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Allowing a child to use their very own creative imagination is crucial their development. It provides a lot of vital information on how this child will react to others throughout their lives. Imagination determines just how creative they will be as adults, and how they will handle adult situations in their personal lives as well as their careers later in life. This childhood activity aids in making choices and problem-solving skills.

Alone, a broom becomes a horse. Pots and pans with wooden spoons becomes a set of drums. A very large cardboard box and a box of crayons becomes a playhouse. And, did you know that Tinker Toys can be two-way radio? A big can of blocks will stir the blandest of imaginations. Lincoln Logs and Erector Sets were the mothers of invention for kids from 5 and up. Lego's are still really great creative inspiration, though they did not have them when I would have been of age to play with them.

Growing up with my siblings and cousins, there was always something to do. There were games that only required a playmate or two. We played hide and seek up and down the block until dark. Sidewalk skating, hopscotch, jumping rope and tag were favorites. We could play at the park a block away, or ride our bikes until dinner time, and we did. Swinging Statue and Crack the Whip have probably been outlawed because someone might get hurt. We were only allowed a limited time to watch T.V., and even then it was a family pastime.

We, The Club , had a favorite game called "Time Machine" . All it takes is three little girls with huge imaginations and a few props. That's all. You can be anyone you want, and you can go anywhere and do anything. In our case, it was a big cotton rope, knotted at the end and a sand box. The huge closet in the big bedroom upstairs was our Time Machine. We would go in there and invent our story line. When we re-emerged, we were in a different time and place.

I don't remember exactly where we left off because it was a lifetime ago. The three of us invented times and places that we would magically appear in. It seemed that Judy, our cousin, was the ring leader in this game of dashing off into time. My sister, Anne (14 months younger than me), and I were perfectly happy to let Judy (only 9 months my junior) lead the way. It would have been four of us but by the time we'd gotten to these imaginative games, our older sister, Joanie, had other interests. Usually, she had her nose stuck in a book or she was off visiting her girlfriends and talking

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