So often when we think of “imagination,” we err by attributing it to kids only, says C. J. Ellis of KidsReadUs.com, and maybe it takes some really “big kids” to remind us that’s simply not always the case!
While recently checking out http://slate.com/, Ellis browsed through Gretchen Rubin’s “The Happiness Project.” Although not exactly filled with Ellis’ definition of imagination, it was linked to Eepy Bird’s Sticky Note Experiment.
Now that’s using your imagination and letting it fly! Coined as “Entertainment by the Curious Mind,” this is a heads-up reminder that “play” isn’t just for kids (the video is definitely an awesome example of creativity!).
Which can be a real cause for concern, Ellis says. Real play — play that is initiated and carried out by kids — bubbles up from within rather than being imposed by a stuffy adult. Joan Almon, author of “The Fear of Play,” expands:
While recently checking out http://slate.com/, Ellis browsed through Gretchen Rubin’s “The Happiness Project.” Although not exactly filled with Ellis’ definition of imagination, it was linked to Eepy Bird’s Sticky Note Experiment.
Now that’s using your imagination and letting it fly! Coined as “Entertainment by the Curious Mind,” this is a heads-up reminder that “play” isn’t just for kids (the video is definitely an awesome example of creativity!).
Which can be a real cause for concern, Ellis says. Real play — play that is initiated and carried out by kids — bubbles up from within rather than being imposed by a stuffy adult. Joan Almon, author of “The Fear of Play,” expands:
Real play has largely disappeared from the landscape of childhood in the United States. There are many reasons for this, such as the long hours spent in front of screens each day or being involved in activities organized by adults. In addition, preschools and kindergartens that used to foster meaningful play and exploration often spend long hours on adult-led instruction instead.
Are adults not doing enough "sticky note experiments" in their everyday lives? Are we unconsciously curtailing the growth of imagination in children, and, by doing so, are we risking the danger of producing a future generation of stiff-minded adults?What do you think?
