21 Things .20

Imagination

The other night during dinner, my family was reminiscing over the days when my sister and I played pretend. 
We could play for hours and hours without a thought to time, but sometimes we had to return from our imaginary worlds quickly if we were called to supper or bed. In such moments my mom remembers coming upon our toys and sets left mid-play waiting expectantly for our return, and loving the little glimpse into our lives and imaginations.
Life was pretty simple...For awhile my biggest dream was to have my dad build a wooden house for my little pioneer figurines. I'd draw sketches of the curtains, the "garden" I would plant for them outside, and the meals they'd make. Dad did make me my house - I was never able to make it quite as elaborate as I'd envisioned it, but I was content.

Its been said that "play is the work of childhood," (Jean Piaget) which is very true, or at least should be true. Play is important. Although we were deep in the land of imagination we were really exploring and building upon our understanding of the world...

There was the bubble factory my sister and I created in the backyard under the deck. We'd first be the receptionist and gather the orders (who wouldn't want to order custom made bubbles?!). Then we'd mix food colouring into bubble liquid. It didn't change the colour of the actual bubbles, but it was the idea that counted.

Then there were the times we drew chalk roads, gas stations, and buildings and played town and cops and robbers. The jail was the garage.

There were the countless videos my sister and I created of the news, the silly skits we performed in the living room, and the birthday parties we'd throw for our stuffies.

Once we built forts out of pillows with my cousin and burrowed in them like foxes and moles (we could never convince my sister to be anything less than a unicorn).

Its good to remember these things. I'm thankful for playmates and my parents who encouraged and celebrated our use of imagination!

Do you have any special memories of make-believe?