Child with No Imagination

[Brooksie]

Here's one...

http://pinterest.com/earlylearning4/interesting-invitations-provocations/

Edited to add: I"Oh Dang! I just looked at that link...the ideas! Wow! Can't stop...looking....!"

OMG I LOVE IT!!!!! I'll be on this link all night!! ::::::

[bunnyslippers]

There is also a technique called video modeling or play scenario training. I used to use it frequently in my work with children with autism. It can require some work on your part ~ well, a lot of work intially. It is fascinating the results you can see with it! I actually did a thesis on it in grad school.

I will tell you about the play scenario training. THe best way to explain it is with an example. For this one, I will use the play kitchen. You need to get a camera, and get ready to take and print some photos. Try to get an older child to help you.

Take a picture of the kitchen. Then, in sequence, take pictures of a child playing with the kitchen in an imaginary play sequence (say, cooking dinner). Once that sequence is photographed, start taking photos of a different play scenario, using the same toys.

Once the photos are done, you intorduce them to the child and have the child imitate what he is seeing in the pictures. Once one scenario is mastered, you move on toe the next.

The video modeling is done basically the same way.

The hope is that ultimately, you can fade off of the pictures/videos, and the child will begin to incorporate the learned play sequences into independent play.

Again, labor intensive, but effective.

[bunnyslippers]

OMG I LOVE IT!!!!! I'll be on this link all night!! ::::::

Oh, me too!!! Thanks for posting!!!!!!!happyface

[Lyss]

I'm glad I found this thread! Currently I'm really struggling with a 4 year old that has no idea how to play or use her imagination. I tried modeling play and imaginative activities but she still doesn't quite get it. For example she says she wants to play pretend but then the story is exactly what we are doing at that moment (ie "lets pretend you're the teacher, I'm the big kid, the babies are babies and DCB is a boy and we're walking to the park" as we are walking to the park), there is no actual imagination play. She follows me around all day wanting to be entertained and it's driving me crazy!

This DCG has 2 older sisters (she's 4 they're 6 and 7) but bounces back and forth between DCD and DCM weekly. Siblings live exclusively with DCM

There is also a technique called video modeling or play scenario training. I used to use it frequently in my work with children with autism. It can require some work on your part ~ well, a lot of work intially. It is fascinating the results you can see with it! I actually did a thesis on it in grad school.

I will tell you about the play scenario training. THe best way to explain it is with an example. For this one, I will use the play kitchen. You need to get a camera, and get ready to take and print some photos. Try to get an older child to help you.

Take a picture of the kitchen. Then, in sequence, take pictures of a child playing with the kitchen in an imaginary play sequence (say, cooking dinner). Once that sequence is photographed, start taking photos of a different play scenario, using the same toys.

Once the photos are done, you intorduce them to the child and have the child imitate what he is seeing in the pictures. Once one scenario is mastered, you move on toe the next.

The video modeling is done basically the same way.

The hope is that ultimately, you can fade off of the pictures/videos, and the child will begin to incorporate the learned play sequences into independent play.

Again, labor intensive, but effective.

I'll have to try this and the other activities listed.

[Evansmom]

Here's one...

http://pinterest.com/earlylearning4/interesting-invitations-provocations/

AH! Awesome!! This is just the kind of thing I've been doing with my school and I've been needing more ideas!! Thank you! Getting a pinterest account now!! happyface

[Unregistered]

I feel the same way!

I'm finding more and more in recent years that children don't know how to play. It's very sad and I cannot relate on any kind of level. I NEVER once as a child had to be told to "go and play"!
We made every household object into a toy of some kind - we cherished our true toys - and we played... all day long, indoors and out. I just can't imagine being a child in a room full of toys like these kids are and sitting there not knowing what to do!