The importance of imagination.

Einstien said that the imagination is worth one hundred times that of knowledge. A rich imagination stimulates the thinking process and the ability to create. It is of the upmost importance to create an environment where the young child's imagination can flourish. Modern day life offers many interferences for the young child which can greatly hinder their development. Media robs the young child the opportunity to fully live into his/her imagination, while inserting in its' place hideous images and negative messages. Age appropriate stories help to create  wonderful opportunities for the child to live into his/her imagination and create his/her own pictures. The magic of childhood is a very important time in the developing human being, and I fear it is endangered in our world which seems to be dedicated to fast fowarding through childhood as though it were a waste of time. Childhood ought to be filled with wonder and beauty. The young child works out of imitation and should be surrounded by what we would find worthy of imitating. Children who develop a rich imagination develop the capacity to think for themselves. They are less likely to become followers, and more likely to become leaders capable of crirical thinking. By having a rich inner life, one is not as strongly influenced by outer sources.