What fosters imagination? - Page 2

[Ellien C]

I'm not a big player, my house is pretty cluttered with toys and my DD watches TV. But I don't feel she lacks imagination and like the PP she seems to be in a made up world of her own at least 60% of the time. I can still remember the day she taught me about pretend play. She was changing her baby dolls diaper and kept asking for cream. I was trying to explain that cream was bad for baby's skin and we couldn't put it on her, she finally looked at me in exasperation, grabbed a stacking cup and scooped her fingers into it and proceed to rub the baby's bottom! It was the first time I'd ever seen her use one thing for another thing and it was right around her second birthday. I caught on and started playing along.

I think you might be a little hard on your neighbors. You say they have "no imagination. Zilch. Zip." But then you say that after they figured out the pretend picnic game they went along with it, so clearly they do have some imagination. Some people might really be more literal than other people.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by boongirl

I doubt the neighbor kids have literally no imagination.

Yes, OK, you're right. I was too hard on them. But they don't instigate it at all. And since there are a lot of kids in our neighborhood, they are DEFINITELY at the low end of the spectrum for this.

Originally Posted by boongirl

hey may be shy or nervous in front of others. ....They may feel overwhelmed by the way your kids play.

OK, this made me laugh. Maybe they are UNDERWHELMED by us, but definitely NOT overwhelmed! These three kids are all MAJOR extroverts (our son ran in TERROR from them until he was 4!), and mine are more introverts. Actually, our son simply goes over and 'borrows' their car and runs his garbage truck route while they run in circles around him. They don't even notice what he's doing or that he's got a game going.

Originally Posted by boongirl

They may sense your criticism of their play and have decided to be cautious about what they show you and your kids.

Well, since I just noticed this about 2 days ago, I doubt it. I don't criticize their play. I don't criticize them (except when they stomp on my tomato plants!). OK, I do feel a bit bored, but I doubt they notice that.

They feel comfortable with us and they do show imaginative play with us, but only when we instigate it. They LIKE to play with us because we (dh and I) pay more attention to them than their parents do. They talk to us, they run over to greet us, they chase my kids down the block asking to play with us.

Originally Posted by boongirl

They may just be not as interested in imaginative play as your kids.

That's possible. My kids are VERY into it, and we tend to spend our days 'taking the train' 'playing school' and doing other things.

But it rather begs the question -- how do you foster imagination? How do you get kids to do more of this on their own? Since they are the kids in the neighborhood who are closest to mine in age, I'd like to be able to have our kids have a bit more common ground. Sure, I can (and DO!) instigate pretend play games. But frankly, the whole point of having neighbor kids is so that I don't have to be my kids' sole play partner! I do'nt mind doing it some of the time, but gosh it'd be a lot more fun if the neighbors would join in with ds without my intervention.

[onlyzombiecat]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

OK, this made me laugh. Maybe they are UNDERWHELMED by us, but definitely NOT overwhelmed! These three kids are all MAJOR extroverts (our son ran in TERROR from them until he was 4!), and mine are more introverts. Actually, our son simply goes over and 'borrows' their car and runs his garbage truck route while they run in circles around him. They don't even notice what he's doing or that he's got a game going.

I think you just found a biggest reason for the difference in how the kids play. It isn't something you can necessarily fix.
Extroverts just get more stimulation from the outside themselves. Imagination and pretending come from inside. The extremely extroverted kids may never be as interested in imaginative play as they would some other game. They would probably rarely instigate pretend play like your more introverted kids because it is not in their temperment to do so. In groups of kids, I think there are often some kids who have more ideas and imagination. They can still play together and find common ground.

Not all parents value imaginative play. It doesn't sound like these parents do.

[IncaMama]

my son watches TV, probably more than most of your kids do...and he's constantly engaging in imaginative play. in fact, it's hard to pull him OUT of imaginative play and engage in the "Real world"...

i agree about the introversion/extraversion continuum. labels never helped anybody, but those labels ARE articulating some sort of natural continuum of the human experience. i'd venture to guess that that has a lot to do with how they play. i also think modeling helps, and practice practice practice.

it may be enough for you to have just suggested to them to pretend to have a picnic. it may not have occurred to them that it's an acceptable way to play with others. we dont know what they do when nobody's around. do they just sit like a lump on a log? probably not. play is a social thing that needs to be developed and nurtured and learned. rules of play at this age are sometimes difficult for kiddos to understand and they may need some modeling at this point.

but really, not to knock any of the choices made by anybody on here...i don't think that kids who watch TV, play computers, etc...are any less imaginative. they spend their time differently, their imaginative play includes different characters, but it doesn't change their nature.

[Fiddlemom]

Haven't read the whole thread, but it does seem to help to have other kids to play with and to have playful parents. Seems to me some kids are more instigators, others are more players, others take turns with those roles. My kids are constantly pretending and inventing games but they also love to jump into an imaginary game.

Unlimited videos at our house gives everyone a terrible case of boredom, esp my 5yo. There seems to be a good balance where I still get to regain some sanity late in the day (ie, video cocktail hour before dinner) and where they watch too much so that they really become jello-brained. Every family's different that way, I imagine.

[AppleOrangePear]

but really, not to knock any of the choices made by anybody on here...i don't think that kids who watch TV, play computers, etc...are any less imaginative. they spend their time differently, their imaginative play includes different characters, but it doesn't change their nature.

If a child is using a character from another source that is not using the true imagination. True Imagination comes from the mind not something seen

while some kids are watching tv my son is playing He honestly doesnt have time to sit in front of the tv. He has always either helped me along with things or played along side.

play is a social thing that needs to be developed and nurtured and learned. rules of play at this age are sometimes difficult for kiddos to understand and they may need some modeling at this point.

Babies and toddlers do not actually need the socialization with other little ones like many think. It is more of a benefit to a parent to be with other moms. Sure they enjoy it though. Play however is not learned.

Michele

[Fiddlemom]

Originally Posted by ArlyShellandKai

If a child is using a character from another source that is not using the true imagination. True Imagination comes from the mind not something seen

Maybe I'm just defensive b/c I let my kids watch videos but I think kids can take whatever goes in and get extremely imaginative with it. IMO, if they are in a rut and can only play out what they've seen on TV, then it's time to alter the input.

(and hey--no offense but my kid NEVER watched TV or videos until I'd had the second one LOL)

[AppleOrangePear]

HI Fiddle, I do agree as long as it isnt to the point that they are not creating their own world. When i was working as a therapist their were few that actually used their true potential at imagination it was always :ill pretend im superman and you be such and such...

Im to cheap to pay for cable again and to cheap to buy videos especially when DS has absolutly no interest. Now when the newborn to be is much older then we may do once in a while movie night however at this age for DS1 and DS2 to be NADA!

OT: I do have to say i do believe it is easier to have a tv free kid when there is no tv on (cable or movies) of course if its in the house im sure it would be tempting. I can honestly say though i feel as though i would have to say to DS1 would you like time to watch tv ( which seems so weird/odd to me) He is always occupied in something...

one book i need to finish reading is Continuum concept.. its great

michele

[AppleOrangePear]

I should add that imagination goes beyond just playing out scenerios etc. It has to do with being able to use simple objects and turn them into other things, being able to be entertained and enjoy playing with natural objects etc outside. Some kids these days depend to much on things:
if you dont hand them a toy that does something for them they are bored, put them in a backyard without things made to entertain kids they are bored.

michele