The Wondershop: Getting Out of the Way of Imagination

A woman came up to me in town today and said, "I've been reading your book! My kids are so imaginative... I just need to remind myself to get out their way."

So wise.

It's so very easy to over guide, over stimulate, and over schedule our children right out of their creativity. And sometimes we find that when we just step aside and listen from the next room, let them solve some of their own problems, and say a little less now and again - we then find an ever-blossoming imagination!

Happy wondering!

Is your home creative?

We know that assessment (especially self-assessment) is a particularly powerful way for people to understand their own processes and make change. Of course, anytime is a wonderful time to assess how your own home and learning environments are serving the creative individuals who dwell in them. Below you will find 28 very short questions to ponder about your own living and learning environment. When answering these questions, think about how often each takes place. Everyday? Weekly? Occasionally? Seldom? Never?

Do the people (children and adults) living in your home have the opportunity to...

1. Dream?

2. Reflect?

3. Monitor their own progress?

4. Make choices?

5. Write?

6. Go outside?

7. Leave a project and come back to it hours, days, or even weeks later?

8. Play in a totally unstructured way? For great lengths of time?

9. Be alone?

10. Wonder without being told an answer?

11. Get messy?

12. Dress up?

13. See inspiring works of art?

14. Use different types of art supplies?

15. Use different types of math tools?

16. Use different types of building materials?

17. Use different types of science tools?

18. Question you?

19. Negotiate the rules?

20. Sing?

21. Listen to music?

22. Block out the music?

23. See themselves represented (gender, race, family structure, etc.) in works of art, the literature and/or media?

24. Hear language that is above their own writing and speaking level?

25. Remove themselves from any given situation?

26. Play cooperatively with other children and adults?

27. Solve their own problems?

28. See their work and projects displayed?

Once you have taken time to think about these creative activities and how often they show up in your home and learning environments, use your answers as an opportunity to make a few new goals for your creative home.

About Ginger

Ginger Carlson is the author of Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children (Common Ground Press, 2008). Ginger Carlson has nearly twenty years experience working with families of young children. As author of The Wonder Collection, she shares her expertise and enthusiasm! Ginger has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Oregon, College of Education, and taught in public and private schools in the United States as well as in International and Embassy schools abroad. She leads workshops in creativity building for parents and educators throughout the country. Ms. Carlson holds a Masters of Arts in Education and Instructional Technology from Pepperdine University and is credentialed in Pre-K through adult education in the state of California. As an educational consultant, Ms. Carlson has provided families curricular planning and creative ideas to set up home environments and regularly leads Wonder Workshops for parents, educators, and organizations. Ms. Carlson has been published in many national family, parenting, and food magazines. She is a regular columnist and features The Wondershop in regional parenting magazines.

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Getting Out of the Way of Imagination

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