Your Personal Renaissance

Life's true calling

by Diane Dreher Ph.D.

Why Are Children Experiencing a Crisis of Imagination?

By Diane Dreher, Ph.D. on January 10, 2012 in Your Personal Renaissance

Educator and author Gloria DeGaetano shares a revealing insight from a second grade teacher at one of her workshops. The teacher said that on the first day of class, when she began reading the children a story, one boy, Tommy, started fidgeting anxiously. Looking up, he asked what he should be doing. "Just listen to the story," she answered. He looked at her blankly. Read More

make believe

Submitted by Kristen on January 11, 2012 - 5:54am.

As a teacher, I've noticed that some parents will correct me when I say to a child, "oh are you a little dinosaur today?" If they are pretending. The parent will say, "so and so...are you MAKE BELIEVING that you are a dinosaur?" or "acting like" etc. To ensure their hild doesn't really believe they are a dinosaur!!

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Shutting down imagination

Submitted by Diane Dreher, Ph.D. on January 12, 2012 - 2:23pm.

Kristin's comment really strikes home. Children need to expand their imaginations, try on new possibilities. That's part of developing their creative abilities. Too often well-meaning parents shut this process down.

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Diane Dreher, Ph.D., is a professor of English at Santa Clara University. She is also a research associate at the SCU Spirituality and Health Institute.

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