Fun Imaginary Activity

In the book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”, the author Amy Chua describes her efforts to give her children as a traditional, strict “Chinese” upbringing.

In the battle of Chinese method versus Western method, who is the winner? Indeed, it’s the matter of left and right brain method. Both are important as left brain dominant on logic but right brain on feeling.  Unfortunately most educations have been emphasized for left brain thinking and ignored the importance of right brained thinking.

As an Ex-Shichida Instructor I believe in bringing up children in a balance way with huge love and no comparison with others. The important are inner strength and independent thinking skills.

These skills can be learned thru play. However, fun plays should not involve television or computer (info link: How TV affects your child?). As research showed long time exposure to stagnant screen can cause your child think stagnant and less creative.

Fun imaginary play is important to children’s physical and mental developments.

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions. Albert Einstein

I would love to share with you some fun and easy imaginary plays with zero cost (if you can find the recycle material) or with cost as low as USD$1.

Have you ever noticed your child loves traffic light or driving? My girl loves it so much. Let’s make a traffic light and play driving on the road.

Material: used black colour box (or paint it black), a few color laminate papers.

You may make another easier version – just draw the traffic light on a blank paper.

How to play?

Explain the function of traffic light. Green- go, yellow- wait, red- stop or you may sing a song:

Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light
(Sing with the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
Twinkle Twinkle Traffic light, standing at the corner bright,

Green means go we all know,

Yellow means wait even you are late,

Red means stop,

Twinkle Twinkle Traffic light, standing at the corner bright.

Ask your child where he/she wants to go? Then the child may start driving with a toy car or just pretend turning the sterling. You pretend as a traffic light and point the torch light at the green screen. Your child will drive and then point the torch light at the red screen, your child will stop. Talk to your child while playing.

This game may stimulate the whole brain. It can stimulate the language and knowledge brain thru a lot of talking. Besides, you have given the input of the function of traffic light, colours etc.

When children are imaging driving on the road, it stimulates their right brain which involved speed memory and creativity.

My girl can play the game for hours and enjoy it so much. Have fun!