Imagination isn't something children are simply born with — it's a muscle that grows with practice, patience, and a little bit of magic. Here are five simple ways to help the young readers in your life build that muscle every day.
1. Ask "What if?" questions. What if the clouds were made of cotton candy? What if your shoe could talk? These questions have no wrong answers, only doors to open.
2. Leave room for boredom. Some of the best ideas arrive in the quiet moments when there's nothing else to do. Resist the urge to fill every pause.
3. Read aloud together. Even independent readers benefit from hearing a story in your voice. It builds connection, vocabulary, and courage.
4. Encourage small acts of bravery. Trying a new food, saying hello to a stranger, or climbing a slightly taller tree — bravery comes in all sizes.
5. Believe in their magic. When a child shows you an invisible ticket, take it. When they describe a world only they can see, visit it with them.
The world will ask children to be practical soon enough. For now, let's help them stay wonderfully, wildly imaginative.