Life is fun — work can be too! (let’s not risk losing that)

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:

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?

Broken link doesn’t stop new blog launch

Everyone is excited. The buzz word at KidsReadUs.com is Imagination!

In today’s environment, it’s important to take your website to new levels, most Web experts say, adding that websites need their own “stimulus package.”

Launching a new blog could well serve that purpose, and numerous courses, including one offered by mediabistro.com, are out there to help small businesses and individual consultants alike reach that goal.

So KidsReadUs.com decided to take the plunge and start a new blog that emphasizes the importance of learning and imagination.

“It turns out,” says C. J. Ellis, founder and owner of KidsReadUs.com and its parent company, Angel Publications, “that we now are asking parents to be patient and use a bit of their own imagination when linking to our website to download free activities for kids.”

The problem? The URL link for KidsReadUs is broken, Ellis explains, and a temporary patch — http://www.angelpubs.com/ — is in place instead of the website’s true designation — http://www.kidsreadus.com/. (Hint: The second link doesn't work right now, and no, we aren't trying to send you to KidsRead!)

“We decided not to let this slight hitch stop us from launching our blog so we can get feedback on what parents and kids want and need in the world of learning and creativity,” Ellis says.

KidsReadUs.com is a division of Angel Publications, a company that Ellis started about 10 years ago. “At first all of our titles involved children and angels,” Ellis explains, “but the original five titles of the first angel series are now out of print.”

Instead, the company went in a different direction, adding such titles as Kwanzaa Teddy The Curious Bear and The Theodore Series, Ellis says. “The Kwanzaa book won awards, as did Angels are Everywhere, including the Teachers’ Choice Award and the Benjamin Franklin Award [an industry-recognized award],” she adds.

So about four years ago, the company introduced its KidsReadUs division and changed its website — until the blogging gods decided to momentarily jinx the site!

So be it, Ellis says, because we're ready to go and it's time to start thinking about how you can help your kids “Let Their Imagination Fly”!