Imagination

I was watching Global's Morning Show after the news.  

One of their headlines dealt with a preschool who decided to ban superhero play.  Their reasoning was that the children's "dangerously overactive" imaginations were causing injuries in the classroom so it would have to be banned.  The preschool also asked parents to "monitor the children's media consumption"

I have so many problems with this.  

First off, "dangerously overactive" imaginations?  Tell me where the limit is?  If we put so many limits on imagination, we wouldn't have spanning novels of depth and character.  We wouldn't have the Internet.  We wouldn't have beautiful buildings that house artwork beyond most individual's imaginations.  We wouldn't have movies that awe and inspire us.  I'm certain that there should never be a limit to imagination.

Secondly, they are asking parents to monitor a child's media consumption.  Nobody, even their teachers, should be telling a parent how much or what a child should watch.  That is up to a parent's discretion.  Some parents use the tv as a babysitter, some parents don't let their kids have any tv.  Others monitor is closely, giving a certain number of hours per day.  Myself, it's on all day long, so the kids pretty much ignore it, unless there's something that catches their attention.  I, as a parent, automatically monitor my children's media "consumption".  

Look, having imagination is such a wonderful thing.  I used to stay up at night, reading or (this is going to sound weird) talking to myself, going over things in my head, pretending I was a princess, maid...whatever caught my fancy.  I played outside, and my friends and I used leaves as money.  We always found a way to make something work, regardless of what it was.  Now, I can sit with my children and start them on a game of something.  Help them set up a farm, a family, play Barbies.  My imagination has not only benefited me as a child, but is helping me as a parent.  

If a child is playing as a superhero, and he/she isn't harming anyone, then it's fine.  If it gets rough, break it up.  Set out the rules.  Don't ban it.  Children don't learn by having something taken away from them.  They learn with rules, structure and routine.  If my oldest is getting too rough, I tell him to settle down.  I agree with the fact that kids can get overactive and hurt each other.  I've seen it happen in my own home.  I deal with it as it comes.  Grady loves to play superhero as well.  He just "flies" around the house, yelling "SUPER POWERS!"  He gives me "superhugs".  Those are awesome.  He stands at the other end of the house, says "READY MOMMY?!"  I say "YEP!" and he runs at me, laughing and yells "SUPERHUG!" and dives into my arms.  He will do this over and over again.  The older two love it as well, and he does the same with them.  

I don't think that stifling a child's imagination is a good idea.  Perhaps setting rules as to what is safe and unsafe play is the most important part.  If there are sticks involved, get rid of the sticks.  If there is pushing, then stop the pushing.  If there is wrestling, then stop the wrestling.  But if they are just running around, chasing each other and nobody's getting hurt, then where is the harm?  Watch them for heaven's sake.  Listen to them.  

But please...don't limit a child's imagination.  There's just so much potential in a child's mind.