Fostering Imagination
Reading is one of the best ways to foster imagination. The more we read, the better we can build up and expand our knowledge. We can be open to new ideas and have an understanding of new things. Reading helps us practice imagination by letting the words describe a certain image while the reader manipulates the picture in the mind. This practice strengthens the mind as it acts like a muscle. But what are the benefits of imagination?
Benefits of Imagination
Imagination has many benefits. It encourages creativity, which brings about new ideas. It also takes a huge part in innovation. Without imagination, people wouldn’t be able to come up with new inventions and new ideas that help advance society. It also pushes discovery and understanding. Martha C. Pennington and Robert P. Waxler state in “Why Reading Books Still Matters: The Power of Literature in Digital Times”, “If imagination and magical thinking connected to reason spur discovery, innovation, and new understandings, it can be maintained that literature has a key role in both developing and engaging imaginative and magical thinking”. This shows that reading is a key part of enhancing imaginative thinking, which can lead to innovation and understanding.
Exploring Literature: Expanding Our Imaginations Through Storytelling,” encourages children to dive deep into the world of literature, using their imaginations to explore new stories and ideas. As part of our theme, we’re excited to share an at-home activity that your child will love: Story Bag Adventure!
This simple activity helps nurture your child’s creativity and develops essential literacy skills—plus, it’s a lot of fun! Here’s how you can do it at home.
What You’ll Need:
- A small bag or basket
- 5-7 random objects from around the house (think toys, household items, or even outdoor treasures like leaves or pebbles)
- Paper and crayons or markers for drawing
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Gather the Objects: Start by letting your child pick a handful of small objects from around the house. These can be anything—a toy car, a button, a spoon, a leaf from the yard. Each object becomes a key part of their story!
- Create a Story: Have your child pull the objects out of the bag one by one. Encourage them to think about how each item fits into a story. For example, if they pull out a toy dinosaur, you might ask, “Where does the dinosaur live?” or “What does the dinosaur do next?”
- Draw the Story: Once your child has created their story, ask them to draw a picture of what they imagined. If your child is already writing, they can also write a few sentences or key words about their story. If not, they can tell you the story while you jot it down.
- Extend the Adventure: To keep the fun going, see if the story reminds your child of anything from a favorite book. Ask questions like, “Does this story feel like a story we’ve read before?” or “How would you change a storybook you love to include your objects?”
Why It’s Beneficial:
The Story Bag Adventure encourages creativity and critical thinking, two crucial elements of early literacy development. As your child picks out objects and builds a narrative around them, they are practicing storytelling techniques like sequencing events, connecting ideas, and expanding their vocabulary.
This activity also supports comprehension skills, helping your child think about how stories unfold and how characters, settings, and objects work together to form a narrative. It’s the perfect blend of fun and educational development—and a great way to tie into our current curriculum focus on storytelling and literature!
Keep the Learning Going!
To further reinforce the skills learned during this activity, we encourage you to read a story together after the adventure. Talk about how the story compares to the one they made, and ask questions like, “What would you change in the book’s story if you were the author?” This helps children reflect on different ways to use their imagination and develop their unique storytelling style.
We’d love to hear about the wonderful stories your child comes up with! Feel free to share pictures or stories with us to showcase their creativity. Let’s keep expanding imaginations together at Rising Stride!