Make Your Child Smarter

Igniting Your Child's Power of Imagination

By Andrew Loh

A number of kids seem to be extraordinarily gifted and endowed with a keen sense of imagination and creativity. These kids are always lost in their own wide world of deep imagination and creativity. On the other hand, a number of other kids are not so much imaginative and creative in their approach; such kids are little slow in learning the basic skills of imagination and creativity. However, as a parent, you can do a lot to help your child to be imaginative and creative. There are a number of things that you can do to encourage your kid to become creative and imaginative.

Suggestion: Your kid's ability to learn the basic skills of imagination and creativity starts at an early age of one year and your kid will learn various levels of creativity and imagination depending on the age and given scenarios.

Tip #1: The environment surrounding your kid could be the best place to make him or her learn creativity and imagination. For example, your backyard could easily be the most suitable place to teach about creativity. Basic gardening skills and techniques can teach your kid how to be creative and imaginative. Teach your kid about basic landscaping and garden designing. Teach her about garden patterns and forms, which will help your kid to think and act.

Tip #2: Reduce TV and computer time: Even with their perceived advantages and benefits, TV and computers have their own negative concerns. Too much TV and computer may harm your kid's ability to think independently on their own. Cajole your kid to stop watching TV or playing computer for a log time. Instead, sit down with your kid and play a number of games that enhance both cognitive and thinking skills. The best-recommended games are those that provide challenging and predictive scenarios. Board and strategy games see to be the best of all.

Tip #3: Choose your toys carefully: Ensure that you are choosing your toys with care and planning. Battery operated and motorized toys seem to restrict and curtail your kid to think on his or her own. Instead of a radio-controlled car, you can bring home toys that enhance your kid's motor and cognitive skills. Small kids in the age bracket of 1 and 2 years will do better when you provide them toys like musical chairs, stack and rack toys as well as building blocks.

Tip #4: Provide art and painting items: Ensure that you are allowing your kid to get busy on drawing and painting. Buy your kid a box of art items containing things like cotton balls, craft sticks, crayon, paint vials, glue, markers, color pencils, art paper, scissors and erasers. Never throw away all those old magazines and newspapers as your kid can use them for creative art. Once your kid creates some art items or paintings, ensure that you are displaying them in a prominent place in your house. You must make it a point to value your kid's artwork even if it is very rudimentary and basic.

Tip #5: Spend some quality time to read poems and stories: Buy some of the best story and rhyme books for your kid. Reading out poems, rhymes and bedtime stories will keep your kid spellbound and interested throughout the day. Listening to bedtime stories is possibly the most enduring and cherished activity that both parents and kids can participate.

Tip #6: Encourage your kid in an activity that they seem to immensely enjoy: Kids have their own preferences and likings. Some kids may like to dance and make merry, while others may simply love to sing loudly to themselves. The summertime or vacation time could be the best time for such activities and your kid may simply adore such activities.

Imagination and creativity are two important aspects of kid's life. A kid who develops these activities early during the growing years will also develop the ability to succeed and prosper in the adult life. You may wish to help your child to see and feel the beneficial aspects and real fun of imagination.

A kid who develops an interest in developing creativity and imagination can be extremely cheerful and enterprising. These positive qualities will help them succeed in their classes, while the power of imagination can assist your kid to see and visualize those scenarios that are helpful in segregating the good things from bad ones. Parents could make the best mentors and partners to help their children to develop these noble qualities. 

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