One of the things I’ve noticed during my years in the Foundation Phase is that children today know a lot. They can tell you fascinating facts about animals, space, countries and dinosaurs. They navigate technology with ease and often have access to more information than any generation before them.

But, when it’s time for creative writing, something interesting sometimes happens… Ask a child to imagine a new ending to a story, invent a magical creature, or describe a world that doesn’t exist, and many of them pause. They look for the “right” answer instead of creating one.

Of course, this isn’t true for every child, and technology certainly isn’t the enemy. It has transformed the way children learn and explore the world. But I do wonder whether constant access to entertainment and ready-made stories leaves fewer opportunities for children to practise using their own imagination.

Information and imagination are not the same thing.

One fills our minds with what already exists. The other invites us to create something that has never existed before.

Some of the most creative children I’ve taught weren’t necessarily the children who knew the most facts—they were often the children who had learnt how to be bored.

When there wasn’t a screen to watch or an activity planned for them, they created their own fun. 

A remote became a microphone. 

A stick became a fishing rod. 

And a blanket became a superhero cape. 

They didn’t need expensive toys; they simply needed space to imagine.

Creativity grows when children have opportunities to wonder, experiment and play without someone else directing every moment. As parents and educators, perhaps we don’t always need to fill the silence. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give a child is the time to think, imagine and create.

Simple Ways to Encourage Creativity at Home:

• Pretend Together

Become shopkeepers, teachers, doctors, chefs, astronauts or restaurant owners. Follow your child’s ideas rather than directing the game.

• Give Everyday Objects New Purposes

Challenge your child to think of different ways to use ordinary household items. A TV remote might become a microphone today, a magic wand tomorrow, a cellphone the next day, or even the control panel of a spaceship. There is no “correct” answer—only possibilities.

• Read Without Giving Away the Ending

Before turning the last page of a story, pause and ask, “What do you think happens next?” Encourage your child to create their own ending before discovering the author’s.

• Celebrate Curiosity

When your child asks a question, try responding with, “What do you think?” Giving children time to think encourages them to explore ideas, make connections and trust their own thinking.

• Protect Time for Unstructured Play

Not every moment needs to be planned or filled with entertainment. Some of the best ideas are born when children are simply given the freedom to play, wonder and create.

Children don’t only grow by learning new information. They also grow by asking questions, exploring ideas and discovering that their own imagination is worth trusting.

Long before children become confident writers, they first need to become confident thinkers.

Perhaps the question isn’t whether our children know enough. Perhaps it’s whether we’re giving them enough opportunities to imagine.