KIWI presents: A new blog series on “Positive Parenting” from June Grushka-Rosen.

Many believe that children and their innate ability to use their imagination go hand in hand. Unfortunately, more and more, a child’s gift to create imaginary places, invisible friends and to dream about the future is not always second nature. This can be compounded by parents who feel uncomfortable when children explore outside the boundaries of what they see as reality. However, the necessity to help prompt a child to grow his/her imagination is increasingly important, due to rising negative stimuli including the over-indulged child, as in the child that has everything done for them and is given to in excess with no boundaries or expectations from their parents. As well as the disadvantaged child, a child that has been deprived of basic needs that may include environmental factors that lead to a lack of nurturing needed to stimulate creative thinking

Imagination is essential as a foundation for problem solving. I have found that while working with preschoolers in an affluent community, in addition to gang affiliated teenagers from the inner-city, that a key component to a child or teen’s ability to thrive and move towards success, is their capacity to rely on their imagination to problem solve. It can be simply having tots who are needed to quietly move from one location to another imagine that they are a magnificent colorful butterfly with arms as wings, silently soaring magically from one place to the next. What a fun contribution to teach a child that is working on curbing their impulse to talk when it may not be appropriate.

It is also my experience that role playing with groups of teens has proven to stimulate their knack to use their imagination by “thinking out side the box” and enhancing their capability to problem solve. If a teen is given the opportunity to “play the part” of the parent or teacher or voice of authority, they often feel empowered by the chance to be heard. Creating an environment to help a teen use their creativity to solve problems and set their own limitations can be a powerful tool to impart upon them.

Nurturing these skills in children gives them perspective and resources to find hope when others my only see hopelessness. The gift of encouraging imaginative-play fosters one’s depth to look at life’s challenges expansively. Growing a child’s imagination can lead to raising a unique problem solver, bring a sparkle to routine activities and encourage children to see a world filled with endless possibilities!

Written by: June Grushka-Rosen, MEd., is a Life Coach, Educator and Psychotherapist
To contact – LifeCoachingYou@Verizon.net