Kids losing their sense of imagination

To the Times: Many of my generation heard a valuable piece of wisdom when we were young ones at play. Leave it to your imagination was frequently expressed to us by adults with whom we had contact.

For instance, when winter days forced us to remain indoors, I remember playing big shot office executive. On a decrepit piano stool rested a Thom McAn shoe box and on one side were placed a variety of buttons purloined from my mother’s sewing bag. The buttons served as dials and knobs on my make-believe intercom. My buddy sat at the kitchen table with a similar device. We were connected by a thin wire stuck into two Campbell Soup cans. Reception was perfect.

Our cops-and-robbers play was made more realistic because we all possessed thumbs and index fingers. The thumb and first finger was my German luger. When we demanded more rapid fire, however, my two arms rested alongside my body, with two thumbs and index fingers erect. On occasion, I could reach into my back pocket and pull out a handkerchief to serve as my mask. Innocent bystanders seldom knew that we were following them as suspected spies bent on sabotaging our homeland defenses during World War II.

Imagination goes a long way in sharpening minds. It builds self-confidence in that one has the ability to make something out of nothing. Imagination was a key factor in occupying us safely and keeping us out of trouble.

Knowing that I possessed a robust imagination helped to abate the shame and disappointment that came from failing to make a successful adjustment to the three R’s.

My advice to parents today is to give your son or daughter every opportunity to engage their God-given imaginations because we can’t rely nor depend upon our schools to do so.