Imagination is the ability of imagining, or of forming mental images or concepts.  It is a fundamental talent through which people make sense of so many things of the world. It is the sense through which we encounter everything. Imagination plays a key role in the learning process. It provides meaning to knowledge and a new shape to skill. The things that we touch, see and hear combine into a picture using our imagination.

Importance of Imagination in Children:-Imagination in childhood is like a muscle that needs to be used. Just as a weight lifter needs to exercise his muscles in order to strengthen them, a child needs to actively use his imagination skills in order  to develop them. Imagination helps children to get ahead socially and mentally in today’s technology based world.  Children today  take part in an endless variety of activities. From computer games to music and dance classes, and from cricket practice to cartoon shows, there is no shortage of skills for kids to learn. Children also need regular play time.  While these things are all good for children, too much can hamper  the most amazing gift  of childhood: imagination.

Imagination and Success:-  Imagination plays a vital role in learning and success in life. Children who actively use their imagination reap a host of benefits and become more successful in school and also in life.  But now a days their  imagination is seen defeated in the  battle with iPods, internet, video games,  sports and T.V. shows.

Benefits that come from developing the imagination:- * Imagination helps school-age children to solve their problems, they become aware of which is good and which is bad for them.

* Imagination allows children to practice real-life skills. They not only develop their will power but at the same time also thoroughly understand the value of sincerity, hard work and devotion.

* Imagination encourages a rich vocabulary. Children learn and retain new words, and develop their own style of writing.

* Imagination is also important in math and  science either to solve problems or to do experiments. Imagination improves one’s  English  standard and enables him to produce his  own creativity.

* Imagination provides  patience and makes children more studious.

* Imagination helps children grow up to be adults who are creative thinkers. Adults who were imaginative children  become problem solvers, innovators and creative thinkers.

Imagination as such, provides many  important skills that boost a child’s learning and success.

Ways to Encourage Imagination:- Children have abundant imaginations, but sometimes they need a little encouragement to use it. The following  ideas can help parents  and teachers  to spark the imagination of  their  children or students.

1. Tell your children to ask themselves questions and try to answers those in why.  By this they can develop their thought process and enhance their brain power.

2. Story telling can bring out the imagination talent. Motivate your children to imagine their own stories and tell before you. Encourage imagination when the children are reading. Ask younger children what is happening in the pictures, or to make up a new story based on one of the illustrations. Children can also be encouraged to think up a new ending to a story, or to tell the story of any character.

3. Provide support to your children. Give them the things they need to do experiment or they imagine for their creation.

4. Let your children to create paintings, sculptures, craft items and drawings with art materials. Inspire them to write poems, and to sing the songs in their own composition. Music and art develop the imagination process more.

5. Encourage, especially younger children  to play the game of  superheroes, doctors or engineers, scientists,  shoppers...the list is endless, as all these develop their thought process.

6. Limit the use of TV, movies, computers and video games. These are all great tools when used in moderation, but too much can dull a child’s natural imagination.

7.  Math and science can also encourage imagination. Answering curious questions by first coming up with a guess (hypothesis) and then testing the hypothesis encourages children to think and imagine what the outcome will be and then see the results.