By Angel Harper, RCSI
Imagination is one of the most powerful tools the human mind has to offer us. It bestows us with endless possibilities; problem-solving, a way to escape reality, or a way to learn more about our world. Children in particular are renowned for their boundless creativity and imagination. Storytelling is an excellent medium for such imaginings. It can encourage a child’s mind to wander the endless possibilities of both science and magic.
Imaginative play, or pretend play, is when a child uses objects or ideas to represent different objects or ideas in their fantasy world. It is well regarded as vital for child development and wellbeing, and is described as “one of the most important ways in which young children gain essential knowledge and skills”. Pretend play and reading come hand in hand, as both facilitate literacy, communication, and imagination. Research indicates that vocabulary and narrative skills are improved by pretend play, which in turn develops literacy.
How many of us have imagined ourselves as the protagonist from our favourite book series? Many readers strongly resonate with the traits and tribulations of characters in books. Whether that’s identifying with the personality traits of your Hogwarts house or relating your life experience to that of another. For children, being able to imagine themselves as the protagonists from their books is incredibly important. This is why so many popular story books have children as the main characters; if they can see themselves solving problems, exploring, or socialising through a character, they can manifest this in their everyday life. Many children’s authors show children using their imagination to help them with challenges in their lives. These imaginary worlds can give children a kind of super-power. It can help them process difficult emotions, providing them with a sense of control over their lives that they may not feel like they have in the real world.
Children need to be able to imagine themselves as characters from their books in order to engage them in reading, and to encourage creative thinking. This is why diversity of characters in writing is so important. Children cannot see themselves in a character that they do not relate to; protagonists who share physical appearance, cultural or religious backgrounds, or gender with their reader are much more likely to be relatable. According to an analysis of reading materials for young children, there is a drastic lack of diversity in children’s books. The authors argue that even multicultural literature “lack(s) the humanizing qualities needed to move toward true inclusions of diversity”. Children from minority groups are less likely to be represented in books, which may impact their ability to see themselves in the predominately white male protagonists. It is therefore of vital importance that parents and teachers select books that have a diverse range of characters and stories. This will enable all children to find a story or character they can relate to. In turn, they will see themselves as capable, smart, and ready to take on the world.
Pretend play and imagination can lead to creating some wonderful memories. They can also aid in problem solving and building self-esteem. Pretend play actively improves literacy, and in turn, literacy encourages more imagination and play. A child who can imagine themselves as a character they look up to, can learn vicariously through them. This is the power of creativity and literacy. The benefits are endless, so why should these things diminish with age? Imagination and literacy should always be pursued; they are the backbone of learning, dreaming, creating, and growing.
