Imagination Starters For Your Kid

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Do you want to help your kid jump start their imagination?

I believe wholeheartedly that children are born with creativity flowing through their veins. Sure, maybe some of them aren’t as creative as others. However, I truly believe that the imagination of a child is something adults should strive a little more to possess.

I know I am a creative person.

The more I create, the more creative I become. My creative juices flow easier when I have access to materials that help me imagine.

Children are the same way. At least I know MY children are the same way. But their creativity drains out when they have nothing to create. A child’s imagination dwindles when they are stuck in front of a screen all day and aren’t pushed or required to use their minds to imagine something.

Imagination is defined as the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.

Creativity is defined as the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

Both imagination and creativity are important parts of being a human and children should cultivate both as much as they can.

The worst thing we can do for a child in my opinion, is make sure they are entertained by something 24/7.

Simplicity really is the best tool a parent has in their arsenal.

I remember when I was a little girl, my favorite activity was playing outside with my brothers. We made up a game or a story every night. There was an old shed next to our house, we would pretend we were abandoned children or that our parents were working and that shed was our home.

Or we would make up a story about our dog being a wolf out to get us and the only safe place was the back of our dad’s truck.

Yes, I had toys, I had a doll house and books.

But I vaguely remember those toys. What I cherish are the memories I made with my siblings, making up stories and using my imagination.

Today children are bombarded by toys, sounds, electronics and entertainment from the time they wake up to the time they fall asleep. Many parents feel like it is their job to make sure their child is NEVER bored. When you make sure your child is never bored you hinder them, here’s why.

Your child may have difficulty learning to think outside the box. Because they are not required to use their minds and imaginations to entertain themselves or fill their time.

They may start to depend on entertainment for satisfaction. If they are not being entertained by something or someone, your child may start to feel they are missing out on instant gratification. It may get to the point where nothing is good enough unless it’s instant and they can zone out (not use their imagination, just be entertained).

Your child’s senses may become over stimulated. This is a big one. With sounds and images coming at our children daily, it is our job to make sure those senses aren’t being over stimulated. If they are then our children may experience sensory overload. This can lead to melt downs and anxiety. (you can read more about it here.)

But when you give your child open ended materials to use and play with, you help them enhance their imaginations and creativity.

Related Read: My Honest Review of ToucanBox Subscription Box.

Here are 7 imagination starters my children love and yours will too!

Imagination Starter: Sticks

I know, I know, you’re probably thinking to yourself, sticks? really?

Hear me out.

This past weekend we visited family out of state. We took our children to a new playground. There was an open field and new playground equipment for them to play on, which they did. All of five minutes.

Then Miss B saw a pile of sticks. She exclaimed LET’S BUILD A HOUSE!

For the next 45 minutes the girls built a house out of sticks. Those sticks were all they needed.

This wasn’t the first time Miss B has used sticks to build something. The first time she did was at the local park. She gathered two girls she had just met and they spent 1.5 hours building a giant town out of sticks, right in the middle of the park.

Hand your child a pile of sticks and see what they can imagine up. You may be surprised!

Imagination Starter: Pillows and blankets

Did you ever make a fort as a kid? My kids LOVE to make forts. They also love pillows and blankets. My husband is constantly commenting on how the pillows are never on the couch where they belong. Our pillows are always tossed on the floor or used for something our girls dreamed up.

One time last summer our girls turned our entire living room into a gigantic fort. I think they used every blanket, pillow and chair in our house.

They spent the entire day playing in their gigantic fort. It’s a memory they still mention to this day!

Imagination Starter: Nature (nature walks)

I am a home school mom. My favorite home school method is the Charlotte Mason method. If you don’t know who she is you can read more about her methods here.

One activity she advocated for was going on a nature walk with our children. Being out in nature helps a child in many different ways.

They get fresh air, learn to observe animals, trees, plants and other nature. Children who go on nature walks also become familiar with the world outside of their four walls.

I will admit, we don’t get to do as many nature walks as I would like. Honestly, I would go on one every day if we could. I am making it a priority this year to go on one at least once a week with my children.

You should too! Take your child on a walk and ask them to listen quietly and then describe to you what they think they hear.

Or you could have them observe the plants and animals around them and come up with a story about the land. They can even start a nature walk journal to document what they see, hear, etc. Just getting out in the fresh air is great for a child’s mind and body!

Imagination Starter: Blank paper and crayons or markers

I like coloring books as much as the next person. But my favorite item to give my child is a blank piece of paper and some crayons or markers.

There’s nothing there! Your child has to use their minds and imagination to figure out what to put on the paper. Stories and pictures are created this way.

I bought Miss B a new sketch pad the other day. She has already filled up half of it with a new story she’s created in her head. She is becoming great at drawing too! I love seeing what she dreams up every day on paper!

Imagination Starter: Sensory bin materials

If you have been reading my blog for long then you know I love sensory items. Children need sensory input and they can receive this several different ways. One of my favorite ways to give my child a chance to receive sensory input are through sensory bins.

Set up a place for your child to explore these bins without the worry of being messy. We do ours outside or on our table with a plastic table cloth on it. Give them as much time as they want to explore and play!

Imagination Starter: Play doh

This activity is so simple and easy. You can pick up a container of play doh at Walmart for .50 cents or you can make your own.

Children typically love playing with play doh and may spend hours coming up with stories or creations with a ball of dough.

Related Read: The Best Hands on Activities For Kids.

Another Starter: Boxes

Miss B asks me every time we receive a box in the mail or from the store if she can have it. She makes all kinds of neat things with these boxes. One time she made a car for her soon to be brother’s room. She loves to decorate and create.

Your child probably does too. Hand them an empty box, a pile of craft supplies (or just a marker!) and see what they come up with!

I could come up with so many more open ended activities to give your child that will help jump start their imagination.

There are no shortages of ideas! I look for imagination starters by asking myself these questions. Does it have battery? Or does it have a screen? Does it have a closed end goal? (like a game that ends a certain way or a coloring book.) If the answer is no to all of those questions then the item most likely will work as an imagination starter!

Bonus imagination starters:

• sprinkles
• rice
• blocks
• stickers
• clean plastic bottles.

What is your favorite imagination starter?

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