How to Play
Turner's suggestions for sparking your kid's imagination.
In the morning...
Ask your child what he dreamed of during the night. Draw a picture of the dream together. Ask questions—who were the characters, and where did the dream take place?—and write captions based on what he tells you.
In the car...
Pretend you're in a vehicle with a special engine that can take you anyplace in your imagination. Act like you are traveling through space, on a safari, or in the rainforest. Point out the window and exclaim, "Look at that den of lions," or, "We are getting closer to Saturn—see its rings?"
On a rainy Saturday...
Create a home "sculpture garden." Encourage your child to find objects around the house—shoes, books, cotton balls, boxes, etc.—and align them in unusual places or along the floor in a creative arrangement. Name the "installation" and take a picture of it.
On the computer...
Ask your child about his favorite animal, or a thing or place he'd like to see. Google the subject—whether it's China or millipedes—and click on various images selected by your child. Examine the pictures together, and call attention to any special details. Ask your child to select his favorite three images. Then print them out and tape them up on his bedroom wall.
