about their life, situations or even when
you read a book. Images naturally occur. Read the following: "The
cat quickly scampered up the tree to escape the chasing dog."
Although you did not witness the incident, you pictured a scene
simply based upon the written word. That is imagination in action.
Warning! Sometimes
we allow our imagination to conjure images which are not life
serving and stimulate worry, fear, panic and anxiety. Isn't it
wonderful that the same mind that created those images can also
transform them.
THE VALUE
OF IMAGINATION
Children have a natural capacity for living deeply within their
imagination. A child's imagination breathes life into their creative
journeys offering gateways of infinite possibilities. With imagination,
they are free from objective restraints. Just watch children play.
They imagine themselves to be puppies crawling around barking
at cats or protecting their companion. They pretend to be monkeys
or trapeze artists while climbing playground equipment. They transform
ropes into snakes, noodles into worms, the couch into a spaceship,
themselves into doctors, policemen, teachers, and parents. They
invent games to play that have rules only they understand and
are able to entertain themselves anywhere at anytime.
Imagination
helps children to develop their unique personality, beliefs, and
strengths. Children work through problems and explore feelings
by assigning family roles to inanimate objects. Imaginary situations
allow them to practice creative solution seeking and transcending
challenges - tools for life. The practice of imagining one's self
in another person's situation is very important for developing
compassion, empathy and understanding.
Imagination
is empowering! Through imagination, children overcome fears by
visioning safety and security. The use of images for healing has
been known to transform health conditions from hopelessness to
wellness. Feeding information from the unconscious mind into conscious
awareness, athletes routinely use imagery to improve performance.
Imagination
is a child's connection with inner purpose. Children tap into
their Spirit and visualize desirable outcomes. Through this limitless
view they are better able to set meaningful and purposeful goals
or intentions.
Experts reveal
that children who engage in imaginative play tend to: have a broader
vocabulary, be more content and alert, have an increased ability
to show empathy for others and cope better with difficult situations
IMAGINATION
AND EDUCATION
If imagination, as noted above, is such a valuable commodity,
why is it not treasured in the educational setting? Why are opportunities
to dream, envision, wonder and daydream removed? Aren't inventions,
cures, and relationships imagined first? Why are schools removing
art, music, and drama programs AND recess?
Presently
in education, there is emphasis on achievement and performance
via memorizing facts and figures. Rarely is attention or time
given for children to uniquely express their creative thoughts
or ideas. Eliminating opportunities for imagination in education
results in children drudgingly moving through their educational
career without purpose or direction. Children become frustrated
with conformity and rigidity.
Emphasizing
development of intelligence and pushing curriculum on children
at younger and younger ages, robs them of experiences with imaginative
play. When play is removed for developmentally inappropriate practices,
children suffer the loss of an unused resource and may become
apathetic.
Currently, most educational classrooms reinforce convergent thinking
where the students and teachers focus on only one idea at a time.
Highly imaginative children (which I believe are becoming more
the norm) think divergently, a higher level process where there
is an emphasis on originality, variety and exploration. Children
with vivid imaginations most often strive to be unique and diverse,
are adventuresome, curious, critical thinkers and independent
decision makers and have an energetic enthusiasm for life. Teachers
often complain that "they talk too much and ask too many
questions." Attributes such as these are traditionally prohibited
or disapproved of in classrooms in order to maintain a controlled,
calmer and quiet environment, primarily for the teacher. End result?
Children resist or even revolt against being forced to survive
within the constraints of "in the box" conditions. They
are then readily labeled noncompliant, behavior disordered, or
worse yet, ADD or ADHD, and then doped up on medications that
disturbingly interfere with their brilliant gifts and contributions.
The seeds of inventions and innovations lie within the inner depths
of children's imaginations. Given the proper nutrients they sprout.
It is essential that the sacred imaginations of children, whether
at home or in the classroom, be nourished, awakened, encouraged
and provided an outlet. Prevent imagination from becoming a dying
art. Breathe life into children's dreams and imaginative souls
and delight in the amazing results.
May we all
become advocates for an imaginative generation.
Have a dreamy summer filled with wonder,
Abundant blessings
Adrian Reznik
NURTURE
A CHILD "NUGGETS"
9 WAYS TO NURTURE IMAGINATION IN EDUCATION
Although
this information is classroom specific, I assure you that teachers
and parents alike will benefit from these simple strategies for
nurturing imagination. In consideration of space and length, I
have created a link for your ease of use. CLICK
HERE.
RESOURCES
I intend to add a RESOURCES page to the Nurture A Child web site
sometime this summer. If you have any suggestions or would like
to promote a product or resource, please email me the information.
I'd like to include: books for children and adults, children's
music CDs, web links, magazines, or anything that supports the
mission statement of Nurture A Child.
THANK YOU
I am grateful for the thoughtful responses this site has stimulated
among teachers, parents, caregivers and grandparents. If you have
questions or ideas about anything you read on these pages, please
feel free to connect with me.
Copyright
© 2005 Adrian Reznik
