In a world that puts performance, productivity, and output above all else, it can be a novel choice to prioritize play. But here’s the truth: Children learn and experience the early years of their lives with the help of their imagination. They build rich worlds beyond the one we experience as adults, exploring their inner landscape through imaginative play. Key life skills like confidence, self-expression, problem solving, and authenticity all stem from their desire to explore.

While imagination, and supporting it, is an important part of a child’s growth all throughout the year, this spring, we’re putting extra emphasis on fostering imagination. The spring season is all about growth in a literal sense—flowers are blooming, the grass is getting greener, and we’re each filled with a desire to be outside, create, and engage with the world around us. In the spirit of supporting this springtime energy, we’re sharing four reasons why imagination is a crucial part of every child’s development. Plus, keep scrolling for three ideas for inspiring your child’s imagination. Let’s get started!

Imagination Can Help Children Experience Joy

Gratitude instills in children an abundance mentality. When they take note of all the good around them and are present for what they already have, they can experience a greater sense of joy. Imagination plays an important role in helping children build an awareness of all the good in their lives. 

When a child is in play mode, they might see an everyday object like a box or a paper plate, and their imaginative minds get to work dreaming up all the possibilities of what it can be. By encouraging your child’s imagination, you’re supporting the immense joy they can experience in even the simplest things. And because of that, they’re reminded of all the beauty the world around them holds. Encouraging imaginative play and helping your child cultivate an appreciation for moments both big and small can be a wonderful way to practice gratitude together. Building a regular gratitude practice can inspire more joy, help build greater resilience, and instill a sense of joy in your child.

Learn more about building joy with Honey Bear.

Imagination Boosts Children’s Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to feeling good about oneself from the inside out. By letting their imagination guide the way, children can practice problem-solving and come up with creative solutions for the obstacles they’ll inevitably face. When children play pretend, using their imagination to become a new character, they practice what it’s like to be another person or creature. Playing make-believe allows kids to practice social skills, work through difficult situations, and channel their creativity. Strengthening these skills can help children build a stronger sense of self and confidence because of all their imagination allowed them to be.

Learn more about boosting self-esteem with Bigfoot.

Imagination Lets Children Practice Being Their Authentic Selves

When children engage in imaginative play and pretend to be someone else, they build a stronger sense of empathy and understanding for what it’s like to live in another person’s shoes. Embracing and celebrating others’ differences is a central part of supporting others in being their authentic selves. Consider our collection of authenticity books for stories that encourage imagination and a strong sense of self. What’s more, trying on different personas can help children identify and gain clarity about what feels true to who they are.

Learn more about practicing authenticity with Unicorn.

Imagination Engages Children’s Creativity

This one should come as no surprise. Creativity is all about exploring our imagination! When children engage their creativity, they’re able to practice valuable skills like emotional regulation, problem solving, and cognitive flexibility. By encouraging and promoting creativity and imagination, caregivers are empowering children to try new things and take chances. It’s no wonder that creativity is a key part of a child’s emotional growth.

Learn more about inspiring creativity with Dragon.

3 Ways Caregivers Can Support Their Child’s Imagination 

Now that you know why imagination is such an important element of a child’s development, let’s get to the how. There are so many things that we, as caregivers, can offer children that support their imagination. We’re breaking down our top three favorites that you can get started with today.

• Unstructured Down Time

These days, it seems like every minute of our lives is scheduled, and we know how tempting it can be to do the same for our children. We get it: We all want the best for our kiddos and to give them as many opportunities as possible. However, carving out unstructured time for play is essential for supporting not only their imagination, but their independence and growth as well. The next time your child says they’re bored, let them lead the charge in deciding what to do. By encouraging them to embrace boredom, they learn to entertain themselves, developing interests that may even turn into passions as they grow.

• Joining Your Kids in the Play

What better way to encourage play and imagination than by setting an example yourself? Jump into role-playing with your child or let them take the lead in creating a made-up game. Playing with another person teaches children important social skills like collaboration, compromise, and how to work with others. When you play together, children can practice identifying and responding to your feelings. This is a great opportunity to learn skills like empathy and conflict resolution!

• Open-Ended Toys

Open-ended toys offer space for children to explore and create using their imagination. With the freedom to play without any structure or expectations, children are inspired to make up stories and create their own rules. Here’s more good news: there are countless open-ended toys out there. Examples include art supplies, cars, dolls, creatures (like your favorite Slumberkin!), and objects found in nature. Another great thing about open-ended toys is that they can help children process and express their emotions. They might use them to work through an event or a new situation. You might be surprised by how long these objects will keep your child engaged, but here’s the truth: There’s nowhere a child’s imagination can’t take them.

Imagination is a beautiful thing. It lets us share stories, shapes our relationship to others and to ourselves, and it helps us make sense of the world around us. By encouraging your child’s imagination, you’re giving them the chance to learn and practice key skills that’ll support them all throughout their lives. Do you have other ideas for inspiring your child’s imagination? We’d love it if you shared in the comments!

At Slumberkins, we’re passionate about fostering imagination, and we hope you’ll join us along this journey of emotional growth. Explore creatures, our new Slumberkins show, books, and additional resources to support social-emotional learning today.