Are children naturally imaginative?
It is commonly believed that youngsters are naturally imaginative and that this diminishes over time. But it is rather their naive and primitive understanding of things that makes it seem as if they are wildly imaginative (e.g., their ready belief that the white plastic-covered hay bales we see dotting fields are giant marshmallows!). In reality, they perceive things according to their capacity for understanding. Their partially developed sense of logic and limited life experience influence their perception, bestowing a fantasy-like aspect on the world. The imagination is developed through exercise, and this is true for both young and old; like memory and logic, it is an essential asset for school.
