Do you want to know a great secret weapon? Something we can take to the bank? I'll tell you. It's the power of imagination-and it's something that America is especially good at. In fact, the toy industry is a vital part in promoting imagination by selling toys and games that encourage imaginative play-so much so that we should be getting an economic stimulus package for doing more of it. Here are four reasons why imaginative play is a must-reasons we can share with parents and the media.
First, study after study show that imaginative play leads to what is called "self-regulation" and self-regulation leads to happiness. When kids use their imaginations, they engage their higher thinking minds and often their emotional "minds." They talk to themselves openly and freely. This "private speech" is what is used to surmount obstacles, master cognitive and social skills, and manage emotions. Without this, kids lose the ability to think for themselves, and they end up acting out whatever script is put in front of them.
Toys that do all the thinking for kids end up stunting their imagination. When kids play with toys and games that are open-ended which allow them to engage, think, and imagine new worlds, they gain self-confidence. And self-confidence and self-regulation are a proven combination for success in life.
Second, kids actually want toys and games that encourage imaginative play. It's not just parents and researchers who support these kinds of games. In a 2005 survey by Playthings magazine, the top four answers to the question "What makes a good toy?" put to kids were: 1) makes me use my imagination; 2) has many different ways to play; 3) makes me want to invent a toy myself; and 4) does not break easily. Kids want their imaginations to be challenged-and we better do so, because it is where most all our inventions come from.
Third, imaginative play is a foundational building block for invention and innovation, and innovation is the engine of prosperity. Think for a moment about what has made America so successful. While there are certainly a variety of factors involved, including being blessed with lots of natural resources, our passion for and support of innovation and "blue sky thinking", aka imagination, play a key role in our nation's prosperity.
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Lizzie Magie (inventor of The Landlord's Game, which later became Monopoly), Stephanie Louise Kwolek (inventory of Kevlar), Barbara McClintock (groundbreaking scientist and Nobel Laureate), and George Washington Carver, among others, exemplify the greatness that happens when we harness the power of imagination. Rote learning and licensed character toys can stifle independent thinking. On the other hand, toys and games that give ample room for kids to use their imaginations are the ones these famous inventors would likely approve.
Finally, our imaginations connect us to the deeper aspects of life, things that bring us meaning and purpose. Our creative imaginations tap into the power of the unconscious-the world behind the world. While we may see imaginative play as something simple and delightful, it is also something rich and rewarding. Kids, too, want meaning in their life and toys and games that engage their deeper imagination tap into this instinctual need. Life is part creation and part mystery and the power of the imagination taps into both.
If we are to raise healthy, happy kids and compete in the world economy, we better recognize that imagination is the secret weapon, the secret sauce, and the light saber that will win the battle with Darth Vader's recent economic mess. As Daniel Pink, the author of "A Whole New Mind," puts it, "In a world in which more and more average work can be done by a computer, robot or talented foreigner faster, cheaper "and just as well," vanilla doesn't cut it anymore."
We have to double our efforts to foster innovation and creativity, and independent retailers and small manufacturers can play an important role in making and selling the rocket fuel called imagination. All we have to do is promote toys and games that engage kids in imaginative, open-ended play.
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