Core Skill in Focus: Imagination
What is imagination?
Imagination is our ability to picture things that aren’t right in front of us—or don’t even exist yet. It’s how we dream up new ideas, invent solutions, create stories, and transport ourselves to other worlds. It’s the foundation for creativity, problem solving, innovation, and play. When kids imagine, they aren’t just being silly—they’re building some of the most important cognitive and emotional skills they’ll ever use. And when adults imagine, they’re often doing the same thing (even if it looks more like daydreaming or planning a new project).
How do we use it in theatre?
Theatre would be impossible without imagination. Actors must imagine themselves into someone else’s life. Designers imagine a whole world from just a few lines of stage directions. Directors imagine what the story could look and feel like, long before it’s real. And audiences might have the heaviest imagination lift of all - to Suspend their Disbelief and choose to imagine that what they are witnessing is real. Imagination fills in the gaps between what we have and what we’re trying to create: a stage becomes a forest, a stool becomes a throne, thin air becomes literally anything we want. Theatre is magical, and imagination is the alchemy that makes it possible.
Why is it important in life?
Imagination is what lets us problem-solve, innovate, and envision better futures. It’s the engine behind everything from writing a story to designing a bridge to figuring out how to smooth over a rough moment with a friend. It enables ideation, problem solving, and discovering new ways of doing old things. In short, imagination makes life richer—and more flexible.
How can I bring this skill home?
Imagination doesn’t require fancy toys or a perfect setup. In fact, the less of that you have, the more room imagination has to grow. Here are a few quick and easy ways to support imagination at every age:
Tots and Pre-K: Hand your child a box and say, “This isn’t a box—what is it?” A rocket? A house? A lion’s cave? Follow their lead. The more outrageous, the better. Honestly, at this age, they have a lot more to teach you about imagination than the other way around.
Elementary School: Re-imagine a favorite bedtime story. Read it through once, and then read it again but this time stop to ask how the story would change if: the main character had done or said something else instead? Or the whole thing was set in space? Or it was a tragedy instead of a comedy? Or none of the characters could talk?
Middle School: Try a “what if” challenge. What if school only happened at night? What if you could only eat blue food? What if clouds were made of cotton candy? Take turns posing bizarre scenarios and using your imagination to draw them out to their “logical” conclusion. (What if clouds were made of cotton candy? Well, rain would melt them. And then the rain would be sugar water and delicious. But if you got caught in a rainstorm, you would get super sticky. Spring time would smell like sugar…)
High School: It’s an oldie but a goody: Charades. Level it up by acting out entire movies or books (or plays 😉)
Imagination isn’t something we grow out of—it’s something we grow into. The more we encourage it, the more capable, curious, and creative we all become.
