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Through the wise wordings of woodland creatures and the lessons of nursery rhymes, children’s literature will always have a special place in our hearts. Whether it is through the sing-song of the little stars or the enchanting dive into the 100-acre wood with our favorite bear, curiosity and surprise had no bounds with these stories.
No wonder these whimsical stories are still a part of a child's early lifestyle!
In this excerpt below, we will be discussing some of the cognitive development which imagination can develop. Plus, how children’s literature and the enchanted illustrations these paperbacks accompany can help fuel these imaginations.
Cognitive development in a child allows them to understand the different methods of information processing, perceptual thinking, conscience building (difference between right and wrong), and language learning. In simple terms, this is the first building block of an adult mind. Here are some pioneer reasons why imaginations are such an important element of a child’s cognitive growth.
Imagination is a big element of a child’s cognitive development. Child psychologists encourage parents to let their child’s imagination flourish as it helps them explore skills like leadership and autonomy.
Children are likelier to have imaginary companions on whom they exert autonomy and leadership. For example, teaching them right and wrong (as inspired by their parents). Plus, their imaginary roleplay often includes being their leader in some shape or form, whether through teaching roleplay or pretending to be a superhero.
The human-like illustrations of a children’s book help give their imaginary companions a face and allow them to learn more through the mayhem and magic of the other world.
A child’s bubble is something we often hear. This is in terms of relatability; children find it rare with the people they grow up with. Between the age of 2-3, the child develops a fair understanding of their surroundings, along with the difference between them and their parental figure.
This is when they start gravitating towards socializing and building friendships of their own age. You will often find parents start arranging playdates at this age. This is because children crave relatability.
This is the beauty of relatability in childrens literature. It is not always the unrealistic magic of fairies and gnomes, but a simple child just growing through the difficulties of their own life, which helps build relatability.
The imagination, on the other hand, comes from the faces and illustrations, which almost everything gets in these children's stories!
For example, take the children’s literature story “Welcome To The Flu,” which showcases a boy battling influenza. Through his excellent dueling capabilities (loosely translates to taking precautions to prevent the flu from escalating), he wards off the germs.
Stories like these encourage perceptual thinking more than any superhero tale!
The right brain is what develops first among any human being. From the age of three, the right brain is at its commencement, which means stimulating it becomes essential for good growth. This side of the brain is responsible for imagination resulting in creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity to know more.
Studies have shown that reading children’s books can boost a child’s connectivity with the right brain. It is through the whimsical tales and the pictures that a child learns to be creative with their thoughts.
These make-believe stories and people give rise to a new flair of perception. Allowing them to gather information from these and translate something they see in the real world. For example, children learn most of the objects in their surroundings upon seeing them in the books. Also, associating an imagination with an object assists in the better development of memory by the age of 5.
Oftentimes, the parents are more concerned with the development of the left brain, considering it to be the frontier of IQ. This is because the left brain is associated with mathematics and analytics. However, it is only through the development of a proper right brain that the left brain begins its journey. Therefore, cutting off access to a healthy imaginative mind and forcing children to learn the steadfast rules of reality soon will only hamper their growth.
“The more you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Yes, ‘knowing’ for an adult is different than ‘knowing’ for a child. Regardless of such differences in imagination, it is the knowledge that will help them move forward.
Reading books helps a child to incorporate both their real and imaginative knowledge to find creative solutions to their problems. Plus, it provides them a fanciful peak towards the environment they are about to embark upon.