Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood was a program I looked forward to every day in my childhood. It was a short moment of time when I wasn’t nervous or worried about anything. I felt as though Mister Rogers was talking to me, his friend. My heart would fill with excitement to see neighbours drop by for a visit, such as Mr. McFeely, Handyman Negri, and others.
The most exciting part of the program for me, though, was when “Trolley” came by to take all of us to the land of make-believe. In the land of make-believe, I could be friends with a queen, an owl, a kitten, or anyone I wanted. I have spoken in past articles about the importance of imaginative play for children, and I want to elaborate a bit more as I promised.
The thought might enter your mind, “Is it really healthy for a child to have such a vivid imagination?” I will answer, “Absolutely.” Make-believe play allows your child to practice critical social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, and communication. It also enables them to express their emotions in a safe and controlled environment (beginlearning.com).
In my research for this week, I found some ways to incorporate and foster imaginative play with the young person in your life. Celebree.com suggests providing props such as art supplies, instruments, or anything else you have around the home. Let us remember that every child is different, so one child might enjoy art while another one could be inclined to pursue music or constructing with popsicle sticks or blocks.
As I sat and smelled the aroma of a recent turkey dinner, I was reminded of my teacher who instructed all of us to “create” a pinecone turkey in November. You might ask, “Cindy, what’s the problem with this?” The problem is that everyone’s turkey was expected to look the same. That would be fine if every child were clones of each other, but we weren’t.
When my children were young, I enjoyed laying out different types of art supplies for them on a table. We had coloured feathers, paper, glue, scissors, crayons, markers, beads, string, pattern blocks, dried macaroni, and more. The supplies were randomly spread out on the kitchen table, and I told the kids to “choose whatever you like” and create. My youngest son said, “Mama, my project doesn’t look like my sister’s.” I said, “It doesn’t have to. It is YOUR creation.”
If a child’s mind isn’t allowed to expand on its own, then the amount of time spent with imaginative play is wasted. Let the child explore on his or her own, then give encouragement and praise for what was accomplished.
Our story this week is What If… by Samantha Berger. This story is described as “THIS GIRL is determined to express herself! If she can’t draw her dreams, she’ll sculpt or build, carve or collage. If she can’t do that, she’ll turn her world into a canvas. And if everything around her is taken away, she’ll sing, dance, and dream. Mixed media illustrations, lyrical text, and a breathtaking gatefold conjure powerful magic in this heartfelt affirmation of art, imagination, and the resilience of the human spirit.” This book can be purchased on Amazon or the read aloud is free on YouTube.
According to samanthaberger.com, “She currently writes for Sesame Street in Communities and Sesame Street International, taking on challenging subjects like childhood homelessness, foster care, and the need to educate children about the importance of clean water, all over the world.”
As I leave it here for this week, I realize everyone’s life is busy, however, I want to encourage families to take at least 30 minutes, this weekend, for imaginative play with your child. Visit yard sales, dollar stores, or anywhere you can afford to pick up some interesting items and allow the little one to create.
“You can think about things and make-believe. All you have to do is think and they’ll grow.” – Fred Rogers
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Cindy Norgate is an educator with over 25 years of experience, and is an occasional teacher in Huron and Perth counties.
