Then you must read aloud one of Zilpha Keatley Snyder’s excellent books. They mix fantasy, adventure, mystery, and magical thinking in a way that children respond to.
A person’s imagination is not an isolated ability. It needs to be fed, stoked, and given time and space to develop. When we do this with our children, we’re helping them learn problem solving, thinking, and social skills.
There are two of Zilpha Keatley Snyder’s book that I recommend. One is The Velvet Room–a girl explores an old, abandoned house and discovers a room full of books surrounded by velvet drapes that becomes a special space to her. When I read it, I remember the feeling of becoming the character and thinking about solving the problems.
The other is The Egypt Game, a Newbury Honor Book. If your child likes to read about Egypt, or is drawn to Egyptian relics, this is the way to explore it. The Egypt Game is used in lots of schools today to teach about Egypt through a child who discovers an artifact, and draws her friends into a magical game about Egypt.
In my next post, I’ll say more about how to bring special book experiences to your child.